Northern Ireland

ATM torn from wall of Co Antrim coffee shop as crime spree continues

Thieves used a digger to steal an ATM from the wall of a coffee shop in Bushmills, Co Antrim. Picture by Colm Lenaghan, Pacemaker
Thieves used a digger to steal an ATM from the wall of a coffee shop in Bushmills, Co Antrim. Picture by Colm Lenaghan, Pacemaker Thieves used a digger to steal an ATM from the wall of a coffee shop in Bushmills, Co Antrim. Picture by Colm Lenaghan, Pacemaker
By Claire Simpson

ATM thieves have struck again, this time targeting a coffee shop in Co Antrim.

A digger was used to drag a cash machine from the wall of Ground in Market Square in Bushmills early this morning.

The digger was later set on fire.

A tractor and trailer used in the raid were also torched.

The ATM is thought to be the only one in the village.

The attack was the ninth ATM theft in Northern Ireland this year.

Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann said the spate of thefts must end.

"Another attack on another rural community, first the banks closed now the ATMs are being stolen, this crime spree needs to be brought to an end as these thieves get more brazen, Bushmills is not an isolated location," he tweeted.

Criminal gangs on both sides of the border have targeted rural businesses in recent months.

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In most cases, gangs have used heavy machinery including diggers to steal ATMs.

The crime spree has continued even though a specialist PSNI team has been set up to investigate the thefts.

Glyn Roberts, chief executive of business body Retail NI, said it will meet the Policing Board on Thursday to discuss the police's response to the spate of thefts.

"This is shameless attack on a rural town which was preparing for a busy Easter weekend of visitors and tourists," he said.

"The loss of this ATM means that the local community and tourists will be restricted in accessing cash.

"Every single ATM robbery brings rural Northern Ireland that much closer to being a cash-free zone. Regardless if whether have been robbed, many Retail NI members are now considering removing their ATMs for fear of their shops being smashed up."

An ATM was torn from the wall of a coffee shop in Bushmills, Co Antrim. Picture by Colm Lenaghan, Pacemaker
An ATM was torn from the wall of a coffee shop in Bushmills, Co Antrim. Picture by Colm Lenaghan, Pacemaker An ATM was torn from the wall of a coffee shop in Bushmills, Co Antrim. Picture by Colm Lenaghan, Pacemaker
The scene following an ATM robbery in Bushmills, Co Antrim. Picture by Colm Lenaghan, Pacemaker
The scene following an ATM robbery in Bushmills, Co Antrim. Picture by Colm Lenaghan, Pacemaker The scene following an ATM robbery in Bushmills, Co Antrim. Picture by Colm Lenaghan, Pacemaker