Gardaí are seeking six men who used a digger to remove an ATM from a wall at a Bank of Ireland branch in Co Wicklow this morning.
The incident occurred in Tinahely at about 5.45am. The men escaped with an amount of cash and the front wall of the bank was badly damaged.
A Garda spokesman said a number of stolen vehicles were used by the culprits. They have appealed to anyone who may have seen them to come forward.
The raiders travelled in a black Mitsubishi Pajero, registration 03 CN 712, stolen in Tullow, Co Carlow; a silver Toyota Landcruiser, registration number 06 KK 946, stolen in Castledermot, Co Carlow; and a tractor and trailer unit, registration 90 WX 4156, stolen overnight from Clonegal, Co Wexford.
A longarmed Koluco digger was also used to remove the ATM from the wall.
The men, who are believed to have had at least one firearm, escaped the scene in a dark coloured car which was driven in the direction of Aughrim.
Gardaí believe a number of people witnessed the incident and have appealed to anyone who was in Tinahely at the time to contact Baltinglass Garda station on (059) 6482610 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.