POLICE are appealing for information from the public as they investigate the latest in a string of ATM blasts in Tasmania over the past 12 months.
Would-be thieves yesterday targeted the Commonwealth Bank teller machine in the front of the Newstead Capital Chemist on Elphin Road.
They were apparently unsuccessful as the cash box remained intact and they were seen running from the area.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE PICTURES OF THE NEWSTEAD ATTACK
CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES FROM PREVIOUS ATM ATTACKS
It was the sixth attempt to blow up an ATM this year and Detective Inspector Peter Harriss said the attacks were getting more brazen.
"Any incident involving explosions in a built-up area is a brazen attack," he said. "Particularly given the high potential for harm to members of the public."
Police were on the scene within an estimated 30 seconds of the 3.50am blast - described by one officer as "sounding like armageddon" - according to pharmacy proprietor Harvey Cuthill.
Specialist officers from the police bomb response group, forensics, and Launceston's criminal investigation branch attended the site soon after.
Detective Senior Constable Darren Turner said the explosion caused about $60,000 damage to both the machine and the shop but no members of the public were injured.
He would not reveal the method used but it is believed the explosive device utilised a gas canister, similar to those used in three of the previous ATM explosions.
It is unknown if the offenders were injured in the blast.
Witnesses saw two men wearing hooded jumpers fleeing the scene.
They are described as being of slim builds, one of average height and the other significantly taller.
Detectives were yesterday viewing security footage of the area.
The pharmacy opened for business yesterday morning despite the significant damage.
The force of the explosion caused many of the store's windows to crack or implode and ripped off a strip of ceiling lights.
Mr Cuthill remained positive as he surveyed his damaged pharmacy.
"It's a disruption, but what can you do?" he said.
Elphin Continental Cakes owner Peter Elliot was asleep in his home above the bakery when he was woken by the "massive thump".
"I grabbed my dressing gown and went out onto the street - we initially thought someone had crashed into one of the shops," he said.
"A man from the service station asked me if I'd seen anything and we had a look around, but because it was so dark, all we could see was the alarm going off at Charcoal Chicken."
A police officer told Mr Elliot what had happened and he then saw the mangled ATM with glass sprayed across the footpath just metres from his business.
"The council needs to be installing cameras along the street to make the area safer for the community - we've got a lot of businesses on this stretch of road," he said.
"But it's a bizarre place to rob an ATM, considering the high volume of traffic passing through at all hours."
•Anyone with any information about the blast is urged to contact Launceston CIB on 63363701, or Crime Stoppers on 1800333000.
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