Thieves using a mechanical digger made an unsuccessful attempt to remove an ATM from a wall outside a bank in Co Meath early this morning.
Gardaí at Kells are investigating the raid on the ATM outside the Ulster Bank in Athboy.
The raiders attempted to remove the machine on Main St shortly before 6am.
A garda spokesman said the raid appeared to be unsuccessful as both the digger and the ATM were recovered at the scene.
A stolen 4x4 vehicle and trailer, usually used by raiders to escape with the ATM, were also recovered.
Gardaí suspect the men were disturbed and fled in a Golf type car.
The bank suffered extensive damage in the raid. There has been a spate of such incidents in recent weeks. On Friday morning, raider made off with the contents of an ATM machine after using a stolen mechanical digger to rip it from the wall of a service station in Co Wexford.
Gardaí are today also investigating an armed robbery at Mercier Street car park near St Stephen’s Green in Dublin.
Three men broke into the car park’s cash office at noon and tied up members of staff.
The raiders made off with an undisclosed sum of money in a northern registered black-coloured saloon car, believed to be an Audi A4.
One staff member suffered minor injuries during the raid and treated in hospital.