Balaclava-clad robbers use a stolen digger to rip cash machine out of shop wall and drop it through the roof of getaway van in eighth ATM raid to hit Northern Ireland this year

• Cash machine was ripped out a shop wall in Dungiven, County Londonderry
• Three men wearing balaclavas were spotted in CCTV during the ram-raid
• Safe was lowered into a van and the thieves sped away leaving a gaping hole

Dramatic footage has emerged of thieves using a stolen digger to rip a cash machine from the wall of a local shop before making a getaway in a van.

CCTV footage shows the ram-raiders tearing down building and brickwork around the ATM in Dungiven, County Londonderry at 4.15am on Sunday. 

During the ram-raid, one man operated the digger and tore down the side of the off-licence, while two other two men wearing balaclavas watched on.

CCTV footage shows the ram-raiders tearing down building and brickwork around the ATM in Dungiven, County Londonderry at 4.15am on Sunday

Once the safe was extracted from the wall, the thieves lowered the ATM into a Citroen Berlingo getaway van which had its roof cut off.

The thieves sped off with the machine protruding out the top of the vehicle, leaving a gaping hole in the shop’s wall with debris strewn everywhere.   

The robbery is the latest in a spate of ATM thefts and is the eighth in the Northern Ireland this year.

In tactics similar to previous attacks, the thieves used a digger stolen from a nearby work site to rip the ATM from the wall.

Last week, police said that several criminal gangs were behind the series of the raids, with paramilitaries potentially cashing in on some of the ill-gotten gains.

Shop owner Martin O’Kane surveyed the damage from behind a police cordon on Sunday afternoon. 

During the ram-raid, one man operates the digger and tears down the side of the off-licence, while two other two men wearing balaclavas watch on

Forensic officers in white boiler suits were dusting the cab for fingerprints on Sunday afternoon

He said: ‘The men who did this are just scumbags.’

‘There are going to be less and less ATMs about now because of these attacks. There is one basically happening every week now.

‘I probably won’t get another cash machine in again – and that will be the local community losing out.’

Unlike previous ATM raids, the digger used was not set on fire and burned out.

Shop owner Martin O’Kane surveyed the damage from behind a police cordon on Sunday afternoon

Forensic officers in white boiler suits were dusting the cab for fingerprints on Sunday afternoon.

Police Service of Northern Ireland Detective Inspector Richard Thornton said: ‘Unfortunately, the public and the business community are today waking to the news that another ATM has been stolen; that another business has been targeted by these brazen thieves.

‘The theft from the filling station on Feeny Road was reported to us just before 4:30am.

‘A digger, believed to have been taken from a site a short distance away, was used to rip the machine from the wall at the side of the shop leaving substantial damage to the building.

‘On this occasion, the digger was not set alight and was located at the scene.’

Police have appealed for witnesses after the thieves made off with the safe from the cash machine 

Mr Thornton appealed for witnesses to come forward.

He said: ‘As in all of these ATM thefts, the actions of these criminals have not only caused immediate financial harm to the business targeted, but they have understandably caused fear in the community and impacted upon a vital service many local people rely on.

‘We are doing all we can to catch the people responsible, it is a key priority for us, however, I want to reiterate that the key to stopping these crimes and getting ahead of these criminals is information from the public.

‘We need people to report anything suspicious, including seeing any unusual activity or people in areas close to ATMs.

‘For example, if you hear machinery late at night or in the early hours please let us know.

‘If you see any cars being driven in a suspicious manner close to where ATMs are located, please let us know.

‘No matter how insignificant you think it is, call us and we will investigate. It could be key to catching the criminals responsible.’

Source: Read Full Article