EDWARDSVILLE, Kan. — Police are investigating after someone drove a car into a convenience store in an attempt to steal the ATM in the overnight hours on Tuesday. They were not successful.
Police said security cameras at the Phillips 66 in the 9700 block of Kaw Drive caught a suspect on video crashing into the store and then trying to steal the ATM.
The owner, Adib Rawoot, who opened the store only three months ago, said he’s disappointed, but the store remained open on Tuesday.
Then two masked thieves ransacked the ATM machine, but only got away with the computer, no cash.
But Rawoot says they caused $50 to $60,000 worth of damage.
“I just started this business so it’s really frustrating for me now,” Rawoot said.
They also left behind the stolen van. It’s part of a fleet that belongs to Doug Porter.
“This morning I came in and found the gate was mangled and laying on the ground,” says Doug Porter, who owns Panel Systems Plus.
The thieves first attempted to steal a truck. The door was already unlocked so all they had to do was climb in. The ignition panel was completely torn off and damaged beyond repair. The ignition was so badly damaged that the thieves tried to start another van and were successful. That’s when they smashed through the locked gate and headed toward the gas station.
“There’s nothing you can really do about it besides insurance,” he said.
It’s left Porter in a bind. He’s been in business for 22 years, installing furniture for companies.
“They’re all needed for service so it hurts to lose two of them right now,” said Porter.
He says it will cost nearly $15,000 to replace the van, but has not calculated how much it will cost to replace the second truck and also fix the gate.
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