THE owners of BMWs, Mercs and Audis are being warned that their cars may be stolen by thieves wanting a quick getaway after stealing ATMs.

North Yorkshire Police say organised criminals are targeting such high performance cars - along with JCBs and telehandlers which they want to rip out the cash machines.

A spokesman said that in recent months, there had been a series of ATM thefts across the county and a region-wide investigation was ongoing to identify and arrest the offenders.

"The build-up to these incidents usually involves the theft of a JCB or telehandler heavy plant machinery to forcibly remove the cash machine from the local area, a Transit-type van to transport the ATM away from the scene, and a fast car – often using false number plates - as a get-away vehicle," he said.

"Businesses operating heavy plant machinery and vans have been engaged by the police to increase awareness, improve security and encourage suspicious behaviour to be reported.

"As a further preventative measure, officers are appealing to local people who own high-powered cars to do everything they can to keep their vehicles safe from organised criminals.

"The preferred makes and models tend to be RS and S Audis, AMG Mercedes and M Series BMWs. However, any performance cars could be vulnerable."

Detective Chief Inspector Graeme Wright said the force was doing everything it could to detect and deter such organised criminal activity, but while the investigations continued, it was urging people with high-performance cars to be extra vigilant and take every possible measure to keep their vehicles safe and secure when they were at home, at work or even on service station forecourts.

“It is important to keep keys out of sight, use gates and locks if appropriate and, if another vehicle can be used as a barrier, it all helps to make a theft more difficult," he said.

"Old fashioned crook locks are also a very good tool in preventing vehicle theft for little money.

“We don’t want to scare people, but there are serious criminals on the look-out for these powerful cars and they will take advantage of any complacency when it comes to vehicle and home security.”

He said any suspicious behaviour involving plant machinery and in the vicinity of cash machines should be reported to North Yorkshire Police on 101, pressing option 1 and speaking the Force Control Room. "If an emergency response is required, always dial 999. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111."