Police in Northern Ireland have charged a man in connection with the theft of an ATM in County Antrim yesterday.

The PSNI said a digger was used to tear the cash machine from a filling station at Tully Road, Nutts corner in the early hours of the morning on Tuesday.

The machine was recovered a short time later.

Yesterday, police commended local residents for their assistance after two men were arrested.

A 31-year-old is due at Ballymena Magistrates Court this morning charged with theft and other offences.

Police said a 26-year-old man remains in custody and is assisting police with their inquiries.

ATM

Speaking last night PSNI Detective Superintendent Rachel Shields said police were able to respond to the incident because a “number of vigilant members of the public” reported it.

She said the arrests “demonstrate how the community and police can successfully work together to tackle crime.”

“However, this does not mean we will be complacent as we recognise there are a number of gangs carrying out these attacks on ATMs and the threat of more thefts is very real.”

Machinery

She called on anyone who owns or uses heavy plant machinery to “take every possible step to secure and immobilise them.”

“If criminals cannot steal diggers, they cannot tear out ATMs,” she said.

“This will also mean that these expensive pieces of machinery are not destroyed or burnt out.”