Two men arrested in connection with ATM skimming operation
Two men have been arrested in connection with an ATM skimming operation in the East of the country.
It is believed the suspects are part of an Eastern European criminal gang targeting bank branches in Dublin, Kildare and Meath.
The arrests of two men in Blanchardstown in Dublin this morning are described as a significant development in this case.
The breakthrough came after a skimming device was used on a bank ATM in Kildare town yesterday.
Officers from Kildare and the National Economic Crime Bureau had been working closely with a financial institution to try to intercept the criminals involved after eight different bank branches were targeted in Dublin, Kildare and Meath.
Skimming devices and credit cards were recovered at the scene of the arrests.
The two men in their 30s are being held at Newbridge and Kildare Garda Stations and can be questioned for up to 24 hours.
Gardaí are reminding consumers to be vigilant when using ATMs.
Detective Chief Superintendent Patrick Lordan from the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau is reminding people to always cover their PIN.
"Without covering it they can see in plain light of day what you're putting in. They have the numbers in your pin code and they have the card reader which is reading your card, so they are quite free then to use your card to commit crime and to avail of criminal funds throughout the country and throughout the world, he said."
