Two Men Admit Attempting To Steal ATM From Carlisle Supermarket
Two men have admitted attempting to steal a cash machine from a supermarket in Carlisle following a failed early morning raid.
The incident happened at the Morrisons supermarket on Kingstown Road shortly after 6.30am on September 15. The offenders attempted to remove the ATM from the premises but were unsuccessful and left the area before being stopped by police.
The pair used a lime green flatbed truck during the attempted theft. After leaving the supermarket, they were later stopped by officers while travelling in the same vehicle that had been used during the incident.
The attempted raid caused damage to the supermarket as the men tried to remove the cash machine. Although the ATM was not successfully taken, the incident resulted in criminal damage to the premises.
Tjay O’Neil, aged 35 and of no fixed address, admitted burglary with intent to steal and criminal damage. His admissions were made after he was arrested and subsequently brought before the court.
Dean Smith, aged 33 and also of no fixed address, admitted the same offences relating to the attempted burglary and damage. He additionally admitted charges relating to drink driving and dangerous driving.
The two men were arrested by police following the incident and were subsequently charged. Their arrests came after officers responded to the attempted theft and identified the vehicle believed to have been involved.
Both men appeared before Carlisle Magistrates’ Court on September 16, the day after the attempted raid. Their court appearance followed a rapid police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the failed ATM theft.
The men were remanded in custody following the hearing. They are due to appear at Carlisle Crown Court for sentencing on October 14.
The case has therefore progressed from the initial attempted theft to guilty pleas within a short period. Police said the men admitted all of the offences within 36 hours of the incident taking place.
Detective Inspector Lee Brumpton said members of the public had provided information that assisted officers dealing with the incident. He thanked those who came forward and said their response helped police act quickly.
According to police, information supplied by members of the public contributed significantly to the response following the attempted ATM theft. The assistance helped officers make arrests and progress the investigation rapidly.
The attempted theft involved a cash machine located at a busy supermarket on Kingstown Road. The use of a flatbed vehicle to try to remove the ATM formed a central part of the incident and subsequent investigation.
Although the offenders failed to take the cash machine, the supermarket was left with damage following the attempt. The matter has now moved into the court process, with sentencing to take place at Carlisle Crown Court.
The additional driving offences admitted by Smith form part of the wider case. His guilty pleas included drink driving and dangerous driving alongside burglary with intent to steal and criminal damage.
The upcoming Crown Court hearing will determine the sentences imposed for the offences to which both men have pleaded guilty. Until that hearing, the pair remain in custody following their appearance before magistrates.
Police have highlighted the role played by members of the public in helping officers respond to the incident. Their information was described as important in enabling the investigation to progress quickly and in supporting the subsequent arrests.
The case now awaits sentencing, with both men due to return before the Crown Court in October. The attempted theft did not result in the ATM being taken, but it led to criminal damage and additional offences being admitted during the court proceedings.
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