TWO men were remanded in custody yesterday charged over separate ATM raids.
Patrick Close (21) from Camlin Park in Crumlin appeared at Ballymena Magistrates Court accused of a series of charges related to the attempted theft of a cash machine on the Tully Road in Nutts Corner on Tuesday morning.
He faces five charges linked to the theft of an ATM worth £16,000 containing £59,090.
As well as being accused of stealing the cash machine he is accused of stealing a digger, aggravated vehicle taking, arson and criminal damage.
He is the second person to be charged in connection with the raid.
No application for bail was made and Close was remanded in custody to Antrim Magistrates Court on May 28.
His co-accused - 31-year-old Lee Wilson of Benview Drive in Belfast - appeared at Ballymena Magistrates Court on Wednesday and was remanded in custody.
Barry Smyth (31) from Ballyutoag Road in Crumlin also appeared in court yesterday on charges linked to ATM raids.
He faces a series of charges in connection with the theft of two ATMs at an Asda store in Antrim on February 1.
The defendant was charged with the theft of cash worth £88,590 from one machine and £74,950 from the other and he was also charged with stealing the ATM machines worth a total of £32,000.
Mr Smyth appeared at Ballymena Magistrates' Court charged with 10 offences, including four of theft.
Other charges include three counts of arson, two counts of taking a motor vehicle without authority and one count of criminal damage.
In court, a detective objected to granting Mr Smyth bail.
District Judge Nigel Broderick refused bail and remanded Smyth into custody until May 28.
Separately detectives investigating the ATM theft at Nutts Corner on Tuesday have charged a third man in connection with the raid.
A 23-year-old man arrested yesterday has been charged with theft, arson and criminal damage. He is due to appear at Belfast Magistrates Court today.
Detective Inspector Richard Thornton said: “We have made a total of five arrests in connection with this incident and this is the third man to be charged.
“I would continue to ask the public to let us know if they see anything suspicious, including seeing any unusual activity, people or vehicles loitering in areas close to ATMs.
"If you hear machinery late at night or in the early hours please call us on the non-emergency number 101 or 999 if you think a crime is in progress. The key to stopping these crimes and getting ahead of these criminals is information from the public."
