Ram-raiders used a digger and a pick-up truck to steal money from a building society cash machine in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Police were called to the Nationwide branch in Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire, at about 01:45 BST.
Det Insp Shish Thind said business burglaries were not “victimless crimes” but had a huge impact on shop workers and the people who use their services.
One bystander was heard to say ram-raiding the property was “a bit overkill” for the market town.
Cambridgeshire Police is appealing for witnesses or dashcam footage.