Four people who may be responsible for a series of burglaries and robberies, targeting ATMs at small businesses were arrested, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said.
After serving warrants in Sylmar and Canyon Country on Wed. Oct. 16, investigators arrested the four suspects, who are believed to have broken into several businesses in the San Fernando Valley area between Aug. 16 and Oct. 16, and confiscated the currency connected to the burglaries.
Also three cars used the crimes were recovered and impounded, the LAPD said.
"In all incidents, the suspects forced open the front door of the business, entered the premises, and tied a chain around the ATM machine," Detective Commander Officer Samer Issa with the LAPD said during a live press conference. "The suspects then used their vehicle to pull the machines out of the business, loaded them into the back of their vehicle, and fled the scene."
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Issa said after the burglaries, the suspects removed cash from the ATMs and abandoned the stolen cars used in the crimes.
The burglaries caused thousands of dollars in damage to small businesses while disrupting their daily operations, Issa added.
Two other suspects remained at large as officials asked for the public’s information.
LAPD officials did not say which ATM burglaries were linked to the four suspects.
But ATM burglaries plagued a number of small businesses across Southern California, including the incident that happened in Sylmar on Sep. 25. Burglaries broke into Village Market and Liquor on Eldridge Avenue at around 2 a.m. by ripping off the metal gate, using a chain attached to a car, then pulling the ATM into their vehicle before driving away.
Similar crimes were reported in Orange County and the Inland Empire.
