Forklift Used to Tear Cash Machines from Scottish Bank in Daring Overnight Raid

Two cash machines were forcibly removed from the walls of a Royal Bank of Scotland branch in the Scottish Borders town of Peebles during a brazen early morning robbery, according to police.

The incident occurred at approximately 03:00 on Tuesday when a heavy telescopic forklift was driven into the bank located on Eastgate, the main thoroughfare running through the town centre. The machinery was used to smash through the building's exterior before the two ATMs were extracted and loaded onto a waiting horsebox.

Police Scotland has described the events as a "planned series of crimes involving stolen vehicles," suggesting a high degree of coordination and premeditation on the part of those responsible. The investigation is now focused on tracing three men who were seen departing the area shortly after the raid.

According to detectives, a grey Audi saloon car, a grey Isuzu D-Max pick-up truck towing a horsebox, and a Manitou telehandler all entered the Eastgate area in the early hours of the morning. The telehandler, a versatile piece of heavy lifting equipment commonly used in agriculture and construction, was utilised to ram the building and remove the cash machines.

The pick-up truck and the horsebox it was towing had both been reported stolen prior to the incident. The telehandler used to breach the bank's walls is also believed to have been stolen, and it was abandoned at the scene when the perpetrators fled. The three suspects, all dressed in dark clothing, made their escape in the Audi and the pick-up truck, heading in the direction of Northgate.

Detective Inspector Keith Sinclair, who is leading the investigation, confirmed that extensive inquiries are underway. "This was clearly a planned series of crimes, involving stolen vehicles, to target the cash machines," he said. "Extensive inquiries are ongoing to trace the suspects and officers are working through CCTV from the area and speaking to witnesses."

He has issued a direct appeal to the public, urging anyone with information or anyone who may have seen any of the vehicles involved to come forward and contact police.

The aftermath of the raid has left significant disruption in the town centre. Peebles High Street has been closed to vehicular traffic while police conduct their investigation, with a cordon remaining in place around the damaged bank. Photographs from the scene show shattered windows, rubble strewn across the pavement, and debris scattered around the exterior of the branch. The abandoned forklift, which features a prominent red telescopic arm, remains visible on the street.

Local bus operator Borders Buses has announced that it will be unable to serve the nearby bus stop until further notice due to the road closure, adding to the inconvenience for residents and visitors to the town.

The use of a telehandler to physically rip cash machines from the walls of a bank represents a particularly aggressive and destructive method of theft. Such machines are typically bolted into the structure of a building and often contain significant sums of cash, making them a target for organised criminal groups. The decision to use a horsebox as the getaway vehicle for transporting the stolen ATMs is an unusual detail that investigators are likely examining closely, as it suggests an attempt to disguise the nature of the operation during the escape.

The raid bears the hallmarks of a carefully orchestrated operation, requiring the acquisition of multiple stolen vehicles, knowledge of the bank's layout, and the ability to operate heavy machinery under the cover of darkness. The fact that the telehandler was abandoned at the scene suggests the perpetrators prioritised a swift exit over retaining all of their equipment.

Peebles, a historic town in the Scottish Borders with a population of around 8,000, is not typically associated with this type of high-profile criminal activity. The incident has understandably caused considerable concern among local residents, who awoke to find their high street cordoned off and a major bank branch severely damaged.

Police Scotland's appeal for witnesses indicates that they are casting a wide net in their search for information. Officers will be reviewing CCTV footage from across the town centre, including private security cameras, to piece together the movements of the suspects before, during, and after the raid. Forensic teams are also likely to be examining the abandoned telehandler and the damaged bank for any traces of evidence that could identify those involved.

The stolen Audi and pick-up truck are of particular interest to investigators, as their registration plates or distinguishing features may have been captured on traffic cameras or dashcams in the surrounding area. Police have asked anyone who may have seen these vehicles in the hours leading up to the raid to contact them immediately.

The RBS branch on Eastgate remains closed while structural assessments are carried out to determine the full extent of the damage caused by the telehandler. The bank has not yet issued a statement regarding the incident or indicated when the branch might reopen.

Anyone with information about the raid is urged to contact Police Scotland or to report anonymously through Crimestoppers. Investigators are particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have dashcam footage from the Peebles area in the early hours of Tuesday morning.