Digger Used In Attempted 'Smash And Grab'

Raiders have used a large digger to smash their way into a discount store in Co Carlow.

The thieves used the large Hitachi Excavator to rip through the wall of the Aldi store in the Graiguecullen area of the town at about 4am yesterday.

Significant damage was caused to the roof of the property during the incident.

However, the robbers fled the scene after realising there was no cash on the premises.

The attack is similar to several recent raids on ATM machines where industrial vehicles, such as diggers and bulldozers, where used to pull automated teller machines from the walls of local businesses.

Gardaí are believed to be considering a connection to the previous incidents that took place across the east of the country in recent months.

An unknown number of thieves used a digger and caused significant damage to the roof of the property.

Last month senior gardai convened special meetings with bank chiefs to discuss ways of dealing with the ram-raid problem.

They said they were considering the use of GPS tracking devices to pinpoint the location of stolen ATMs and employing a dye which would destroy notes inside the cash machine if it was opened illegally.

A garda spokesperson said: "We're waiting on a report to see how much damage was caused. It's at an early stage but we're doing inquiries in the area."

Gardai in Carlow are appealing for information from anyone who may have noticed suspicious activity.

Yesterday, there was also a similar raid carried out in Co Down, this time on a post office, with the gang escaping with a substantial sum of money housed in the safe.

See: Digger Robbers Strike Again

(DW/BMcC)