CCTV footage has emerged of four balaclava-wearing thieves struggling to lift a safe into their getaway car, before finally managing to drive off.
The heavy container filled with money was taken from the Co-op service station in Lees, Oldham, after the crooks broke their way into the back office of the shop in the early hours of the morning.
After a few minutes of the men dragging and pushing the safe on the floor, they manage to lift it off the snow and put it into the back of the car.
CCTV footage has emerged of four balaclava-wearing thieves struggling to lift a safe into their getaway car, before finally managing to drive off
They are seen dragging the safe from the building on Athens Way at around 1.45am on Tuesday, February 27.
Police were called to the scene and an investigation has now been launched.
A ‘large amount’ of money was taken, although police have not given an exact figure.
Det Con Zahir Hussain, from GMP’s Oldham Borough, said: ‘Although the men are all wearing balaclavas, we still hope that someone may recognise one of the men or have some information that could help us with our investigation.
‘As you can see in the CCTV, the safe was extremely heavy; it took all four men to lift it.
The heavy container filled with money was taken from the Co-op service station in Lees, Oldham
‘This is not something that will have been easily transported or hidden and would have taken a lot of effort to get into.
‘We hope that in the days following the burglary someone may have seen people trying to get into the safe or may have seen the men transporting it from the car.
‘We would really like to hear from anyone with any information, no matter how small.’
Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 0161 856 9080, or alternatively call 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
They are seen dragging the safe from the building on Athens Way at around 1.45am on Tuesday, February 27