ATM Gangs Targeted

There are to be more armed police patrols across the State as attacks on bank ATMs grow.

The Gardaí's Organised Crime Unit will be closely involved and patrols by the armed regional response units will also be stepped up in response to the ongoing spate of digger-attacks on the reinforced bunkers that protect automated teller machines.

Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy met senior officers in Dublin this morning to finalise a strategy to tackle criminal gangs carrying out raids.

The move comes on foot of the sixth such raid to have been carried out in the past seven weeks - including two in recent days in counties in the east, northeast and southeast of the country.

One also took place in Co Fermanagh, and may also be linked to the same criminals.

Gardaí believe the raids are being carried out by two gangs - while a third gang involved has been broken-up after a number of those suspected of being involved were arrested and charged.

Raids have been carried out in Meath, Wexford, Monaghan, Kilkenny, Kildare and Wicklow.

In one especially embarassing incident, raiders used a mechanical digger to remove an ATM from a Bank of Ireland branch in Co Kilkenny - located opposite the local police station.

The robbery was in June and like the other incidents involved a JCB being driven into the front of the machine - located at the Bank of Ireland branch in Graiguenamanagh in this case.

The branch is directly opposite Graiguenamanagh Garda Station, which was unoccupied at the time.

See: ATM Digger Attack Foiled

See: Another ATM 'Excavated' By Robbers

(BMcC)