Moment gang’s ‘mistake’ linked them to £500,000 cash machine raids

The moment that a gang made a “mistake” which led to them being linked to £500,000 worth of cash machine robberies has been released.

CCTV caught the group raiding an ATM at a shop on Longshaw Street, Warrington. When police turned up at the scene, in April last year, the gang then “rammed” a police car off the road as they fled the scene.

Up until this point, a series of cash machine robberies had gone unlinked. A spokesperson for Cheshire police said: “This shocking footage was gathered during months of investigation into an OCG who targeted cash machines across the country.

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“Many of these incidents remained unconnected, until the group made the mistake of hitting an ATM in Cheshire. Our serious and organised crime unit launched Operation Hades, following an attack on a store in Warrington during which the officers were rammed by the group.”

Detectives then identified links to other offences across the country, including St Helens, Southport and Haydock. Yesterday, on Monday, April 24, Liverpool Crown Court heard that the incidents took place between March 11 and July 7, 2022.

It is estimated more than £500,000 in cash was stolen during the attacks. On each occasion Lee Leatherbarrow, Crimea Price, Arthur Gaskin and John Price would would use mobile phones to communicate and co-ordinate a meeting place before they left these devices at home or at an agreed meeting point.

They then would use stolen vehicles, including two BMWs and a Volkswagen Golf Type R to get to their chosen points. After an attack one of these vehicles was found to be stored in a garage in Lowton, Wigan which the group thought was a safe location.

They also used multiple cloned number plates relating to similar car makes and models. After this they would then steal Ford Transit vans and follow in convoy with one of the other vehicles to travel direct to the store that was to be targeted.

The OCG would use power tools to break into the stores and then drag the ATM machines out before loading up the stolen vehicles with cassettes containing cash. Officers say their downfall was when a getaway BMW was involved in a police chase.

The car reached speeds of up to 90mph in a 30mph zone, after the final burglary at a Co-operative store in the village of Moira, Leicestershire. During the pursuit the criminals threw items such as a fire extinguisher and bricks out of the vehicles in an attempt to stop officers chasing them.

Eventually police caught both Price and Gaskin. Further enquiries led to a warrant being executed in St Helens with Leatherbarrow arrested. All were then subsequently charged with conspiracy to commit burglary.

All pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing and Lee Leatherbarrow, 33, of Lascelles Street, St Helens, was sentenced to seven years and six months imprisonment. Crimea Price, 32, of Southworth Road, Newton-Le-Willows, got eight years.

Arthur Gaskin, 35, of no fixed address , was handed seven years and six months and John Price, 27, of Newport Street, Burslem, was given six years imprisonment

Detective inspector Nick Henderson said: “This gang left a trail of destruction for their own selfish gain – they may have stolen in excess of £500,000 in cash but this does not account for the damage caused to the shops, ATM machines and around 20 vehicles that were stolen in order to commit the offences – in total this investigation identified a loss of £1 million.

“This was by no means a victimless crime, this gang ruined businesses and caused huge disruption to local communities and residents, but thanks to our investigation we were able to put together an extensive catalogue of evidence which left the OCG no choice but to plead guilty to the offences put to them – even if it took some time for them to agree.

“They will now be behind bars for a combined total of 29 years and I hope this acts as a lesson to those who think they can come into Cheshire to commit crime – we will find you and bring you to justice.”

The gang’s crime spree:

14/03/2022 – Co-op High Street Sleaford, Lincs – £21,420 stolen.