Gang pulls ATM from wall with digger

A gang used a stolen digger to break an ATM free from a building but they failed to get any cash, gardaí said today.

Officers in Borris, Co Carlow are probing the major smash and grab attempt after robbers removed the cash dispenser from a wall on the Main Street at around 3am.

Gardaí found the ATM on a back road in the area a short time later but no cash had been removed.

A forensic team will be carrying out a technical examination of the recovery site and the scene at the bank later today.

The gang stole the digger from a building site a short time earlier and it was abandoned at the scene.

Gardaí said it is believed the group used a white Subaru in the incident along with a second car which pulled a trailer to carry the ATM.

The trailer was later abandoned and the gang escaped in the cars.

This was the latest in a spate of attempts to use machinery to break ATMs free and make away with the cash.

Last week, a mechanical digger was used to pull an ATM from the Bank of Ireland building in Taghmon, Co Wexford.

Gardaí in Wexford launched an investigation after the attempted robbery at 4am on Saturday last.

The ATM was later recovered under the rubble but no cash was taken.

Last month a stolen tractor was used to ram a wall housing an ATM at AIB on Green Street, Callan in Co Kilkenny.

The group failed to dislodge the ATM and escaped.

A similar attempt on a Bank of Ireland branch in south Wexford in June was successful and the group got away with €140,000.