In a brazen and audacious early morning crime, thieves were captured on camera using a tractor to violently rip a cash machine from the wall of a Co-op store in the Scottish border town of Coldstream. The shocking incident, which occurred in the dead of night, has left the community reeling and prompted a major police investigation.
Dramatic CCTV Footage Reveals Unusual Heist
CCTV footage from the scene shows the thieves emerging outside the Co-op on Coldstream High Street in the early hours of Monday, February 9, 2026. At approximately 2am, emergency services rushed to the branch after reports of the bold theft. The video clearly depicts a hooded individual operating a tractor, which was used to wrench the ATM from its mounting with brutal force.
Chaotic Escape with ATM on Car Roof
In a chaotic and reckless manoeuvre, the thieves then dropped the stolen cash machine onto the roof of a waiting Nissan Navara pick-up truck. One of the perpetrators hastily abandoned the tractor and jumped into the passenger seat of the vehicle before it sped away, with the ATM precariously balanced on top. Loud alarms from the store can be heard ringing incessantly in the footage, adding to the dramatic scene.
The front of the Co-op store was left severely damaged, with a massive square hole visible where the ATM had been installed. Debris from the forced extraction was scattered across the pavement, requiring police to cordon off the area with tape and traffic cones for public safety and forensic examination.
Police Recovery and Forensic Investigation
Police Scotland confirmed that the cash machine was recovered nearby, along with the two vehicles involved in the heist: the tractor and the Nissan Navara. Both have been seized for detailed forensic analysis as part of the ongoing investigation. Authorities have launched a comprehensive hunt for the culprits, urging anyone with information to come forward immediately.
Appeal for Witnesses and Footage
Detective Constable Callum Wood stated: "Extensive enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding this incident and to trace those involved. We are appealing to anyone who was in the area between 1.30am and 2am on Monday, 9 February, 2026, who witnessed anything suspicious, or who has any information that may assist our investigation to please contact us."
He further emphasised the importance of reviewing dash-cam or CCTV footage, urging the public to report any relevant material. Information can be provided by contacting 101 and quoting reference number 0163 of 9 February, or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
This unusual and shameless crime has highlighted the lengths to which thieves will go, using heavy machinery in a populated area. The investigation continues as police work to bring those responsible to justice and prevent similar incidents in the future.
