POLICE OFFICERS in the North today continue their investigation into a daring raid in Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, in which a stolen excavator was used in the extraction and theft of an ATM from the front wall of the Bank of Ireland.
The raid is the latest in a string of similar incidents in the Border area in recent months.
The raid occurred in The Square in Crossmaglen at approximately 5.50am on Saturday, and in view of the town’s PSNI station just over 100m away.
The raiders first used a stolen tractor and low-loader trailer, which was used to transport the excavator to block off the town’s Culloville Road from which the scene of the raid could have been accessed from the police station.
The excavator was then used to demolish the bank wall and load the ATM onto a waiting getaway vehicle.
The tractor used in the raid was then set alight, and it is believed that an attempt was also made to set fire to the stolen excavator.
The raiders left a scene of destruction in their wake.
The excavator, tractor and trailer used in the Crossmaglen raid are believed to be those stolen in Ardee, Co Louth, between January 14th and 15th.
It is believed that ATM machines in the North can contain anything between £20,000 (€22,600) to £100,000 (€113,200) at any given time.
The thieves made off with the ATM machine on a flatbed van and also used a small dark-coloured car.
Police believe that the raids may be linked to dissident republicans.
Police officers on both sides of the Border are appealing to anyone who may either have witnessed the Crossmaglen raid or observed the stolen orange Fiat Hitachi track digger or green John Deere tractor in the Ardee area or anywhere else between January 14th and 16th.
They should contact them at Ardee 041-6853222 or Newry on 0845-6008000, or at the PSNI’s anonymous Crimestoppers line at 0800-555111.
Similar ATM raids have occurred in recent months in Cootehill, Co Cavan, where two banks were targeted at the same time and in Clones, Co Monaghan, where an unsuccessful raid occurred.
Premises north of the Border have also been raided in Forkhill, Co Armagh; Newtownbutler, Co Fermanagh; and Templepatrick, Co Antrim; while an unsuccessful raid on an ATM machine also took place in Keady, Co Armagh.