Police investigate series of ATM robberies

MIAMI (WSVN) -- Police are looking for the would-be robbers who tried to steal ATMs from two stores, early Thursday morning.

This sort of robbery is becoming all too familiar to police and frustrated business owners. Thursday morning, police are investigating two cases that occurred within minutes of each other. City of Police are not saying whether any of these crimes are connected, but the two attempted robberies Thursday brings the total of these similar crimes to five in the past week.

The first happened between 5 and 6 a.m. at the Discount Supermarket on Northeast 25th Street and Second Avenue, and surveillance video captured the entire thing. The store owner said the crooks broke the security gate and shattered the glass to the front door by attaching a chain to the rear of a vehicle and yanking the door open.

They then cut the alarm wire and entered the store and wrapped a chain around the ATM to try to pull it out but to no avail. They went back into the store and tried it a second time but failed again.

The crooks made a mess of the store in their failed attempt, knocking down cartons filled with eggs, bottled drinks and leaving broken glass on the floor. Despite the crooks' failure, the business was still adversely affected. "It's slow right now, and then we have to spend a lot of money to fix the door and everything," said Mohammed Islam.

Police are searching for at least three men who fled in two vehicles, both Nissan Maximas, one white, one gold.

Another mess was later discovered at the Check Cashing USA on Northwest 29th Street and 27th Avenue. Police said thieves there attempted to take the ATM, about a half hour before the Discount Supermarket attempt. They have yet to connect both incidents, but they mark the latest in a string of similar events.

On Saturday, thieves successfully took an ATM from a Cashing USA on Northwest 28th Street and Seventh Avenue. Last Thursday, there were two similar attempts: a failed one in North Miami and a successful one at a Northwest Miami-Dade Quick stop. The subjects there were also in two Nissan Maximas, one white, one gold, and also tried used chains and their vehicles to try to get to the ATMS.

If you have any information on any of these ATM theft attempts, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.

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