No one injured by truck ramming ATM
CLOVERFIELD BLVD. — Thieves used a large construction truck to ram the wall of a gas station here on Wednesday night, partially knocking down an ATM so they could steal money from it, according to police.
A man driving a large truck and a woman driving a pickup truck arrived at the Exxon gas station at Cloverfield Boulevard and Michigan Avenue just before 11 p.m. on Wednesday, said SMPD Capt. Alex Padilla.
The man used the larger truck,described as “a heavy-duty construction truck,” to ram the gas station and damage the ATM, said Padilla.
The man then jumped out, grabbed the part of the ATM where the money is kept, put it in the pickup and rode off alongside the woman, Padilla said. The amount of money contained in the machine was unknown at the time of the theft.
The abandoned construction truck, which was believed to have been stolen, was towed to police impound on Thursday morning.
There was a clerk in the gas station at the time, but no one was injured in the incident, said Padilla.
The female suspect is described as being Caucasian, in her mid 20s and wearing a gray sweater. The male is described as being Caucasian, in his 30s, 6 feet 1 inches tall, 160 pounds and wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt.
The getaway vehicle is described as possibly a green or dark gray 2000 Chevy Silverado.
Anyone having information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the robbery/homicide unit of the SMPD at (310) 458-8451 or the watch commander’s office at (310) 458-8427.
Callers who wish to provide anonymous information may also call the We-Tip national hotline at 1 (800) 78- CRIME (27463). Callers with information that leads to an arrest and conviction become eligible for a reward up to $1,000.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 8, 2006. Read the original PDF.