Published Monday, 06 July 2009
The gang used a digger for the raid which occurred on the Clones Road at 4.30am on Monday.
The thieves managed to get away with a cash machine.
Police have said the reason for the delay was that they feared for the safety of their officers because of the high threat from dissident republicans in the area.
A police spokesperson said: "The owner of the premises was updated of police actions and the reasons for the delay in attending.
"This was not simply a robbery but rather an attack on a community resource."
Fermanagh and south Tyrone MP Michelle Gildernew has slammed the delay.
"Residents are not just baffled by the lack of response from the PSNI but also infuriated by the fact that it took them 12 hours to respond to this incident," she said.
"Numerous residents contacted the PSNI who informed the callers that they were 'aware' of the situation. Not only was a digger used to ram this vital community resource but the digger was set on fire on the forecourt of a petrol station.
"The PSNI have cited 'safety concerns' as their main reason for not entering the area, the reality is that the PSNI are public servants and that my main concern is the safety of my constituents."