Police in Northern Ireland believe the same criminal gang may be responsible for a spate of ATM machine thefts this year.
An investigation is underway after another theft in Irvinestown in County Fermanagh early this morning.
It is the sixth such theft in Northern Ireland this year. The thieves struck at a garage on the Dromore Road in Irvinestown just after 4 o’clock this morning.
Police say it probably took less than two minutes for the cash machine to be ripped from the wall. It is believed to have contained tens of thousands of pounds.
The digger used was then set on fire. It had been stolen from a construction site at the top of a laneway beside the garage.There have now been six ATM thefts in Northern Ireland since the start of the year - in counties Antrim, Armagh, Tyrone and now Fermanagh.
Thieves also struck in County Cavan two weeks ago. In each case the thieves used a digger stolen from a nearby construction site or farm.
The PSNI say its possible the same gang may be responsible. Its Organised Crime Branch has set up a specialist team of detectives to try to catch them.
The owner of the latest business to be targeted will re-open this afternoon. However Retail NI, which represents small retailers, has warned that these thefts could result in businesses removing ATM machines from their premises.
The organisation has called for an urgent meeting of representatives from banks, the construction sector and the PSNI to discuss the issue.
"Unless these criminal gangs are caught, many rural areas of Northern Ireland could be ATM free zones which will have a negative impact upon consumers and rural communities," said its Chief Executive, Glyn Roberts.
