Smash and drag robbery: Suspects tow ATM from convenience store

From staff reports

Published: October 13, 2009

BETHLEHEM - At least two people broke out a window, threw a strap around an ATM and dragged the machine through a window and down the street behind an SUV early Saturday morning.

The entire robbery took about 29 seconds at a Bethlehem Cubbard Express, said Alexander County Sheriff Chris Bowman. It happened around 3:15 a.m. Officers followed the tracks left by the dragged ATM to Richey Road beside Bethlehem Baptist Church.

The Alexander County Sheriff's Office is looking for the suspects who struck at the store at the intersection of Teague Town Road and N.C. 127. The SUV they used is a dark-colored, possibly blue or black, Chevrolet Tahoe or Suburban.

The back of the vehicle has double doors, which the passenger threw open to grab a strap already attached to the SUV's trailer hitch when the Chevrolet pulled into the Cubbard Express parking lot.

The driver stayed in the vehicle while the passenger beat on and then pulled away the window before throwing the strap around the ATM and following the SUV on foot as it dragged away the machine.

Saturday's robbery is similar to another ATM theft on Sept. 20, when a door was smashed and an ATM pulled out by a vehicle at the Ellendale convenience store on N.C. 127 in Bethlehem.

The Ellendale robbery happened around 12:30 a.m.

Bowman said he believes the same people were responsible for both ATM thefts, and possibly similar robberies in Burke and Caldwell counties.

Anyone with information about the crimes should contact the Alexander County Sheriff's Office or Crimestoppers at 632-8555. A reward is being offered for any information that may lead to the arrest of the suspects.