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Feb 27, 2008 7:33 am US/Eastern
Brazen Thieves Target ATMs Across New England
LAWRENCE, Mass. (WBZ) ―
Police are on the lookout for a gang of brazen thieves who are suspected of robbing ATM's across New England over the past three years.
This past weekend they broke into the District Courthouse in Lawrence and tried to smash and grab an ATM there.
According to police, the thieves used a large vehicle to back through a window at the courthouse to gain access to the ATM. They then tried to load the ATM into the truck or van and take off. However it was bolted to the floor, so instead they broke into the ATM and took the cash inside.
"The intention was to drag the machine out, but that wasn't possible, because it was anchored," said Lawrence Police Chief, John Romero. "(There was) a lot of broken glass, clearly pried open with probably a crow bar, it's quite a mess."
The same group of thieves is suspected of stealing cash from an ATM from the Federal Credit Union in Methuen Sunday night, using a card with a magnetic strip to gain entry. They then ripped the ATM right out of the lobby. They're also suspected of a recent robbery in Merrimack.
"It's a quick payout. Most ATM machines have anywhere from a couple of thousand dollars to a lot more. It's in and out," said Romero.
Officers said these kinds of thefts are nothing new. The same group of about 12 thieves is suspected in a bunch of robberies up and down New England over the past three years.
Romero says so far there's been no real pattern, plus they're targeting all of New England, making it harder for authorities to catch them.
"The area they hit is so large, we're talking six different states," he said.
Authorities do have several surveillance images of the thieves from various robberies over that time. They're also looking for reports of stolen vans or Jeep Cherokees, because those vehicles are commonly used in this type of smash and grab robberies.
They have left quite a trail of broken machines recovered from stolen vehicles, and police say it's only a matter of time before they strike again.
Anyone with information about the ATM thefts is asked to contact local police.
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