Video shows suspects use stolen SUV to rip out ATM, destroying North Texas convenience store
The White Settlement Police Department in North Texas is asking for the public's help in identifying two suspects who attempted to steal an ATM from a convenience store early on Christmas Eve in an incident that was caught on video.
According to the department, just before 3:45 a.m. Wednesday, two men inside a stolen SUV from Dallas pulled up to the 7-Eleven in the 2600 block of South Cherry Lane and tied a metal cable to the ATM. The suspects then attempted to drive off with the ATM, which tore through the store, causing extensive damage.
Video shows the chaotic scene
In the surveillance video released by police on Wednesday afternoon, you see one of the suspects smashing out a window with a sledgehammer before being handed the metal cable. The video then shows the suspect running inside the store to hook up the ATM as the cable wrapped around shelves holding chlps, candy and other items.
Then, the second suspect gets the go-ahead to take off, and the ATM goes flying out the broken window, further damaging the storefront. As the suspect drove off with the ATM attached, it struck a vehicle parked by one of the gas pumps.
No injuries were reported at the scene.
Police said that as the suspects continued to flee the scene by dragging the ATM, it dislodged from the metal cable and was found abandoned on the service road of I-30 between South Cherry Lane and South Las Vegas Trail.
Officers team with Fort Worth police to track down the suspects' vehicle
White Settlement PD said officers, along with the Fort Worth Police Department, used camera technologies and license plate readers to track the suspects' vehicle. The SUV was later found abandoned in the 2700 block of Shenandoah Road in Fort Worth, less than a mile from the store.
Police confirmed the SUV was stolen out of Dallas. The Tarrant County Sheriff's Office has processed the vehicle for forensic examination.
Police believe the suspects may have fled on foot or got inside another vehicle before abandoning it.
Police asking for help identifying suspects
Both suspects were described as men wearing black hoodies, black pants, face masks and orange gloves. Police said one man had on white sneakers and the other had on black tennis shoes.
Anyone with information concerning their location is asked to call Detective Geovanny Ramirez at 817-246-7070 ext. 420, or call Tarrant County Crime Stoppers at 817-469-TIPS.
Investigators are working to determine if this crime is related to two similar incidents at convenience stores within the last two weeks.