Omagh cash machine found after being 'ripped out of wall'

A cash machine that was stolen after being ripped out of the wall of a filling station in County Tyrone has been recovered.

The incident at Glendale filling station, Killyclogher Road in Omagh was reported to police at 04:10 GMT on Friday.

Police said "significant damage" was caused to the wall.

• Surge in gas and ram-raid ATM attacks

A digger is thought to have been used during the incident.

The machine was found in the Knockmany Road area near Clogher, County Tyrone, late on Friday night, the PSNI said.

It has now been removed for further examination and police have appealed for information.

On Friday, the PSNI said it was investigating a possible link between six ATM thefts in Northern Ireland in the past six months.

Det Ch Insp David Henderson said: "It appears there is no specific geographic area at more risk to another with ATM thefts having also taken place in Omagh, Moira and Ballyclare during this time period.

"Each incident has followed a very similar process of targeting premises, before using plant machinery to remove ATMs from the exterior façade.

"This caused significant damage to the property, as well as causing disruption to the business targeted and the local community."

In the latest incident, the police asked anyone who saw a vehicle towing a trailer before the theft to contact them.

In December, a digger was used to steal a cash machine from a shop in Fintona, County Tyrone, and it was set alight next to the shop after the robbery.

Last month, a shop near near Killyclogher was targeted, but the robbery was foiled when local residents rushed to the scene and shouted at the thieves.

Earlier this month, police said the theft of three cash machines in Antrim and Moira within the space of two days may be linked.