In this surveillance photo provided by Anniston police, a forklift is seen preparing to remove an ATM from a bank branch in Saks on Sunday morning. (Photo courtesy of Anniston police)
Suspects used a stolen forklift from an Alexandria company Sunday morning to pry an ATM from the ground at a Regions Bank branch on U.S. 431, causing more than $3,000 in damage and making off with an undisclosed amount of cash from the machine, said Anniston police Lt. Fred Forsythe.
The suspects’ unusual method of removing the ATM from the bank bears similarities to a theft Dec. 18, 2011, at the First National Bank of Talladega on U.S. 78 in Lincoln, where suspects used a stolen forklift from a nearby construction site to load an ATM onto a pickup truck.
In both incidents, the forklift was left at the scene of the crime.
“We’re aware of that and it’s being looked into,” Forsythe said. “Right now there’s nothing we can positively say to connect the crimes.”
Attempts to reach Lincoln police Wednesday morning were unsuccessful.
Forsythe said stealing an ATM is a pretty rare occurrence in the area and recalled only one or two times it had happened in the last decade.
“Criminals try to attach things to them and pull them loose,” Forsythe said. “The majority of them fail, they end up tearing their car up.”
Forsythe said police are investigating the crime, and have no suspects at this time.
Staff writer Brian Anderson: 256-235-3546. On Twitter @BAnderson_Star.
