GANG members have admitted attempting to steal a cash machine near York.

Ryan Ellerby, 18, of Albert Close in Huntington, Jack Christian Michael Parker, 19, of Ryecroft Avenue in Woodthorpe, and Joshua Mark Watson, 19, of Stone Riggs, Stockton on the Forest, all pleaded guilty at York Magistrates Court to trying to steal the ATM from the garage in York Road, Elvington, on May 24, after police were called to the scene.

They and a fourth man involved in the case are due at York Crown Court next Friday, July 10.

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The scene of the Elvington raid

Meanwhile, detectives investigating a separate ATM raid at a garage in Dunnington on Monday are reviewing CCTV to try and identify thieves who used a stolen £15,000 telehandler to ram the wall of Penny Petroleum on the A1079 at about 2am on Monday.

North Yorkshire Police told The Press yesterday the Dunnington ATM was left at the scene of the crime, amidst the rubble and remains of part of the petrol station wall, but the machine had been opened and an unspecified amount of cash was stolen from inside it.

Marilyn Holroyd arrived at the petrol station for her 6am shift on Monday to find the telehandler abandoned on the forecourt and a section of the building almost destroyed. The station was up and running again by about 2pm on Monday, and security staff are on site around the clock to guard the premises.

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She said: "They have secured the building, it's alright for us to work in. I came back first thing today.

"I couldn't believe what state it was in on Monday, I didn't imagine it would look like that. I was supposed to start at 6am so I had an early day. I got here at 5.30 this morning, and I was surprised it was up ad running again, but know they wouldn't let us in unless it was safe."

Police said they still could not confirm whether the theft was linked to a spate of about a dozen ATM thefts around North and South Yorkshire and Humberside, but confirmed "any possible link to other ATM thefts around the country is one line of enquiry which we are following".

Marilyn said the reaction from customers had been supportive, and staff were pleased to be getting back to normal.

She said: "Customers have all been asking if we were all alright. We have got some nice regulars they are lovely and all concerned about making sure we're safe. It's good to know everyone's safe, we're pleased with that.

"Part of the building is still blocked off and sealed up. I'm not sure whether that's for safety or until the ATM company come, but we were never allowed in there anyway."

Police want to speak to anyone who saw a convoy of a white transit-style van, a forklift truck and a medium-sized saloon car close to the A1079 in the early hours of Monday.

Anyone with any information or who saw anything suspicious in the Dunnington area should contact the York Serious Crime Team on 101, or email kevin.goodman@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk