Garage owner Gnana Selvajeevan outside the Murco filling station in Borstal Hill, Whitstable.

Thieves stole a cash machine in an early morning ram raid on a petrol station in Whitstable today.

CCTV footage shows a gang in a white box van reversing into the free standing machine at the Murco filling station in Borstal Hill shortly after 3am.

The garage was taped off as police forensics officers investigated the scene.

Garage proprietor Gnana Selvajeevan, 38, said: "The raiders were first caught on our CCTV cameras at about 12.45am knocking out our security lights.

"They then returned shortly after 3am and reversed their van repeatedly into the cash machine before loading it up and taking it away. The whole thing only lasted five minutes. But fortunately it was a free standing machine so the building itself wasn't damaged.

"They obviously didn't care about the noise they were making even though people live close by.

"But having to shut the garage while the police do their job is obviously costing me money, especially on a Friday when we are usually very busy in the mornings."

Detective Inspector Kevin Downard said: "We would like to hear from anyone who saw a white box-style van in the area either last night or in the early hours of this morning."

At this stage it is not known how much money was in the free-standing ATM.

Anyone with information should phone Kent Police on 101 or Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting reference number KP-20120309-0092.