The Dorset Dairy Company has made its milk vending stations card-only after thieves broke into a machine at Sturminster Newton.

The station outside Harts of Stur was one of three broken into, with one damaged in Maiden Bradley, Wiltshire, the same night and Madjeston Milk Station near Gillingham attacked two nights later.

The break-in and theft of cash at Madjeston was clearly caught on CCTV, see picture, and is thought to have been the same person who attacked the machine in Stur. Madjeston managed to re-open its machine after six days, and it too has become card-only. The Dorset Dairy Company has freestanding stations outside Harts of Stur and Dike’s in Stalbridge. All its other outlets are within shops.

Co-owner Alex Rawe said: “It’s disappointing. The damage to the machine was limited but we are now card-only – we don’t want thieves to be further encouraged to do more damage.”

The attack at Hart’s happened around 4am on September 18. The Madjeston machine was broken into between 1.10am and 2.50am on September 20.
The CCTV footage shows the thief trying to jemmy open the milk station with a crowbar and other tools. He or she was wearing a yellow jacket under a coat.

Owners Dave and Abi Williamson said: “We are gutted that we are another victim to this horrible crime and like many other small businesses in the area we all work so hard to provide a local, personal service. When this guy comes and does thousands of pounds- worth of damage it is really sad to see.”

A spokesman for North Dorset police said enquiries into both break-ins were ongoing but no arrests have been made.

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