New police task force to tackle Brisbane's brazen ATM robberies
Police have dedicated a new taskforce to tracking down the criminals behind a spate of attempted ATM robberies across Brisbane.
Seven machines have been targeted in recent months, the latest on Thursday night.
Two masked thieves forced their way into a bunker at the Plainland Plaza west of Ipswich, but the attempt failed.
The men were disturbed by a baker starting his shift and ran, with CCTV footage capturing them fleeing in a blue Holden ute.
The front of the vehicle was damaged when they hit the gutter on the way out.
Earlier in the evening a Westpac machine in Fernvale was targeted, with a crowbar being used to get into a secure room.
It is believed the the thieves used a grinding tool to attempting cracking into the back of another ATM - a similar method used by a gang of thieves targeting Suncorp ATMs in North Brisbane.
The gang cut holes in the roof to climb into secure bunkers - no doors for these thieves.
They first struck in January at Sandgate Road in Bondall, then again in March at The Everton Park Shopping Centre.
But their most succesful attempt was in June at Bray Park.
The thief was caught on camera leaving the the Kensington Village Shopping centre with a bag containing $250,000 in cash.
Two nights ago there was another failed attempt at Chermside.
A team of investigators are now working on each case, but say Thursday night's attempted heists west of Brisbane weren't just unsuccessful, but far less sophisticated than the rooftop robbers.
