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Jul 24, 2023

Video shows brazen thieves ram ATM machine with forklift

Surveillance video shows one of the suspects ramming the machine off its platform with the forklift while a second suspect waits nearby in a getaway truck. Surveillance video shows one of the suspects

Surveillance video shows one of the suspects ramming the machine off its platform with the forklift while a second suspect waits nearby in a getaway truck.

Surveillance video shows one of the suspects ramming the machine off its platform with the forklift while a second suspect waits nearby in a getaway truck.

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Surveillance video shows one of the suspects ramming the machine off its platform with the forklift while a second suspect waits nearby in a getaway truck.

The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office on Saturday released surveillance footage that shows how thieves recently used a forklift to steal an ATM machine at the Safe Credit Union.

The video shows one of the suspects ramming the machine off its platform with the forklift while a second suspect waits nearby in a getaway truck. (See the full video above.)

Sgt. Amar Gandhi, a spokesperson for the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, said the brazen theft happened at the SAFE Credit Union on Watt Avenue near Margaret Way around 6 a.m. Wednesday.

"People are getting creative," Gandhi said. "We’ve seen them try to put chains around it and drive it off with a truck and sometimes leaving their bumper behind."

Despite the initial success in snatching the machine, the operation was bungled after the thieves tried to load the ATM onto the pickup, the sheriff's office said.

At some point during the getaway, the machine fell off of the second suspect's truck and into the roadway, where it caused a crash.

KCRA 3 spoke to Terry Sanchez, who said he was the person who hit the ATM with his truck when he was driving on Watt Avenue.

"I came around the turn. It was dark, and I couldn't see it in the street, and my truck hit it," Sanchez said. "It was just something you don't expect every day."

The damage to Sanchez's truck was minor, and he was able to drive away in it.

Authorities have yet to make an arrest in the case or identify the suspects.

They are encouraging anyone who saw the ATM theft or who may have information about who was involved to contact the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office or Crime Stoppers at 916-443-HELP.

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