Guard hurt in South Lanarkshire College ATM theft

A SECURITY guard was taken to hospital after he and a 
colleague were robbed by two masked men as they filled a cash machine at a college.

The attack happened inside South Lanarkshire College, in East Kilbride, at about 4pm on Friday. The security officers, aged 56 and 45, were filling an ATM when one of the cash boxes was snatched.

The older of the two guards sustained arm injuries and he was taken to hospital for treatment. The other man was not hurt. Strathclyde Police said the assailants, who both had their faces covered, made off towards the St Leonards area of the town in a white estate car, believed to be a Ford Mondeo, which had blacked-out windows and alloys.

The money box was thrown from the car soon after, but the cash inside had been taken. Police would not disclose the amount that was stolen.

Detective Inspector Laura McLuckie, from Hamilton 
Police Office, said a security “dye pack” had been activated, meaning anyone handling the money will be covered in a dark blue/purple dye.

“This was a particularly 
vicious attack on the two guards,” she said.

“Thankfully, due to the summer holidays, there were no students and only a limited number of staff in the college at the time. However, for 
those who were there and who witnessed the attack, it was terrifying.”