Northern Ireland

Enquiries `ongoing' to establish if anything was taken during latest attempt to rob an ATM

A forensic officer at the scene of an attempted ATM robbery in Toome. Picture by Mark Marlow
A forensic officer at the scene of an attempted ATM robbery in Toome. Picture by Mark Marlow

ENQUIRIES are ongoing to establish if anything was taken during the latest attempt to steal an ATM.

Police said the "back gate" of the cash machine in the Moy Road in Armagh, was "damaged and forced open".

The incident took place in the early hours of Tuesday.

It comes just days after police appealed for the public to be vigilant following 12 thefts or attempted break-ins at cash machines in just over seven weeks around the north.

At that point, nine had happened in March, the latest early last Wednesday at a shop in Fermanagh.

There have also been incidents in areas including Dungiven, Articlave, Cabragh, Portadown and Poyntzpass.

Police said all occurred in rural or semi-rural locations and most happened in the early hours of the morning.

A PSNI spokesman described the attacks as "a crime that strikes at the very heart of the local community".

"While some of the attempts have been unsuccessful, all have resulted in some degree of criminal damage to the machine or surrounding property. These targeted attacks don’t just have a severe financial impact. They rob the whole community of a service upon which they’re totally reliant.

"We have a dedicated team of detectives working across Northern Ireland specifically focusing on this crime but we rely upon your help. Your support could make all the difference."