Stolen Bobcat used to smash open ATM at Lions Den Hotel
A woman has been arrested by police in connection with a series of audacious robberies during which ATM machines were dragged out of Far North businesses. How it unfolded.
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A woman has been arrested by police in connection with a series of audacious robberies during which ATM machines were dragged out of Far North businesses.
On Wednesday the Cairns Criminal Investigation Branch arrested a 35-year-old Cooktown woman at a Clifton Beach address.
Police allege the woman was involved in an incident at a Yorkeys Knob service station that unfolded in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Investigators say a Hino Ranger tip truck stolen from a Coral Coast Dr worksite in Palm Cove, was driven through the shopfront of the Mobil service station at Yorkeys Knob.
It’s understood chains were attached to the cash dispensing machine and to the truck before efforts were made to skull drag the 1000kg ATM out of the shop.
But the machine slingshotted on the chain before the alleged robbers were spooked by a passer-by and fled the scene.
In a similar incident an ATM was successfully stolen from the Lions Den Hotel in Rossville on May 25.
Police allege a stolen Toyota HiLux was used to rip an ATM out of the dining room of the hotel.
The machine was dragged down Bloomfield Rd toward Wujal Wujal before a stolen Bobcat was used to bust open the machine.
Police say parts of the stolen machine were strewn around the Bobcat and littered the roadside between Rossville and the hotel.
The new ATM at the Lions Den Hotel was excitedly announced by the venue on social media eight days before the heist.
Police allege the 35-year-old Cooktown woman was also involved in the alleged robbery in which an unknown amount of cash was taken.
She has been charged with two counts of entering premises and committing an indictable offence by break.
The woman was granted police bail and is due to appear before the Cairns Magistrates Court on June 23.
Police believe others are involved in the robberies and investigations into both incidents are ongoing.
Trinity Petroleum declined to comment on the Yorkeys Knob robbery and the Lions Den was also contracted for comment.
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