SAN ANTONIO – Windcrest police plan to review surveillance video that they obtained in the latest theft of an ATM in the San Antonio area.
Police Chief A.O. "Al" Ballew said his investigators have video from several sources, including the ATM.
In a case similar to one in San Antonio earlier this week, Ballew said two men used a stolen forklift Friday morning to knock an ATM off its base in the drive-thru lane of Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union near Interstate 35 and Walzem Road. They used the construction equipment to load the bulky bank machine onto the bed of a pickup and drove away, Ballew said.
The ATM was found around 4 a.m. in the turnaround lanes of an I-35 access road.
Police said it appeared that the thieves dropped the machine while escaping, but had no way to lift the heavy ATM and load it back onto the pickup truck.
Ballew confirmed that San Antonio police officers later recovered the pickup used in the theft. He said the truck was reported stolen.
Windcrest police were comparing notes with SAPD investigators about an ATM theft on the Northwest Side earlier this week.
Detectives at the scene said they were looking for two men who stole an ATM on Wednesday morning from a parking lot at the Huebner Oaks Shopping Center.
The earlier case also involved the use of a stolen forklift, police said.
The thieves were last seen driving off in a black Ford pickup that investigators believe was stolen.
Investigators have not determined if the two cases are related.
Inez Kirchner, communications manager for Randolph-Brooks, issued the following statement regarding Friday's theft:
“A robbery of our ATM did occur in the early morning hours of Friday, Feb. 24, at our Windcrest location. We have several security protocols that were enacted, and the police were notified immediately of the situation. Thanks to their timely assistance, the ATM has been recovered. We are cooperating with authorities fully with their ongoing investigation.”