Bungling Co-op cash machine robbers made crucial mistake

Bungling sledgehammer-wielding robbers who used a pick-up truck to rip a cash machine from its fittings were jailed today for more than nine years.

Thomas Eden and Christopher Jones arrived at the scene in a black Nissan Navara armed with weapons, including a crowbar.

The crooks smashed up the ATM at the Co-op on Orford Lane, Warrington, using the sledgehammer before attaching the cash machine to a tow rope.

The two staff members inside were told to get out of the way while 31-year-old Jones, from Merseyside, brandished a crow bar.

The drama was filmed by stunned passers-by who watched as red rope or cord was attached to the money distributor on June 15.

The vehicle, thought to be a Nissan Navara, was parked on the pavement, at about 9pm, and inched back and forwards to wrench the cash machine free.

Two men then scampered into the shop and scoured the debris before escaping with a dark-coloured box, in their hope it was filled with cash.

In somewhat chaotic scenes, one of the robbers almost slips over in his haste to flee with his loot.

The men can then be seen clearing away the rope, and re-affixing it to the back of the truck before it drives away.

Jones, of no fixed abode, and Eden, 26, from Lovel Road, Speke, hoped the black box would be filled with cash, but it is understood it was empty.

One woman, who said she worked at that Co-Op, said at the time: "The cash machine is empty so they've wasted their time. Hope it was worth robbing a store for no money.

"I know this because I put the sign on when it died on Saturday."

One member of the public, looking on in astonishment, tells his colleague: "Ring the police, hurry up!"

He add: "Mad, aren't they?"

And as he sees them exiting the shop with their supposed spoils, he comments: "All that for that little box."

After driving off in the pick-up truck at speed, Eden and Jones abandoned the vehicle on Dudley Street and got into a Seat Ibiza where they travelled towards Widnes before abandoning it on Ditton Road.

Officers with assistance from National Police Air Support (NPAS) began a search of that area and spotted Eden and Jones running through gardens.

The men were arrested in the garden of a bungalow near to a pub on Halebank Road.

Eden was jailed for three years and eight months after admitting robbery and Jones was jailed for five years and eight months after also admitting the same offence, and absconding from HMP Thorn Cross on Christmas Eve in 2019.

Detective Sergeant Tom Hall, from Warrington Police, said: “Eden and Jones terrified two members of staff as they brazenly robbed the store in full view of the public who were filming them in action.

“They had planned their attack by swapping vehicles after fleeing from the scene and then attempted to evade police by running through people’s gardens and hiding in bushes.

“I want to thank the public who came forward to provide information, the hard work of the officers who captured the suspects and the detectives investigating the case.

“It certainly played a part in the men admitting to their crimes and ensuring they were put behind bars.”