Gone in 3 mins
Crime gang rip out two ATMS in rapid well-planned raid
THE gang of border thugs who launched a double attack on two ATMS were gone in 180 seconds.
The professional criminals, suspected to be from the region near South Armagh, are thought to be an organised group.
Sources have revealed gardai rushed to the scene at Kells, Co Meath, yesterday morning but, as the gang were suspected to be armed, the control room advised units “of caution”.
It is also believed the raiders laid spikes on the road to puncture Garda cars as they arrived to confront them.
A source said: “This gang were incredibly well prepared – they came to the village and launched their attack all in the space of minutes.
“It happened around 4.20am and CCTV examined shows that they completed the theft of both ATMS in three minutes.
“There was intelligence to suggest they were armed and unarmed members were advised of caution – sending unarmed guards in to deal with tooled up criminals is not possible.”
Gardai believe the two ATMS were taken away by the thugs and cracked open at another location.
Sources said the guns sourced by the gang may have come from dissident IRA members.
It is also believed at least two robberies have been halted in recent weeks.
A source added: “These guns were possibly sourced from IRA factions near the border. While the gangs were operating in the capacity of organised crime, they were possibly acting with the permission of dissidents.
“Gardai are focused on gathering intelligence – the Emergency Response Unit and specialists in organised crime will be involved in the intervention. It is coming.”
Gardai believe those responsible left the scene in a dark-coloured crew cab jeep and a darkcoloured Volkswagen car along the Maudlin Road towards Carlanstown, the N52.
Superintendent Dermot O’connor, who is leading the hunt, has asked anyone who was in Kells yesterday between 3.30am and 4.20am and who saw anything unusual to make contact.
Speaking at the scene yesterday, Supt O’connor said the crime “ripped the heart of out of the community”.
There were also two other attacks in the North yesterday, with three other cashpoints stolen – gardai believe a total of three separate gangs have been involved in these thefts.
A Tesco was targeted in a double ATM raid in Crumlin, Co Antrim, where machines were ripped from the wall of a supermarket by thieves using a digger and tractor.
And an ATM was ripped from a shop wall in Craigavon, Co Armagh.
Gardai yesterday issued a warning to owners of heavy machinery and appealed to people to store their vehicles securely. Spikes on the road