Cash Machine Heist Ends in High-Speed Police Chase
George Jones, 31, was slapped with a hefty four-year, nine-month sentence at Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday, 23 March 2023. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle and dangerous driving related to a cash machine robbery attempt.
Bungled Break-In at Longfield Co-Op
The daring crime unfolded in the early hours of 6 April 2022 at a Co-Op store on Station Road, Longfield. Two vans rolled up at about 4am, with one smashing through the store’s front window.
- A strap was tied around the cash machine inside and connected to the chassis bar of the second van.
- They made two failed attempts to yank the machine free — during the second, the van’s chassis bar snapped.
- The trio quickly switched to a third van nearby on Sandbanks Hill and sped off.
Mad M25 Chase Ends in Surrey Park
kent.police.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="Kent Police" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Kent Police swiftly identified the third getaway van, catching it on the M25. A hair-raising pursuit ensued, with the thieves careering through red lights, driving the wrong way down a dual carriageway, and hitting speeds over 100mph.
The chase came to a halt in a Banstead, Surrey park, where the offenders ditched the van. Jones was found hiding under a bush by a police dog, aided by Surrey and Metropolitan Police officers.
A shirt linking Jones to the scene and vehicle was discovered nearby, sealing his fate.
Police Crackdown Sends Clear Message
This latest conviction follows two men jailed last year for over 16 years combined for six similar offences across Kent from 2019 to 2021, plus another jailed for five years for a Canterbury smash-and-grab in November 2021.
“With a fourth man now serving a lengthy prison term for this kind of offending, the message to criminals is clear: Come to Kent to steal cash machines and you will be caught and jailed,” said Detective Chief Inspector Christopher Greenstreet of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate.
“I would like to praise officers from Kent, Surrey, and the Metropolitan Police for tracking down this man despite his dangerous escape attempts. Measures are now in place to prevent future offences, and I hope businesses here feel safer knowing those behind these crimes are behind bars.”
