Crooks crash car wash business for ATM

NORTH MIAMI, Fla. (WSVN) -- North Miami Police are searching for men who rammed their van into a car wash's front office in order to get to the ATM inside.

The robbers targeted the business early Monday morning, before the business had opened for the day. However, they failed to take the ATM after they learned that the machine had been bolted down.

Surveillance video caught the messy robbery attempt on camera. "We have pretty good surveillance video, which shows the bad guys driving a van or backing a van into the glass doors, crashing the glass doors, jumping out, trying to steal the ATM," said North Miami Police Lt. Neil Cuevas.

The van went in reverse and shattered the glass. Then the thieves jumped out trying to rip off the ATM machine, but little did they know it is bolted down. "You have the tire marks, you have the tracks from the van pulling in. You can see the door damage itself. These are pretty good solid doors, and it's all knocked down. The frames as well, and over in the corner you'll see where the ATM was bolted to the ground, " said Cuevas.

The damage is still visible the day after, and tourists hearing about the story were stunned by the brazen robbery attempt. "I think it awful, what else? It probably would never happen in Ohio, never in Ohio," said a tourist.

"Right, only down here," said another tourist.

The reality, though, is that we have seen these attempts in the past. Just last week, also in North Miami, there was a similar incident where crooks took a backhoe and tried to rip off an entire ATM machine at a bank. "Definitely, that's one aspect that we'll be looking at, whether or not that other attempt at an ATM, which happened at a bank had anything to do with this attempt at this ATM," said Cuevas. They were unsuccessful in that attempt as well.

Back to the car wash, just off 151st Street and Biscayne Boulevard, people are left scratching their heads over the actions by these reckless robbers. "What were they on drugs or something? What's the matter with them? I can't imagine anyone even thinking that way. It's so ridiculous. Either you're ridiculous or awfully desperate, who knows?" said the tourist.

Desperate perhaps, but one thing is for sure, say police, they can now add big trouble to desperation.

Police are hoping this video will help in the search for these car wash crashing thieves. If you have any information on who these sloppy robbers are, 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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