Dramatic ATM thefts continue to plague Seattle
Dec 30, 2016, 1:06 PM | Updated: 1:07 pm
Seattle police continue to search for thieves responsible for pulling off a string of dramatic ATM thefts across the city, leaving extensive damage in their wake.
After reaching out to the public for help identifying those responsible for the heists earlier in December, detectives with the Seattle Police Department are investigating even more ATM thefts occurring throughout the city.
VIDEO: Previous Seattle ATM thefts with photos
Seattle police have released two videos of the ATM thefts, one from the 2800 block of East Madison, and another from the 2200 block of Eastlake Avenue.
The process is generally the same in each case: a vehicle is stolen and used to smash into a store; the thieves then either tear the ATM from its place, or use a chain and the vehicle to pull the machine from the store. After the thefts, the machines are cracked open and the cash is taken. The machine and the vehicle is dumped somewhere nearby.
Police believe the suspects in the ATM thefts are responsible for a string of other heists in the area, including: gas stations; a small grocery, various convenience stores; a golf course; a local burger chain; and at least nine break-ins around Seattle. All were carried out within the last two months.
ATM thefts and forklifts
Amid the investigation into the string of ATM thefts, two other incidents involving cash machines have also puzzled detectives. No cash was taken in these incidents, however.
First, a forklift was hotwired and stolen on Dec. 25 and was used around 3:30 a.m. to smash into a machine at North 125th and Aurora Avenue North. The ATM machine was in its own building in the middle of a parking lot. The ATM structure was completely destroyed.
On Dec. 30, a similar incident happened in Ballard in the 900 block of NW 45th Street around 5 a.m. The forklift was used to tear the ATM out of a wall, knock it over and drag it into a parking lot. The machine was considerably damaged.
An ATM was torn from its wall, and dragged into a parking lot with a stolen forklift in Ballard. (Ursula Reutin, KIRO Radio)
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