NSW: Rees hopes thieves blow themselves up before hurting public

AAP General News (Australia)
12-18-2008
NSW: Rees hopes thieves blow themselves up before hurting public

SYDNEY, Dec 18 AAP - Premier Nathan Rees says he hopes "criminal idiots" using explosives
to blow up ATMs across Sydney injure themselves before innocent people are hurt.

ATMs at Chester Hill and Rhodes, both in the city's west, were targeted within an hour
of each other early on Thursday.

The blasts bring the number of ATM attacks in Sydney to four since Tuesday, and are
the latest in a spate of ATM robberies across eastern states in the past few months.

Mr Rees said it was only a matter of time before someone was hurt by one of these explosions.

"These criminal idiots who are using explosives to target ATMs, it's only a matter
of time before they injure someone," he told reporters.

"With a bit of luck it will be themselves, but it might also be an innocent by-stander.

"These criminal idiots will be brought to justice eventually ... they are engaging
in an extremely dangerous practice."

Mr Rees said he was confident police were doing everything in their power to bring
those involved to justice.

AAP nr/evt/nf

KEYWORD: ATM REES

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