NEIGHBOURS have spoken of their shock after raiders targeted a town centre garage opposite their homes and made off with cash totalling about £60,000.
Police sealed off the Texaco service station at Southampton Road, Eastleigh, after a cash machine was ripped apart during a heist carried out in less than three minutes.
The vehicle shot forward and tore open the machine, enabling the three-man gang to access the cash.
They are reported to have grabbed two containers full of £10 and £20 notes before speeding off in the direction of Southampton Airport.
The cash machine is outside a 24-hour Londis store that forms part of the garage.
Paul Chappells, 55, of Southampton Road, said he was vaguely aware of being woken by a loud noise at around 3am on Saturday.
He added: "Police were there overnight and most of the next day. The cash machine was taped off and the garage's jet wash was closed as well.
"It's an incredible amount of money. I don't use the machine myself and didn't even know it held so much.
"I've never heard of anything like that happening around here before. Considering it's a main road it's generally pretty quiet."
A neighbour who asked not to be named added: "I didn't bother going to bed and fell asleep on my sofa in the living room. It's right up against the front wall but I didn't hear a thing. I'm just glad that no one was hurt."
Reports say garage staff pressed a panic button and police arrived within nine minutes, but by then the raiders had disappeared.
A police spokesperson said: "We are investigating after a large quantity of cash was stolen from a cash machine in the early hours of Saturday.
"A vehicle was used to force open the cash machine and approximately £60,000 was stolen. Enquiries remain ongoing."
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