Thieves Fail to Steal from Empty Cash Machine

John Charles, 50, and Reuben Reynolds, 42, were sentenced following a failed ram-raid at a Spar convenience store in Retford, Nottinghamshire, on March 14, 2023. The duo used a stolen telehandler to smash through the store's wall in the early hours, only to discover that the cash machine was empty. Their attempt to flee in a white van with false plates was thwarted by the activation of the store's alarm, leaving behind significant damage estimated at £40,000. The court heard that the pair had previously been linked to another burglary at a local pub, where a substantial amount of cash was stolen. Just days after the initial incident, they returned to the Spar, again using the telehandler to cause extensive damage, scattering glass and debris throughout the store. Both men, who have prior convictions for burglary, were eventually apprehended, with Reynolds resisting arrest and assaulting an officer in the process. The impact of their actions was particularly devastating for the family-run store, which had been in operation for nearly 30 years. The store owner expressed the emotional and financial toll the burglary had taken, noting that much of the repair costs would not be covered by insurance. In addition to their sentences, Charles received an extra month in prison for possessing nunchucks in public. The judge condemned the pair's disregard for their victims, emphasizing that their criminal behavior posed a threat to innocent, hardworking individuals in the community.