A gang using a mechanical digger ripped a bank machine from a wall in the early hours of this morning, but failed in taking the ATM from the scene.
The ATM was at the Bank of Ireland in Taghmon, Co Wexford. The incident happened at 4.15 a.m.
Gardaí initially thought the gang had made off with the machine, but it was later found under rubble.
"At this stage it appears that no cash was taken from the machine," a Garda spokesman said.
The digger was abandoned close to the scene which was sealed off for forensic examination. No arrests have been made so far and investigations are ongoing.
This morning's incident follows a series of similar ones in the area in the past number of weeks.
Earlier this month, raiders who tried to steal an ATM from a bank in Co Kilkenny were foiled by gardaí.
A stolen tractor was used by three men to prise the cash dispenser from the wall of the Bank of Ireland, on Green Street, Callan, 10 miles from Kilkenny city, at 2.50 a.m. on July 8th.
A city-based Garda patrol car received a call from a local person to say there were men acting suspiciously near the ATM. When the squad car arrived, the men sped off in a car, leaving the tractor behind.
The Callan incident came 10 days after a similar incident in Rosslare, Co Wexford in which thieves used a digger to rip an ATM from a bank wall before making their getaway with €140,000.
A Garda spokeswoman said each incident is being treated separately but officers would be examining if there is a connection.
