Banks and ATM providers are offering a reward of up to £25,000 to anyone who provides information on cash machine theft that leads to a conviction.

The appeal comes as ATM raids tend to increase in the run up to the Christmas and New Year and all information received will be treated in the strictest of confidence.

Police are also asking members of the public to help them in the fight against cash machine theft by reporting suspicious activity at ATMs and the surrounding areas.

In particular they would like to hear from anyone who witnesses suspicious activity at constructions sites, particularly the movement of diggers during unsociable hours.

Raiders tend to use heavy machinery such as diggers and heavy duty 4x4s to rip cash machines from their housings and police would like to hear from anyone.

New trends in targeting cash machines are also starting to emerge where thieves use gas to explode the machine’s fixings and gain access to money.

If you are at a cash machine and smell gas, move away and call 999.

Detective Chief Inspector John McDermott said: “We target ATM thieves all the time but this is a determined, conscious effort to build on previous successes.

“We are urging people to be extra vigilant in the fight against cash machine thieves.

“Criminals involved in this sort of offending are often ruthless and determined.They will do anything they can to get their hands on the money inside and often disregard public safety as they go about their criminal deeds.

“We enjoy a good relationship with the ATM industry and those businesses which have cash machines and will pursue every line of investigation possible to bring these thieves to justice.”