Video captured the moment a criminal gang used a stolen telehandler to ram into a Co-op store and steal thousands of pounds of cash.

Footage of the brazen burglary in Plympton, Plymouth shows the vehicle repeatedly collide with the store wall in the early hours of February 2 – allowing two cashpoint machines to be removed from the building on Glen Road.

At least four people were involved in the break-in, Devon and Cornwall Police said, and it is believed the raid may be connected to other ram raids carried out across the country over the last four months.

The ‘highly sophisticated and organised’ gang can be seen inflicting a series of precise blows with the John Deere telehandler until the wall finally gives way – leaving bits of concrete in its wake.

A dark-clothed individual then beckons to a driver of one of the vehicles after pausing to rummage through the wreckage.

Police said the suspects were seen arriving in three different vehicles, all of which had been stolen from nearby properties.

The force added it was notified about the burglary at around 1.45am.

Footage of the brazen burglary in Plympton shows the vehicle repeatedly collide with a wall at the store in the early hours of February 2

The ‘highly sophisticated and organised’ gang can be seen inflicting a series of precise blows with the John Deere telehandler until the wall finally gives way

A dark-clothed individual then beckons to a driver of one of the vehicles after pausing to rummage through the wreckage

Detective Constable Andrew Trott-Rodgers said: ‘Following extensive enquiries we now believe that this incident could be connected to several other ram-raid burglaries which have happened in the last four months across the country.

‘We believe that this incident, and those which we believe are linked, have been carried out by a highly sophisticated and organised criminal gang.

‘We are continuing to work closely with other forces where those incidents have occurred.

‘What we know is that the telehandler, the truck and trailer in the footage are from the Smithaleigh area of Plympton, near and around Piggeries Farm. We believe the telehandler was taken from there between 5.30pm on Sunday 1 February and 1.30am on Monday 2 February.

‘The Navara was stolen between 12.20am and 12.30am on Downfield Drive.

‘We have trawled through CCTV but we believe this gang stuck to known back roads to avoid detection and members would have been in the area prior to the incident to carry out a recce.

‘As you can see in the footage, all four were dressed in dark clothing and had their hoods up and faces covered.’

The spokesman added all the stolen vehicles apart from the telehandler were found ‘burnt out in a forest nearby’ at a Sparkwell paintball site between 1.40am and 4am.

The extent of damage at the co-op store is pictured. Police are appealing for anyone with information to come forward

Police said all the stolen vehicles apart from the telehandler (pictured) were found ‘burnt out in a forest nearby’ at a Sparkwell paintball site between 1.40am and 4am

In a separate incident, police taped off a North Staffordshire Co-op after the front of the store was ‘ripped out’ – they say there have been a series of incidents over the last four months

Elsewhere in Retford, a Spar was completely decimated – with a large quantity of cash stolen

He said: ‘It is thought they are likely to have stayed in the area prior to the incident so we would like to hear from anyone who runs an Airbnb or a bed and breakfast/guest house who had a booking from four men over the weekend of Saturday 31 January and Sunday 1 February.

‘Witnesses who may have seen anything suspicious in the early hours of Monday 2 February around Downfield Drive, Glen Road and Language in Plympton, or Smithaleigh also still being sought.

‘We are asking residents who live in these areas, who we have not already spoken to, for doorbell camera footage or anyone with dashcam footage to get in touch by calling 101 or by reporting online quoting 50260027042.’

Police say information can also be provided anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111, or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.