Gardaí have prevented what is believed to have been the attempted theft of an ATM from a bank branch in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan.
The alarm was raised at the scene on the Dublin road at about 3am.
Officers pursued two vehicles suspected of being involved - a grey Audi A6 and a white Transit van - however both managed to make their escape and are believed to have travelled in the direction of the border.
Nothing was stolen in the incident and investigations are ongoing.