The man behind the operation supposedly used the drone to film people as they typed their PIN into the cash machine in Templepatrick, Co Antrim.

A witness told police the drone flew off once spotted, but crashed into a taxi. The drone operator then paid compensation to the driver.

However, police officers were unable to prove the footage was taken with criminal intent, and the man went free.

The bizarre drone incident is one of an increasing number being reported to police in Northern Ireland.

There were 425 incidents reported in 2015, an increase of 352 per cent on 2014.