Police investigating the attempted theft of an automatic teller machine from an Outram store early yesterday say they are following a strong lead.
Senior Constable Dave Leonard, of Mosgiel, said police spent the day yesterday hunting a red, late-model, flat-deck Toyota Hilux, possibly stolen, which two people used in their attempt to steal the ATM.
The offenders forced their way into Mitchell's Family Foodcentre in Holyhead St, via louvre windows above the main doors about 1.30am.
The pair backed the ute up to the ATM, attached a strop around the machine and attempted to pull it out of the wall.
Snr Const Leonard said the offenders did not get far, but made a "big noise" in the process and eventually fled without the machine.
The wall was damaged.
"We've got some very good security footage out of it."
The footage would not be released to the public because police believed they had identified the offenders, Snr Const Leonard said.
It was the second attempted ATM theft in the Dunedin area in two weeks.
A 41-year-old man has been charged with burglary after an attempt was made to steal an ATM from Mailer St, in Mornington, on January 9, using the same method.
•A pit bull terrier has been destroyed after it attacked a horse at the weekend, causing such severe injuries the horse had to be put down.
Dunedin City Council senior animal control officer Jim Pryde said the dog and horse were owned by a family who lived at North Taieri.
The dog had inadvertently been let out at the weekend and had attacked the horse.
Mosgiel police and the on-call animal control officer attended the incident.
The owner of the dog yesterday agreed it should be put down.
