The Acketts Anti-Theft Device plinth (ATD) prevented another ram raid this year when a gang tried to remove an HSBC ATM from a Total Garage in Binchester, County Durham.

The Northern Echo reported that a stolen Telehandler forklift was driven across fields and through fencing in the early hours of Friday 4th September, so it could be used in the ATM attack.

Detective inspector Billy Hugill, who is leading the investigation, said: "Although there was a lot of damage caused during the attempt to remove the cash machine the would-be-thieves fled empty handed."

It appears that a stolen Daihatsu four track and Ford Transit flat back were also used in the attack and found abandoned later that day. The gang left the scene after failing to remove the ATM.

This is the second time in a year that the Acketts ATD, which is a patented device, has prevented a ram raid. In April thieves left empty handed when they tried to remove two ATMs from Nationwide Small Heath Birmingham, using a Manitou forklift and smashing through the side of the building.

The "would be" thieves tried to pull out one of the ATMs with straps and then when that failed tried to lever it out using telescopic forks.

The performance of the Acketts AntiTheft Device was particularly impressive, because of the heavy machinery used in this attack. Manitou forklifts have lifting heights between 5 and 17 m, with lifting loads of up to 16 tonnes at 10 metres.

"We are extremely impressed by the performance of the ATD" Darren Wilson, Nationwide Group Security.

Ten years ago both these ATMs were attacked with a skip lorry, but were prevented from being removed by the Acketts ATD. The lorry was driven at the machines with considerable force, but the ATMs remained in place and the lorry became wedged between them.

Acketts Group have developed their own tests to demonstrate the expected performance of the Anti-Theft Device (ATD) to their Clients. A range of such tests was witnessed by the High Street Banks, Building Societies and their insurers.

A retro-fit version of the ATD (RFATD) has also been developed recently and exceeded expectations when it was tested in simulated ram raid attacks. The retrofit device is a cost effective solution to protecting existing ATMs, keeping disturbance to a minimum.

Please send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to receive copies of the DVDs for either of these tests or view the Web site at http://www.ackettsgl.co.uk for further information.