THEY are a gang of criminals targeting cashpoint machines across Hampshire.

Now a reward of up to £25,000 is being offered for any information leading to the capture of the gang who have targeted six ATMs in the county.

As reported, police are hunting vandals caught on CCTV who are believed to have struck three times in the past three days at Barclays branches in Southampton, Eastleigh, Hedge End and Park Gate.

The men appear to be targeting anti-fraud devices and put the machines out of action.

Now Link, which operates UK’s cash machine network, has stepped in with rewards for anyone with information that will lead to criminals being brought to justice.

Senior Link spokesman Graham Mott said: “We’re urging the public to come forward with any information that they may have about cash machine crime, for example card skimming or physical attacks on cash machines themselves.

“Even something that may sound insignificant could be part of a bigger picture and prove invaluable in convicting someone involved in cash machine crime.”

The first attempt to remove the devices happened at 11pm last Tuesday in Portswood Road, Southampton.

Just over one hour later they struck again at the bank in Botley Road, Park Gate, at 12.10am on Wednesday.

On Thursday the men decided to try their luck again – this time stepping up their game and hitting four different branches in under two hours.

At 1.10am the vandals targeted the Portswood Road branch for a second time before moving on to Shirley Road, Shirley, just 20 minutes later.

The men then left the city and headed for Eastleigh where they vandalised the cash machine outside the branch in Upper MarketStreet at 2.28am before finally striking in Lower Northam Road, Hedge End, at 2.56am.

Police are appealing to anyone who recognises the men or who saw them at the bank branches to contact PC Peter Watson at Southampton Central on 101 or to ring the anonymous Crimestoppers charity line on 0800 555 111.