Pair who used explosives in Essex cashpoint thefts jailed
They'll spend a combined 30 years behind bars after using gas and fuel in attempts to break into cash machines
Two men have been jailed for a combined total of almost 30 years for using explosives to break into cash machines in Essex and London.
The pair targeted cashpoints in locations including Clacton, Brentwood and Wickford between November 2019 and January 2020.
They used gas and fuel and even a petrol bomb - stealing around ÂŁ50,000.
They caused around ÂŁ15,000 worth of damage in their efforts to break in.
They were eventually tracked them down using phone records and number plate recognition.
37 year old Anthony Crowley, of no fixed address, will spend 14 and a half years behind bars after being convicted of conspiracy to commit burglary, possession of a Class A drug, and handling stolen goods.
36 year old James Whitlock, from Walton-on-the-Naze, has been sentenced to 15 years after being convicted of conspiracy to commit burglary, handling stolen goods, and failing to comply with a serious crime prevention order.
Temporary Detective Superintendent Lee Morton, from the Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said:
“The methods they used posed a serious risk to the welfare of people living and working near to the ATMs they targeted and it was fortunate no-one was injured.
“They stole tens of thousands of pounds and caused thousands of pounds worth of damage.
“Their actions, driven by greed and their own financial gain, were reckless even throwing a petrol bomb at one cash machine they had failed to get into. "