The drama happened at about 3am today when a JCB crashed into the front of Beccles’ Nationwide branch on New Market, causing part of the building to collapse before the cash machine was ripped from the wall.

Suffolk Constabulary said the thieves then dragged the ATM into a dark-coloured van, thought to be a Ford Transit, before abandoning the digger and fleeing the scene.

Police were on the scene to cordon off the bank and oversee recovery operations (Image: Victoria Humphrey)

Suffolk Constabulary said: “A telehandler was used to ram the front of the building and then rip the cash machine out of the wall, which was then dragged from the premises and loaded into a dark-coloured van – possibly a Ford Transit.

“Officers were immediately dispatched to the incident and conducted searches of the surrounding area for the suspect vehicle, but it was not located.

“The telehandler is believed to have been stolen from a farm in Ringsfield and was abandoned at the scene.”

Hammond Recovery led the removal operation of the digger with contractors from March Engineering and Duncan and Sons working to secure the building.

Contractors from MARCH Engineering and Duncan and Sons working to secure the building (Image: Victoria Humphrey)

The area between Simply Cards and The Kings Head Hotel, a Wetherspoons pub, was cordoned off as police conducted their investigations.

East Suffolk Council installed ‘Danger Keep Out’ signs around the safety fencing, and confirmed that its Building Control Team “attended overnight to assess and establish the integrity and safety of the building structure”.

Simply Cards has since reopened after police moved the cordon to allow customers to access the shop (Image: Victoria Humphrey)

Simply Cards, which briefly fell inside the cordon, has since reopened with a spokeswoman stressing the shop is “structurally sound”.

Police speaking to locals who believe they may have information on the incident (Image: Victoria Humphrey)

Nationwide said work is under way to assess the extent of the damage and to prepare a repair plan.

Customers are being directed to nearby branches in Lowestoft or Norwich while the Beccles site remains closed.

Beccles Town Council workers were also on the scene (Image: Victoria Humphrey)

Town shocked by raid

As recovery crews worked behind the cordon, locals gathered to watch the operation.

One holidaymaker who was staying near the building society said: “We couldn’t believe the noise, we had to come out and see what the noise was about.

“I certainly didn’t expect this.”

Locals gathered around the cordon to watch the digger be removed (Image: Victoria Humphrey)

One man, who had been heading to the cash machine, said: “I can’t believe this, I was just literally coming to put cash in the wall and I came round the corner and I saw all this.”

Another local feared what this meant for the future of Beccles’ Nationwide and said: “I was going to come here to use the bank, this is the only bank we’ve got, I hope they don’t use this to take the bank away from us.”

A spokesman for Beccles Town Council said: “We’re shocked that such an incident should happen in Beccles.

“We’re reassured that the police are investigating the crime and we hope that the town centre CCTV will be helpful to their investigation.”

Police are appealing for anyone with relevant information to contact East CID at Lowestoft Police Station, quoting reference 37/12518/26.