PORT Macquarie police have appealed for information about an elaborate and brazen cash machine raid on a butcher’s shop late on Friday evening.

A male in dark clothing was reportedly seen running away from the Wiggly Tail butchery at the Growers Market shopping centre on Gordon Street minutes before police arrived to investigate the break-in.

Security firm Armaguard, which maintains the ATM at the butcher’s shop, alerted police to the break-in about 11.15pm and contacted the proprietor Kerry Buttsworth.

The business owner attempted to get security camera footage at his home, but was unable to view it on his computer.

“I’ve got remote access to the security system here [at home],” Mr Buttsworth said, “but the locked box containing the hard drive [for the security cameras] was broken into and the hard drive was taken.

“Whoever’s done it has been very organised.”

The robust ATM was forced open and emptied through the steel door at the back of the unit.

Withdrawals from the cash machine are made from outside the premises, but it is maintained from inside the shop.

Inspector Shane Cribb, of Port Macquarie police, said a “large amount of cash” had been stolen.

Mr Buttsworth said the perpetrator had broken in through the shop front and no other items had been stolen or damaged.

Detectives had declared the shop a crime scene about 2am on Saturday, he said, and the business was unable to trade until 9am that day.

The incident follows a break-in at Wiggly Tail in early November.

Butcher Phil Irvin, who has been employed at the shop for several years and was working on Saturday, said he and colleagues had not been affected adversely by the robbery.

“This kind of thing happens at night when no one’s around,” he said.

Police investigations continue and anyone with information is asked to contact the Port Macquarie station on 6583 0199,
or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000