Serial cashpoint machine ‘cracker’ jailed after targeting Forest Gate

Jason Perry, aged 40, of Clover Close, Leytonstone, attacked ATMs inside Forest Gate station and Chadwell Heath station, Essex, with the help of at least one accomplice.

He used a van specially equipped with a winch to wrench the machines from the wall before slicing them open using specialist cutting machinery.

The Forest Gate cash point raid happened only two months after he was released from prison.

With two other men he used a seven-and-a-half tonne truck to pull an ATM cash point from a Barclays Bank in Golders Green in 2009.

The gang were finally caught after a 10 mile chase when the lorry rammed into pursuing police cars.

Perry was jailed for five years and eight months in 2010 after admitting conspiracy to commit nine counts of burglary.

But in the early hours of September 3 last year, Perry and an associate were caught on CCTV at Forest Gate station.

The masked pair tried to black out CCTV camera lenses with spray paint.

But Perry’s white Mercedes van was spotted on CCTV.

“They used specialist cutting equipment to cut open the cash machine and took two cash cassettes with £58,000,” said prosecutor Jonathan Foy.

Five days later he stole £96,280 at Chadwell Heath station.

When police raided Perry’s home they unearthed a large amount of equipment including four safes and a professional cash counting machine.

But officers only recovered £2,000 with Perry insisting the rest of the cash has gone. The two raids caused £50,000 worth of damage.

In the past Perry looted businesses and banks and is even a professional winch manufacturer.

Sean Minihan, defending Perry, said: “His niche, he is not the main man, the head supremo, but he is as close as you can get, an essential cog, the one with the expertise.

“His only real mitigation is his plea. There was no use of weapons, intimidation or victims, that’s the furthest thing from their minds.”

Perry admitted one count of theft and one count of burglary.