Police hunting ATM bandits

By Marcus K. Garner

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Police are asking for the public's help in finding two groups of smash-and-grab ATM bandits.

Over the weekend, two Atlanta businesses were hit by different teams of thieves, police said.

A small machine was stolen from the Stop and Save convenience store at 1932 Hosea Williams Drive early Saturday morning, when a stolen Cadillac Escalade was crashed through the store's front window.

Then the drivers jumped out and grabbed the small machine, Atlanta police told reporters Monday.

"There have been a rash of ATM thefts over the last couple of months metrowide," Sgt. Archie Ezell said.

Just hours later the same morning, at a CVS drug store at 3401 Northside Parkway, a van rammed through the front of the store and a white pickup truck backed in.

Five men carried out a Chase Bank ATM and loaded it onto the bed of the pickup, as shown in video surveillance.

"It seems like there’s a cycle where we get a rash of thefts involving denim, then they’ll go to the flat-screen TVs," Ezell said. "Right now they're on ATMs."

Ezell told WSB Radio that three machines stolen from Atlanta and one from DeKalb County were all found in Atlanta.

Anyone with information about the ATM thefts is asked to call Atlanta Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477.