And finally…Edinburgh bus driver foils ATM ram-raid thieves

Balaclava-clad men tore an ATM from the wall of the Sainsbury’s store in Shandwick Place in the early hours of yesterday morning using a chain attached to a stolen luxury SUV.

However, the men fled empty-handed towards the west end, leaving the cash machine lying in the street after being confronted by the driver and his passengers around 3.30am.

The would-be thieves then drove off towards Haymarket Terrace in a waiting Audi Q5, a vehicle which is thought to have been stolen from Inchkeith Crescent, Kirkcaldy, on Tuesday, and used in a break-in at a Roslin shop.

Bus passenger Jake Buchanan, 24, was on the N25 at the time.

He said: “If we hadn’t turned up, they would’ ve got away with that machine.”

The bus, carrying two other people east towards Waverley pulled into a stop opposite the store as the drama unfolded.

“There was a car parked a bit squint and then we saw the smashed windows ,” Mr Buchanan, an ex-security steward from Gilmerton, said. “Three men were inside the shop who’d smashed their way in. They had their hoods up and faces covered up, carrying massive crowbars. There was a thick chain around the machine and they ripped it out.”

Mr Buchanan said the quick- thinking bus driver then manoeuvred his vehicle into the path of the £40,000 Audi, while radioing for help.

Det Insp Graham Grant, who is in charge of the community investigation unit, said: “While the men were successful in gaining entry to the shop, they have been unable to steal the ATM and have left it in the street before making their escape.

“We are continuing our liaison with the store, but it appears nothing has been stolen at this time.

“This is the latest incident involving the stolen Audi from Kirkcaldy and officers from Fife, Midlothian and Edinburgh are all working together to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.

“If you have any information that can assist with these ongoing inquiries then please contact police immediately.”