Ram-raiders in stolen cars have tried to steal a cash counter from a Kirklees town hall.
Police need help tracing the culprits after men in two vehicles were involved in a ‘ram-raid’ of Cleckheaton Town Hall at 2.38am this morning.
A Land Rover Discovery and a Mitsubishi Shogun – both stolen from the Broomfield area of Bradford on Wednesday – drove to the side of the town hall.
The Land Rover was then used to crash into the building’s main door and the Shogun used by the suspects to make off.
The Land Rover was left at the scene and the Shogun was later recovered.
Detective Inspector Stef Wiseman of Kirklees CID, said: “We are appealing for any witnesses to the incident to get in contact. “Even though this happened late at night it was in the middle of the town and will have caused significant disruption.
“If you saw or heard anything suspicious please contact CID on 101.”
Police are today viewing CCTV to see how many people were involved.
It’s thought they gained entry to the building and tried to take the cashier counter, but failed.
Clr Kath Pinnock, Cleckheaton Lib Dem, said: “It seems the 4x4 has gone into the main ground floor entrance and it’s caused some damage.
“There was a previous attempt a few years back, it wasn’t sophisticated because they didn’t get anyway with anything then either.”
In 2012 chainsaw-wielding burglars targeted the town hall, having smashed a window to gain entry.
They attacked a glass cabinet, possibly in a bid to get at a display of council artefacts.
But it’s thought they fled the scene after hearing the computer-generated voice of a lift that had moved when the fire alarm went off.
In unrelated investigations, police would like to speak to the people pictured in the image gallery below. The people pictured in the images may be witnesses as well as suspects. If you recognise anyone, contact police on 101 quoting the reference number on the image caption.
