THIEVES climbed onto the roof of a bank from a nearby home and stole up to £81,000 from cash machines.

Police are investigating the raid from the old Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) bank in George Street, Hove. The branch has been closed for some time but still operates two cash machines.

Officers held door to door enquiries with people living in Ventnor Villas, which backs onto the street.

The thieves are believed to have scaled scaffolding which surrounded one of the houses directly behind the bank after climbing over a wall or opening an unlocked gate into the back garden in the dead of night.

Police attended the scene the next afternoon after reports of an alarm sounding.

Eye witnesses said officers cordoned off the branch and kept guard for the rest of the day while forensics teams searched the area for clues.

The news follows a reward being issued to help catch thieves who blew up cash machines at three Post Office branches in Sussex last month. It is not clear if the crimes are linked.

Lydia Dragas, 41, of Ventnor Villas, opened her door to find police officers who wanted to search the garden on Saturday, March 25.

She said: “When I asked what was wrong they said there had been a break-in. I think they didn’t want to worry me.

“People are always coming and going through the garden gate. It’s easy to get in, it is not secure, so I keep my back door locked.

“It makes me anxious so I’m moving out.

“I spoke to the neighbours about it as well. None of us saw or heard anything but we are quite concerned about it.”

Neighbour Gary Whiteley, 35, who lives in a next door house, said: “You could see the police tape around the bank all day.

“When I walked past I saw the door had been broken so I wondered if it had been a break-in, apparently they ripped the cash machine out.

“Someone tried to break into our flat a few years ago so we’ve made it more secure with a new back door.

“We are quite a close knit group here and it’s not nice to think of it close to home.”

George Street traders also voiced their concerns about the incident and said the cash machines were a vital facility in the road for shoppers patronising their businesses.

One shop owner, who asked not to be named, said: “It’s a bit disconcerting to hear of this. We need more security measures. There isn’t actually a CCTV camera on the street.

“There is one at each end which looks up the street but they rotate. You need one looking all the time. You don’t see police patrols anymore either.”

Enquiries are still being made but so far officers have no indication on who the thieves may have been, how many there were, and at present no CCTV footage has been found, a police spokesman said.

A police spokesman said: “Police were called at 12.15pm on Saturday, March 25, after an alarm was activated at The Royal Bank of Scotland on George Street, Hove.

“Upon entry to the building, which is closed to the public but still houses two cash machines, it was found that intruders had gained entry via the roof.

“Police believe that the suspects gained access through the roof via an adjacent building in Ventnor Villas.

“One of the cash machines has been damaged and cash has been stolen.

“The total amount stolen is estimated to be between £79,000 and £81,000.

“The investigation is ongoing.”

An RBS spokesman confirmed the theft but said the company could not comment other than to say it was co-operating fully with the police investigation.

Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting 614 of 25/03.