Police: Suspects set fire to ATM in Cherokee County robbery attempt

Holly Springs police stopped an attempted theft at a Cherokee County bank Monday morning, but not before the suspects tried to set the ATM on fire.

Police responded to an alarm call from a Chase Bank at 6230 Old Highway 5 in Woodstock around 4:15 a.m., according to a statement from Holly Springs police spokesman Cpl. Greg Bettis. Officers made one on-scene arrest and arrested another suspect nearby.

An investigation found gasoline had been used to ignite part of the ATM, blackening the front, Bettis said. Police found a gas can and cylinder in a car parked near the scene. 

The ATM was damaged due in part to the fire and other efforts to open its front cover, but the suspects were ultimately unable to take any money, according to the statement.

Police are not releasing the names of the suspects at this time, but Bettis said they intend to charge them with arson, reckless conduct, criminal damage, possession of burglary tools, criminal attempt to commit theft and obstruction.

Holly Springs police are working with other local police and federal law enforcement agencies to continue their investigation into this case and other similar incidents. 

“Several communities have suffered with this type of crime,” Holly Springs Police Chief Mike Carswell said in the statement. “The actions of our officers and investigators may have put an end to this recent spree of ATM crimes.”

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