LEES SUMMIT, Mo. — Sheriff’s deputies in Jackson County are searching for a bold thief.
Local law enforcement agencies say seven ATMs have been stolen since mid-November. Police say thieves have tried on 10 occasions during the past five-month period to steal local ATMs, and they’ve gotten away with it seven times.
PHOTOS: Police ask for help: Can you identify these serial ATM thieves?
Local businesses such as Enterprise Bank here in Independence have seen criminals rip off their ATMs along with the money inside. The manager of that bank wouldn’t comment on the theft, which happened on February 23.
Sgt. Ronda Montgomery works with the Jackson County Sheriff’s office, which is assisting a group of local police departments investigating the individual cases. Her office shares a series of surveillance photos from ATM thefts that happened in late December at banks in Overland Park, Blue Springs and Independence.
She says suspects are using a heavy truck and tools to tear the machines from their foundations. Police believe a male and female are working together in these crimes.
“We know they’ve been around,” Sgt. Montgomery said. “We’ve taken pictures of these individuals. We’d like to see if we can get that information out there and get this stopped.”
One of those seven cases would likely include the November 21 at the Conoco gas station on the Blue Ridge Cutoff near Arrowhead Stadium. Managers there shared security video of crooks snatching the store’s cash machine.
Sgt. Montgomery says a special task force has been created to investigate crimes like these. She tells FOX 4 News it includes representatives from 10 local law enforcement agencies, all focused on preventing ATM thefts.
Sgt. Montgomery says this case should remind ATM customers to be observant of their surroundings while they do their banking.
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