A crime ring behind a series of ATM thefts in North Texas has been broken up, with multiple arrests recently made following a lengthy investigation.
The gang is linked to around 70 smash-and-grab robberies spanning several cities, including Fort Worth, Dallas, Arlington, and Grapevine, according to a report from KRLD.
Authorities described the thefts as part of a well-orchestrated scheme in which criminals used stolen pickup trucks to drag ATMs from various convenience store locations. The suspects attached a chain to the machines, pulled them from their anchors or bolted floors, and hauled them off, cash and all.
The investigation began when Fort Worth police noticed a pattern in local ATM thefts. Similar incidents were reported in neighboring cities, and detectives soon recognized the telltale signs of a more extensive collective crime operation.
Detective Brian Raynsford, in an interview with NBC 5 DFW, explained that the nature of the crimes prompted law enforcement agencies across the region to pool resources together and compare case details. This collaborative investigation ultimately identified over a dozen individuals involved in the ATM thefts.
“This was a brazen, very quick, very violent type of offense,” said Raynsford.
“We contacted the Dallas PD detectives, and they informed us that there had been a string of these similar type offenses,” he added. “(We had to) pool our resources, pool our ingenuity and our investigative techniques and able to get these people. Because they were organized, and we had to be organized too.”
The thieves were rounded up in a series of arrests last week. In total, thirteen individuals linked to the theft ring were apprehended. They now face charges, including aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and organized crime related to ATM theft.
Authorities also told NBC that the thefts were well-planned, targeting high-traffic locations where they could make quick getaways even with the ATM machines in tow.