Cash machine thieves foiled
Sunday December 13 2009
Thieves who tried to steal a bank cash machine in Co Armagh were foiled by swift action from the public and the police, politicians said.
Detectives in Newry are investigating the attempted theft of an ATM from a filling station on the Green Road between Camlough and Bessbrook shortly before 7am on Sunday.
The gang used a digger to ram the side of the building but fled the scene after members of the public contacted police.
Both Sinn Fein and the SDLP praised the police response, with officers said to have been at the scene within minutes.
SDLP Mayor of Newry and Mourne John Feehan said: "Around 6.45am ... raiders attempted to remove the ATM at a premises at Carrickbracken between Bessbrook and Camlough using a digger which was stolen from the new A1 construction site."
The attempted theft is the 19th incident involving ATMs in recent months - 11 cash machines were stolen and police recorded eight attempted thefts.
Mr Feehan said the sound of the latest incident alerted the public.
He added: "The police were on the scene within one minute of being called. Although the raiders escaped, prompt action from the police foiled this attempt."
Police said damage was caused to the wall of the building but the thieves failed to remove the ATM.
Officers found a Caterpillar digger with its engine still running and a Nissan flatbed truck, both abandoned by the thieves.
