Sydney thieves have been busy using forklifts to steal automated teller machines (ATMs) during ram-raids.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported Sydney police were suggesting banks and teller machine operators install tracking devices and dye bombs to combat the thefts that have incurred losses of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

ATM thieves have been using four-wheel-drive vehicles and forklifts to smash into buildings and carry the machines off.

Detective superintendent Ken McKay said he believed his team was pursuing criminals with experience in vehicle theft and armed robbery.

"It is concerning to all of us that vehicles could be driven inside buildings to commit these offences," he said.

McKay made the comment last week after the 19th ATM in two months was stolen during a ram-raid in which a forklift and a four-wheel-drive vehicle were used to steal an ATM from a shopping centre.