Thieves used a digger to wrench a cash machine from the exterior of a town post office this morning.
The raid on Shepshed Post Office took place at 2.30am.
Thieves drove the digger's clawed arm into the Market Place building and lifted the machine out and away.
A series of identical thefts took place across Leicestershire in November and December 2014 when Co-Op stores in Newbold Verdon, Asfordby, Whetstone and Sapcote were targeted.
The area was cordoned off this morning as police launched their investigation and the condition of the badly damaged building was assessed.
Si and Darshna Patel have run the business since 2004.
Mr Patel said: "It's carnage. The building is badly damaged and there is a lot of clearing up to do.
"We were at home so we are okay and fortunately the flat above the shop is empty."
Town and borough councillor Claire Poole said people in Shepshed were shocked by the crime.
She said: "I hope this isn't the beginning of a series of these incidents.
"The people who run the post office have been here for quite a few years. They're a lovely family and the post office is very popular.
"I really feel for them and hope this doesn't affect them too much. It must be devastating for them.
"Shepshed doesn't have the banking facilities it used to have, so this machine is very important to people here."
In a statement, Leicestershire Police said: "It's believed the suspects left the scene in a silver pick-up truck and a dark coloured saloon towards Hathern.
"We are in the early stages of our inquiries and would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity in the area."
Police believe the suspects left the scene in a silver pick-up truck and a dark coloured saloon in the direction of Hathern.
The ATM was later found on farmland in Hickling, north of Melton, close to the border with Nottinghamshire, but cash was missing from the machine.
The silver pick-up truck was also found abandoned in Scalford, near Melton, this morning.
Anyone with information can contact Detective Constable Nick Robbins on 101, quoting crime number 84778.
