KENT Police have taken the dramatic step of offering a £10,000 reward for information about ram raids on banks across the county, including a triple attack in Gillingham.

The unprecedented offer is for information leading to the arrest and charge of offenders in connection with high-value raids in the last three months.

The announcement was made the day before the latest raid when a digger was used to attack the NatWest Bank in Borough Green, early on Saturday.

Last month, the ram raiders used a JCB to smash into three Gillingham High Street banks.

The giant yellow digger, which had been taken from premises on Medway City Estate, was driven into the front of the Woolwich and Lloyds TSB, taking one cash machine and causing massive damage.

The raiders then attempted to do the same at the HSBC bank before abandoning the digger in the High Street and fleeing the scene.

CCTV machines monitor the High Street but it is thought the camera nearest the banks was not working at the time of the raid on February 1.

There were other ram raid attacks on banks last year including incidents at Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre and Walderslade. On December 18 2004, the Halifax Bank in Week Street, Maidstone, was attacked at 4.55am. Here, the CCTV cameras failed to record the crime.

Two machines were also taken from Sainsbury's in Pepperhill, Northfleet at around 2.30am on February 19 this year. Explosives and a digging machine were used to steal the machines, which contained around £100,000.

Assistant Chief Constable Adrian Leppard said: "We are treating these ram raids very seriously and have taken the unprecedented step of offering a substantial £10,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and charge of gangs responsible.

"Kent Police is talking with the banking industry to explore ways to make it harder for people to commit this type of crime. We're looking at deterrents such as money spoiling devices, tracking devices and other measures to stop cash machines from being stolen.

"In addition, we are also talking locally to plant hire companies, contractors, and building companies to ask them to secure their plant more thoroughly so it cannot be removed from their sites and used to ram raid cash machines."

He added: "Our investigations are ongoing and there are a number of lines of inquiry that we are pursuing. However, by offering such a substantial reward, we also hope to generate further information from the general public."

• Anyone who has any information in connection with these ram raids is asked to contact a dedicated Kent Police phone line: 01622 654321. Your call will be treated in the strictest confidence. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers, free and anonymously, on 0800 555 111.