Police from Wollongong Local Area Command are investigating the theft of an ATM from a hotel in Mount Kembla early this morning.

About 3.20am (Wednesday 17 April, 2013), three men smashed the front glass doors of the Cordeaux Road establishment and ran inside.

The men forcibly removed the ATM and pushed it towards the front doors and into a white Holden Commodore utility that was waiting outside.

The vehicle was last seen heading north on Cordeaux Road.

Residents who heard the alarm sounding contacted police who attended and established a crime scene.

The scene was examined by specialist police and CCTV was reviewed.

It has been confirmed that the vehicle used in the break-in was stolen from an address in Maynes Parade, Unanderra, ten minutes before.

The utility was later found burnt out in Berkley.

Detectives from Wollongong are continuing with the investigation and would be keen to speak with anyone who may be able to assist with their inquiries.

Police have been told one of the men appeared to be aged in his early 20’s, and was about 180cm tall with a thin build. He was wearing a black balaclava with a black baseball cap and a dark coloured long sleeve top and pants.

All men had their faces covered and had dark clothing.

Detectives are also investigating a possible link to a break-in at a licensed premises in Bellambi Lane, Bellambi, about 5.30am today.

During this break-in, the intruders were disturbed by the hotel’s cleaners and ran from the scene empty-handed.