Second ATM theft in 48 hours
Police are investigating whether it's linked to the recent spate of incidents where cash machines have been pulled from walls.
Last updated 24th Mar 2019
There's been yet another theft of an ATM machine.
The latest incident happened in the early hours on the Dromore Road in Irvinestown, County Fermanagh.
As in previous cases a digger was stolen from a nearby development and used to remove the cash machine from the wall.
Detective Sergeant Brian Reid said: “Thieves used a digger to remove the ‘built in’ cash machine from a filling station on the Dromore Road at around 4:05am causing extensive damage to the building. We believe the culprits used a trailer to remove the ATM from the scene.
“We also believe the digger was stolen from ground under development nearby. The digger was set alight at the scene immediately after the theft."
He added they are investigating whether it's linked to the recent spate of ATM thefts, which led to a special taskforce being created last month. And DS Reid also made a number of appeals for information:
"Were you in the Dromore Road, Irvinestown area between 3:30am and 4:10am? Did you see what happened? Did you notice any vehicles being driven in a suspicious manner in the Irvinestown?
"If you have information which you think could help our investigation, please pick up the phone and call detectives in Omagh CID on 101, quoting reference 306 of 24/03/19."
It follows a similar incident in Newtownabbey in the early hours of Friday the 22nd of March.
Again a stolen digger was used to remove the built-in cash machine from the wall of a bank on Mallusk Road.
Substantial damage was caused to the building as a result. The digger is believed to have been taken from a business a short distance away. It was set on fire at the scene immediately after the theft.
Last month the PSNI announced it was setting up a special taskforce to deal with the spate of ATM thefts.
Detective Chief Inspector David Henderson said: "Each incident has followed a very similar process of targeting premises, before using plant machinery to remove ATMs from the exterior facade.
"This caused significant damage to the property, as well as causing disruption to the business targeted and the local community.
"At present, criminal investigation department detectives across Northern Ireland have been tasked to investigate these incidents and are pro-actively progressing enquiries, to identify and apprehend those involved."