Two men charged following ATM thefts in Preston and Chorley

Thursday, 18 May 2023 05:38

Police seize large amount of cash and power tools suspected to be used in cash machine thefts following car search.

Two men have been arrested and subsequently charged in relation to thefts from cash machines in Preston and Chorley.

One ATM theft was reported to police on May 5th and occurred at a premises on Spendmore Lane in Coppull, while a second theft was reported in the early hours of Sunday (May 14th), after a premises on Watling Street Road, Preston, was targeted.

On Monday (May 15^th) at around 10.50pm a vehicle believed to be connected to the thefts was spotted by officers on patrol in the Ribbleton Lane area. It was stopped and searched, along with addresses in the Fishwick and Ribbleton areas.

In the car items including power tools were located, while a large amount of cash was found at one of the addresses.

Two men, aged 29 and 31 and from Preston, were arrested at the scene on suspicion of going equipped for theft.

Then on Tuesday night police charged Alexandru Dobrin, 29, of Cemetery Road, Preston, with 18 counts of fraud, one count of possession of articles for use in fraud and possession of criminal property and George-Alexandru Serban, 31, of Greenwood Street, Preston, with 18 counts of fraud and one count of possession of articles for use in fraud.

This is in relation to the two thefts in Preston and Chorley, plus number of other, similar incidents across Lancashire. Enquiries are ongoing.