Two men have been jailed after blowing up ATMs and stealing nearly £ 50,000 in cash.
Anthony Crowley and James Whitlock targeted eight machines across Essex and London between 2019 and 2020.
Police said they used explosives to gain access and in one case even threw a petrol bomb at an ATM.
The couple admitted conspiracy to commit burglary and handling of stolen goods and were jailed for up to 15 years each.
Basildon Crown Court heard they caused around £ 15,000 in damage during the crime series.
Whitlock, 37, of Walton-on-the-Naze, also admitted to failing to comply with an order to prevent serious crime.
Crowley, 36, without a fixed address, also admitted possession of a Class A substance.
Whitlock was sentenced to 15 years in prison, while Crowley was jailed for 14 and a half years.
They had stolen or attempted to steal from ATMs in Brentwood, Wickford, Clacton and West Hanningfield in Essex and Plaistow, Woodford Green, Cold Harbor and Brixton in London.
Detective Inspector Lee Morton of the Essex and Kent Serious Crime Directorate said the couple ‘went to extreme lengths to steal money from ATMs’.
He continued: ‘The methods they used posed a serious risk to the welfare of people living and working near the ATMs they were aiming for, and it was fortunate that no one was harmed.
‘Their actions, driven by greed and their own financial gain, were ruthless, even throwing a petrol bomb at an ATM they had not been able to get into.’
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