Security staff at a filling station in Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone, were threatened just before 7am yesterday by a gang of men wearing boiler suits and masks while armed with suspected firearms.
The incident, which detectives believe bore the hallmarks of an organised crime gang, took place when the security firm personnel were attending an ATM on the Caledon Road.
The amount of money stolen in the robbery is believed to be more than £1m, the BBC reported today.
The armed men threatened security staff who had been in the area attending to a cash machine before taking the money and making off from the scene in a dark coloured vehicle.
In an update police said the incident had been “shocking experience” for the staff involved, and appealed for dash-cam footage to help the investigation.
They added they are working alongside An Garda Síochána.
Armed robbers wearing boiler suits and masks stole money from a security van in County Tyrone. Photo: Pacemaker
Detective Inspector McCamley said: “All information relating to this armed robbery is needed. This would have been a shocking experience for the staff involved.
“This masked group had ordered staff into the ATM bunker then removed cash boxes from the security van and the cash machine.
“They then made off from the scene in the direction of Armagh in a dark-coloured Audi Q7 with a significant sum of cash. As part of our enquiries, we are liaising with An Garda Síochána.
“We are asking anyone with information or who may be able to help with our investigation to call us on 101 quoting 191 08/10/25.
“If you noticed any suspicious behaviour in and around this filling station in recent days or if you were travelling in the area at this time, we want to hear from you.
“Similarly if you have dash-cam footage covering this area or live in the general area and may have a doorbell camera, your information could be valuable to our investigation.”
A spokesperson for Pivotal Sec Plus, whose van was robbed, said: “Our greatest concern is for our employees following this frightening experience, and we are working to support their well-being.”
“We shall continue to assist the PSNI during the investigation,” they added.
As those investigations continue, gardaí are looking into the possibility that the same gang orchestrated a recent overnight raid on an ATM in Clones less than 40km away.
That incident came after thieves targeted the independently owned machine which was stationed at the town’s former Ulster Bank building shortly before 2am on August 1.
It is understood the gang wrenched open a steel security door in order to try and secure access to the ATM.
Although the ATM itself was left intact, an undisclosed sum of cash was taken in the heist.
The scene itself was sealed off for a full technical examination as gardaí also procured CCTV from various approach roads in and out of the west Monaghan town.
Those efforts were made in a bid to identify both the identities of those involved and two vehicles detectives believe were used during the course of the raid.
The scene of the robbery in Aughnacloy.
Belfast History Explained: The Story of the River Farset
Gardaí have been focusing much of those inquiries on a Ford Transit van and silver Audi which were spotted in and around the scene of the robbery.
Sources believe the episode may also be linked to a similar incident just days previously in Jonesborough, a small village along the Armagh-Louth border.
Part of that belief is based on the involvement of the Audi which senior investigators believe was also used in the Jonesborough raid.
Sinn Fein Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Colm Gildernew branded this week’s raid in Aughnacloy as “disgraceful”.
“My thoughts are with the workers caught up in it, who will no doubt be left frightened. Anyone with information should contact the police,” he said.
Ulster Unionist MLA Diana Armstrong added: “This was a brazen and deeply disturbing attack on those simply going about their daily job.”
PSNI Chief Inspector Ryan McConville said: “It was reported at around 6.40am that a short time earlier a group of males, wearing boiler suits and masks, armed with suspected firearms threatened security staff who had been attending an ATM at the premises on the Caledon Road.
“The group ordered staff into the ATM bunker then removed cash boxes from the security van and the ATM before making off from the scene in a dark coloured vehicle, with a significant sum of cash.”