Digger used to help raiders rip out ATM
Gardaí believe the gang stole the ATM at the Mace Maxol filling station at Bellfield in Enniscorthy at about 5am. CCTV footage of the incident revealed a number of vehicles passed the petrol station while the raid was in progress.
The gang used a mechanical digger that had been parked nearby. The raidresulted in severe damage to the station.
Gardaí have discovered the raiders parked a NissanPajero Jeep and trailer at the ATM while a look-out parked an Audi saloon car across the road. It is believed three or four men were involved in the robbery.
One man jumped the wooden hoarding surrounding the upgrading of pumps in the petrol station. He then hot-wired the digger which meant bypassing a computer system that controls the machine.
A worker on site yesterday, said the person who hot-wired the machine would have known what he was doing.
Within five minutes, the raid was completed. The men had pulled down the wall containing the ATM and smashed it open with the digger. They took the safe and left the remains of the ATM on the ground.
The two vehicles involved in the robbery headed off in the direction of Kiltealy.
The Ulster Bank ATM had been filled on Thursday afternoon but the exact amount of money taken, believed to amount to tens of thousands of euro, has not been revealed.
Kevin Frayne, owner of the service station, said he was glad there was no one hurt in the incident.
Anyone with information on the raid is asked to contact Enniscorthy Garda Station on 053-9242580.
