PRESSURE is growing on the PSNI to deal with the spate of ATM thefts, that to date appear to be confounding detectives, despite a dedicated task force having been set up to track down the perpetrators.
The latest robbery in Dungiven in Co Derry brings to eight the number so far this year and more than a dozen since the spate began last October, with those responsible occasionally crossing the border to carry out similar raids in Cavan and Monaghan.
The geographical spread of robberies suggests copy-cat attacks may be taking place, but the majority appear to be carried out by one gang, with such audacious precision that they are removing the cash machines and making their getaway in under three minutes.
Unlike larger paramilitary groups, a small criminal gang from a rural area is much more difficult to infiltrate or gather intelligence on.
Police are instead looking at prevention, calling on the construction industry to properly secure vehicles used by the robbers to rip the machines from the wall and asking the public for help in tracking the gang, who have stolen hundreds of thousands of pounds over the last few months.
There is also talks taking place with ATM manufacturers at ways to deter theft including using dye packs that damage notes or putting GPS tracking inside of machines. However all that takes time and costs money.
In the meantime small rural shops are being left with huge clean up bills and loss of business while damage is repaired, causing increased insurance premiums to small businesses already operating on tight profit margins.
It is a crime that carries little in the way of risk for those responsible. The lack of arrests, charges and convictions is doing nothing to deter those who are carrying out the raids and even less to inspire confidence in the rural communities under almost weekly attack.
