Police are still probing a bungled ATM heist at a north-east garage.
Raiders smashed their way into Aboyne Service Station and dragged the cash machine on to the forecourt before trying to load it on to a navy Land Rover Defender.
But they were forced to abandon the heist as they struggled to lift the ATM on to the 4×4, and left both the vehicle and the cash machine behind.
The Land Rover had been stolen from a property in neighbouring Dinnet before the attempted theft around 1.45am on Sunday, October 26.
Police have confirmed officers are still piecing-together what happened.
Aboyne councillor Geva Blackett said the village had been targeted precisely because it was a low crime area.
She added: “I have asked the police about what is happening and they assured me that officers are working as hard as they can to find the perpetrators.
“It looks like it was organised criminals from outwith the area. It is not local people. I think it is because it is a low crime area, people are often more relaxed.
“It is also often opportunistic crime.”
The incident in Aboyne was the latest in a series of ATM raids across the north-east in recent months.
In January, two cash machines were ripped off the wall of the Morrisons supermarket in Banchory and the gang responsible escaped with around £10,000..
Nearly £1,000 was stolen from a cash machine at a Nisa store in Cuminestown in March, while in June thieves made off with about £50,000 after blowing up an ATM at Tesco’s Newtonhill branch.
In August, raiders stole more than £10,000 after smashing a cash machine at the Co-op in Kingswells.
No one at Aboyne Service was available to comment yesterday..