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| Police examine 18th ATM robbery | |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Police investigating a series of cash machine robberies using diggers across Northern Ireland say they are following "definite lines of inquiry". | Police investigating a series of cash machine robberies using diggers across Northern Ireland say they are following "definite lines of inquiry". |
| In the latest incident, a 24-hour filling station was badly damaged in Templepatrick, County Antrim. | In the latest incident, a 24-hour filling station was badly damaged in Templepatrick, County Antrim. |
| The thieves used a mechanical digger to rip the ATM from the shop. | The thieves used a mechanical digger to rip the ATM from the shop. |
| Eighteen ATMs have been targeted in recent months, damaging several banks and shops. No-one has been charged in connection with any of the thefts. | Eighteen ATMs have been targeted in recent months, damaging several banks and shops. No-one has been charged in connection with any of the thefts. |
| A police spokesman said detectives were working with the business community to identify and reduce the risks of such robberies. | A police spokesman said detectives were working with the business community to identify and reduce the risks of such robberies. |
| It seems that the criminal gangs behind these robberies can strike at will in any of our town and villages in Northern Ireland Glyn RobertsNI Independent Retail Association | It seems that the criminal gangs behind these robberies can strike at will in any of our town and villages in Northern Ireland Glyn RobertsNI Independent Retail Association |
| Glyn Roberts of the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association called for a taskforce to be set up. | Glyn Roberts of the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association called for a taskforce to be set up. |
| "There is now not a week that goes by that another small business owner is the victim of an ATM robbery and serious questions need to be asked as to why no arrests have been made in relation to any of these attacks," he said. | "There is now not a week that goes by that another small business owner is the victim of an ATM robbery and serious questions need to be asked as to why no arrests have been made in relation to any of these attacks," he said. |
| "It seems that the criminal gangs behind these robberies can strike at will in any of our town and villages in Northern Ireland." | "It seems that the criminal gangs behind these robberies can strike at will in any of our town and villages in Northern Ireland." |
| The robbery in Templepatrick happened just before 0300 GMT on Friday on the main road to Belfast International Airport from the city. | |
| The digger with a telescopic arm was abandoned at the scene, while it is understood police found part of the cash machine in a field a few miles outside the village. | The digger with a telescopic arm was abandoned at the scene, while it is understood police found part of the cash machine in a field a few miles outside the village. |
| It is on one of the busiest roads in Northern Ireland, it is a 24-hour shop - it's extraordinary Danny KinahanUlster Unionist assembly member | It is on one of the busiest roads in Northern Ireland, it is a 24-hour shop - it's extraordinary Danny KinahanUlster Unionist assembly member |
| However, no cash was recovered. | However, no cash was recovered. |
| Ulster Unionist assembly member Danny Kinahan said the loss of the cash machine would have "an enormous effect on the local community". | Ulster Unionist assembly member Danny Kinahan said the loss of the cash machine would have "an enormous effect on the local community". |
| "It is on one of the busiest roads in Northern Ireland, it is a 24-hour shop - it's extraordinary," he said. | "It is on one of the busiest roads in Northern Ireland, it is a 24-hour shop - it's extraordinary," he said. |
| "We need to sit down and work out how you respond very quickly when that first phone call comes through. We need to keep an eye on where the diggers are kept." | "We need to sit down and work out how you respond very quickly when that first phone call comes through. We need to keep an eye on where the diggers are kept." |
| Businessman Andrew Crawford said one of his drivers was passing at the time of the robbery and called the police, only to be put through to officers in Londonderry. | Businessman Andrew Crawford said one of his drivers was passing at the time of the robbery and called the police, only to be put through to officers in Londonderry. |
| "They put me through to the station in Antrim who spent more time getting my number and details when they should have been after these guys," he said. | "They put me through to the station in Antrim who spent more time getting my number and details when they should have been after these guys," he said. |
| The police have said they received an initial call about the robbery at 0256 GMT and officers were on the scene at 0301 GMT. | The police have said they received an initial call about the robbery at 0256 GMT and officers were on the scene at 0301 GMT. |
| A reward of up to £25,000 is being offered for anyone who can help catch the criminals targeting cash machines in Northern Ireland. | A reward of up to £25,000 is being offered for anyone who can help catch the criminals targeting cash machines in Northern Ireland. |
| The money has been offered by Link, the operator of the UK's cash machine network. | The money has been offered by Link, the operator of the UK's cash machine network. |