Four foreign nationals have been extradited from the Northern Territory to NSW, to face charges over a string of ATM thefts in the Illawarra, Sydney, Newcastle and the Central Coast.
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A series of break-and-enters targeting ATMs between July and October prompted the formation of Strike Force Chiver, an investigation of the NSW Police Property Crime Squad.
Between July 7 and October 28, police say 10 NSW properties were targeted at locations including Warrawong, Shellharbour, Oak Flats and Berry.
Police believe the men may have been behind 65 ATM robberies across NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia in recent months.
Strike Force Chiver conducted "extensive inquiries both here in NSW and with their counterparts in a number of other states and territories," according to a police statement, which led to the extradition of four men from the Northern Territory to Sydney on Thursday night.
Four men aged 26, 33, 38 and 41 - three Albanian nationals and an Italian national - were arrested by Northern Territory police near a Darwin shopping centre on Monday. It is believed they were preparing to carrying out another raid at the time, when their vehicle was stopped on the Stuart Highway.
Northern Territory police allege high-tech surveillance equipment and tools were seized in subsequent searches.
The men face a total of 31 break, enter and steal charges in NSW. The men are accused of running a crime gang that used tools to break open and rob 65 ATMs in NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia.
All four were refused bail on Thursday and will face Central Local Court on Friday.
Police say they are "continuing to liaise with police in the Northern Territory, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia," and say further charges are expected.
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