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  • Writer's pictureLove Ballymena

Detectives investigate after attempted ATM theft in Ballymena

PSNI police car

Detectives are investigating an attempted ATM theft at a service station on Cushendall Road in Ballymena overnight.


It's understood three men were involved in trying to force the door of the room housing the machine shortly after 2am.



They made off without gaining entry.


Detectives are keen to hear from witnesses, those with information or anyone who may have captured dashcam or other footage in the area at around the time of the crime.


Please call 101, quoting reference 119 29/03/23.



The incident overnight in Ballymena is the most recent of a number in recent weeks. Over a dozen ATM robberies and attacks on retail premises have taken place.


A delegation from Retail NI will be meeting senior Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Officers today, Wednesday 29 March.

 

Speaking ahead of the meeting Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said:

 

“These ATM robberies are attacks on local independent retailers who provide a valuable community service. We would urge all businesses who have ATMs to be vigilant and ask members of the public with any information on the recent robberies to contact the PSNI.

 


“There is now a perfect storm of problems around rural ATMs. In addition to the robberies, because the Assembly is down, many of our rural members will this week lose rate relief on their ATMs. This will cost tens of thousands on top of their already expensive rate bills.

 

“With so many bank branch closures, our members provide an invaluable service to many communities to access cash with their ATMs. Unless we see a crackdown on the robberies and a restoration of the ATM Rate Relief, many rural areas of Northern Ireland could see dozens more ATMs closing. 



“This will put further pressure on people on benefits and pensioners who use cash to budget and rely on ATMs to access cash in many rural areas will be severely limited.”



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