Members of the forensic team were at the Black Pepper Café on Beissel Street on Monday morning after the incident, believed to have taken place about 1am.

Owner Ali Parvizi told Fairfax Media that vandals had entered his café by breaking a window, before chaining the ATM, located just inside the door, to a vehicle and driving off.

He said neighbours had alerted police, who arrived shortly after the vandals fled the scene.

“The whole thing took about seven minutes,” he said.

Mr Parvizi said his business was now facing a repair bill of close to $30,000.

“All the window frames, the windows – the entire entrance to the shop has been taken down,” he said.

“It’s going to cost. We’re talking at least tens of thousands of dollars.”

Although it will take several weeks to completely restore the café, Mr Parvizi said he hoped to reopen for trading shortly after forensics complete their onsite work.

“We would hope to start trading by tomorrow, if we can clean up today and get some sheeting up,” he said.

He would not be reinstalling the ATM, which was only fitted several months ago.

ACT Policing said two men had been seen driving a late model white station wagon in the area shortly before the incident.

Anyone who may have seen or heard any suspicious behaviour around the café at the time of the incident, or who may have seen a suspicious white vehicle in the area, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.act.crimestoppers.com.au.