๐ฌ๐ง Longridge ยท GB ยท 14 Mar 2025
CCTV Footage Released Showing JCB Digger Ramming Longridge Co-op Store
Dramatic closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage has been released showing the precise moment a heavy excavator was used to ram-raid the Co-op store on Berry Lane in Longridge. The video captures the shocking scale of destruction during the early-morning raid.
Video Captures Storefront Collapse
The security footage, which has circulated widely on social media and news outlets, shows a yellow JCB digger navigating the quiet streets of Longridge before turning sharply towards the Co-op supermarket. The operator of the heavy machinery drives the excavator's front bucket directly into the glass doors and brickwork of the storefront. The impact causes the entire entrance to cave in, showering the interior with shattered glass and sending clouds of dust into the air.
Subsequent segments of the video depict the digger's mechanical arm reaching inside the building, dragging a cash machine (ATM) from its metal housing, and lifting it onto the back of an awaiting vehicle. The entire operation was completed in a matter of minutes, after which the suspects fled the scene, leaving the heavy excavator abandoned in the middle of Berry Lane.
"The footage is hard to watch. The raw power of the digger just goes right through the front of the shop. It shows how organized and determined these criminals were."
Police Request Public Assistance with Footage
Lancashire Police have released key details from the video as part of a wider public appeal. Investigators are keen to identify the individuals seen in the footage, who were wearing dark clothing and balaclavas to conceal their identities. Police believe the JCB digger was stolen from a nearby construction site shortly before the ram-raid took place.
Detectives are urging anyone who was driving in the Longridge area between 2:30 AM and 3:30 AM on Friday, March 14, 2025, to check their dashcam footage. Additionally, residents living near Berry Lane are asked to review their home security and smart doorbell cameras for any signs of suspicious vehicles or individuals in the hours leading up to the break-in.
Community Response to the Visual Evidence
The release of the footage has caused concern among Longridge residents and local business owners, who feel the brazen nature of the attack represents a growing threat to local security. Discussions have since intensified regarding the install of permanent anti-ram bollards along Berry Lane to protect local shops from similar incidents. Lancashire Police have reassured the public that additional night-time patrols have been scheduled to ensure safety and restore peace of mind to the community.
Sources : Blog Preston
