Lake Macquarie: CCTV released of ATM ram raid theft at Cameron Park Plaza

It was brazen and destructive. And the theft of an ATM inside Cameron Park Plaza has been caught on camera as detectives identify two people wanted for questioning.

Forget the brazenness of smashing through the middle of a suburban shopping centre in the dead of the night to get to the automatic teller machine.

Or even the equal act of arrogance to flee along a Lake Macquarie street with the stolen ATM in plain view.

It is the handy feats of forklift driving that has raised the eyebrows of detectives – not in awe but in anticipation that this Forklift Fangio can be identified through his ability behind the mast and carriage.

That and the fact that investigations have uncovered two unidentified men who were involved in an altercation at the same shopping centre about half an hour before the theft and are now wanted for questioning over the ram raid.

CCTV of a thief stealing an ATM inside Cameron Park Plaza using the forklift. Picture: NSW Police.

An altercation where one of the men lost his beanie, uncovering his face in albeit grainy footage.

It was 1.40am on September 5 – a Sunday morning – when the night silence was broken by shattering glass, twisting metal and screeching tyres.

The machine making all the noise is the forklift, steered through the glass front doors of the Cameron Park Plaza towards its target.

CCTV of a thief stealing an ATM inside Cameron Park Plaza. Picture: NSW Police.

Closed circuit television footage from inside the shopping centre then shows the ability of the forklift driver as he manoeuvres the oft-cumbersome machine across the polished floors.

His prize is the ATM inside the centre, with security footage showing him lift the machine up and drive back out the busted doors.

Detectives investigating the theft of an ATM at Cameron Park wish to speak with two men shown here – the man about to pick up his beanie and the other in a hoodie and mask. Picture: NSW Police

Remnants of the machine were later located at a nearby construction site and the forklift was found in bushland a few hundred metres away.

Two crime scenes were established and examined by specialist forensic police.

It is unknown how much cash the thieves got away with.

Detectives investigating the theft of an ATM at Cameron Park wish to speak with two men shown here. Picture: NSW Police

Investigators from the State Crime Command’s robbery and serious crime squad took over the investigation under Strike Force Murrabit.

They have now released some of the CCTV of the incident as well as the footage of the two men Strike Force Murrabit investigators wish to speak to.

“This was a particularly brazen and destructive robbery which caused thousands of dollars of damage and no doubt would’ve taken a certain degree of planning from those involved,’’ robbery and serious crime squad commander Detective Superintendent Andrew Koutsoufis said.

A grainy close-up of the man who had lost his beanie. Detectives wish to speak to him regarding the ATM theft. Picture: NSW Police

“It was also unique given the use of a forklift.

“CCTV depicts two men involved in an altercation with three other persons a short time before this ram raid took place.

“Detectives are seeking the identity of these two men; one of whom notably has his face uncovered.

“If anyone saw the forklift, or the occupant or occupants of this machine on the night of the robbery, please come forward and contact police.’’

Det Supt Koutsoufis told a press conference on Friday: “We are not certain if the offenders are locals at this stage. We believe they have have some knowledge of the layout and there would have been some planning involved in relation to stealing the forklift and then identifying the appropriate location of the ATM and how to get to the ATM.’’