'Brazen' Smash & Grab ATM Thieves On The Loose

DENVER (CBS4)-Police in Denver are searching for thieves who took a brazen approach to stealing an ATM.

It happened at the Shell gas station in the 1600 block of S. Broadway at about 3:40 a.m. Monday.

Thieves used an older model GMC Sierra pickup as a battering ram to smash through a brick wall at the gas station to get access to the ATM inside.

The crime was caught on security cameras located inside the convenience store. After the wall was knocked down, two thieves climb over the wreckage. The are wearing hoods to conceal their identity.

The pair can be seen digging through the debris to get their hands on the ATM. It was bolted to the floor, but the force of the impact snapped it free.

A third bandit is seen on the video helping the other two wrestle it out of the door. They're in and out of the store in 45 seconds.

Thirty seconds later, they've got the ATM loaded in the truck and they're driving away.

Police said this isn't the first time an entire ATM has been stolen in Denver.

"I'm aware of a couple of other ATM burglaries where ATMs were taken in southwest Denver somewhat recently, but whether they're connected or not I don't know at this time," said Denver Police Sgt. Steve Kimberly.

A huge plastic piece of the ATM was left behind. It is being examined for fingerprints.

More interesting to police is the tailgate, which apparently fell off the pickup when it smashed into the wall. It's from an older model GMC Sierra painted black with orange stripes.