Truck crashes into stolen ATM that blocked roadway in Sacramento County

The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office said the ATM was taken from the back of the SAFE Credit Union on Watt Avenue, near Margaret Way, with a forklift.

The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office said the ATM was taken from the back of the SAFE Credit Union on Watt Avenue, near Margaret Way, with a forklift.

AND ITS CUSTOMERS ARE REACTING. THERE’S THIS SOMETHING YOU DON’T EXPECT EVERY DAY. AN UNUSUAL OBSTACLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. TERRY SANCHEZ SAYS HE WAS DRIVING ON WHAT, AVENUE JUST NORTH OF I-80 SHORTLY AFTER SIX WEDNESDAY MORNING WHEN HE CRASHED INTO AN ATM THAT WAS SITTING IN THE STREET. AUTHORITIES SAY IT WAS STOLEN FROM THE SAFE CREDIT UNION JUST FEET AWAY. I CAME AROUND TO TURN AND IT WAS DARK AND I DIDN’T SEE IT IN THE STREET. AND MY TRUCK HIT IT. SO HOW DID THE MACHINE GET HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE? THE ATM WAS RIPPED OUT OF THE SAFE CREDIT UNION USING A FORKLIFT, A MORGAN THEE WITH THE SACRAMENTO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE TELLS ME THE ATM FELL OFF THE FORKLIFT. DETECTIVES FOUND THE FORKLIFT DOWN THE STREET AND ARE NOW REVIEWING SURVEILLANCE VIDEO FROM THE BANK TO TRY AND COME UP WITH A SUSPECT DESCRIPTION. AT SOME POINT, I GUESS THE BAD GUY TOOK THE FORKLIFT AND WAS TRYING TO DRIVE IT DOWN TO THEIR GETAWAY CAR AND FROM THERE DUMP THE FORKLIFT AS WELL. AND WHILE IT’S NOT NECESSARILY A TREND, GANDY SAYS THEY DO SEE THIS KIND OF CRIME. SO IT’S NOT UNHEARD OF ANYMORE. PEOPLE ARE GETTING CREATIVE. WE’VE SEEN THEM TRY TO PUT CHAINS AROUND IT AND DRIVE IT OFF WITH A TRUCK. PEOPLE WHO USE THE BANK TELL US THAT THEY’RE SHOCKED SOMEONE COULD DO SOMETHING SO BOLD, ESPECIALLY RIGHT BY A BUSY STREET. THAT’S CRAZY. THAT IS CRAZY BECAUSE SOMEBODY HAD BALLS TO THE MACHINE. OH, MY GOD. IN A STATEMENT TO KCRA 3 SAFE CREDIT UNION SAYS IN PART, QUOTE, SAFE CREDIT UNION IS WORKING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT ON THIS SITUATION. OUR MEMBERS SECURITY IS OUR TOP PRIORITY AND WE TAKE MEASURES TO ENSURE THEIR ACCOUNT INFORMATION IS SAFE. CUSTOMERS HOPE THE CULPRIT IS CAUGHT. SOON, YOU’LL FIND HIM REPORTING IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY. ORKO MANNA KCRA. KCRA 3 NEWS. THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS THE FBI IS ALSO INVOLVED IN THIS INVESTIGATION. THAT HAPPENS ANYTIME THERE’S A THEFT FROM A BANK. DETECTIVES ARE ALSO ASKING FOR THE PUBLIC’S HELP AS THEY TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHO’

Truck crashes into stolen ATM that blocked roadway in Sacramento County

The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office said the ATM was taken from the back of the SAFE Credit Union on Watt Avenue, near Margaret Way, with a forklift.

An ATM that was stolen with a forklift fell onto a busy road in Sacramento County and then was hit by a driver Wednesday morning, officials said. Sgt. Amar Gandhi, spokesperson for the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, said someone stole the ATM from the SAFE Credit Union on Watt Avenue near Margaret Way around 6 a.m. Wednesday. The California Highway Patrol was initially called to the scene after the driver of a pickup truck crashed into the ATM. CHP said the driver is not suspected to be involved in the incident.Gandhi said the suspect ripped the ATM from the SAFE Credit Union using a forklift. The ATM fell off the forklift while it was on Watt Avenue, just feet away from the bank."The forklift was recovered just down the street a little bit, so it had been separated, so at some point, I guess the bad guy took the forklift and was trying to drive it down to their getaway car, and from there, dumped the forklift as well," Gandhi said.Authorities are still working on reviewing surveillance video from the bank to come up with a good suspect description to release to the public. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is also involved in the investigation, but Gandhi said that is standard protocol during a theft from a bank.KCRA 3 spoke to Terry Sanchez, who said he was the person who hit the ATM with his truck when he was driving on Watt Avenue."I came around the turn. It was dark, and I couldn't see it in the street, and my truck hit it," Sanchez said. "It was just something you don't expect every day."The damage to Sanchez's truck was minor, and he was able to drive away in it.Customers of the SAFE Credit Union are shocked such a bold crime could be committed at the bank they use. Rocky Murillo of North Highlands said he does not know why someone would go to such lengths to steal an ATM."That's crazy. That is crazy, because somebody had the balls to steal a machine, oh my God," Murillo said.Micah Grant, VP of communications and government relations for SAFE Credit Union, sent KCRA 3 the following statement:"SAFE Credit Union is working with law enforcement on this situation. Our members' security is our top priority and we take measures to ensure their account information is safe. We ask anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office."As of Wednesday night, no arrests have been made.Authorities are encouraging anyone who saw the ATM theft or who may have information about who was involved to contact the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office or Crime Stoppers immediately. | National News Below | Maine woman tricks home intruder with a snack

SACRAMENTO COUNTY, Calif. —

An ATM that was stolen with a forklift fell onto a busy road in Sacramento County and then was hit by a driver Wednesday morning, officials said.

Sgt. Amar Gandhi, spokesperson for the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, said someone stole the ATM from the SAFE Credit Union on Watt Avenue near Margaret Way around 6 a.m. Wednesday.

The California Highway Patrol was initially called to the scene after the driver of a pickup truck crashed into the ATM. CHP said the driver is not suspected to be involved in the incident.

Gandhi said the suspect ripped the ATM from the SAFE Credit Union using a forklift. The ATM fell off the forklift while it was on Watt Avenue, just feet away from the bank.

"The forklift was recovered just down the street a little bit, so it had been separated, so at some point, I guess the bad guy took the forklift and was trying to drive it down to their getaway car, and from there, dumped the forklift as well," Gandhi said.

Authorities are still working on reviewing surveillance video from the bank to come up with a good suspect description to release to the public. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is also involved in the investigation, but Gandhi said that is standard protocol during a theft from a bank.

KCRA 3 spoke to Terry Sanchez, who said he was the person who hit the ATM with his truck when he was driving on Watt Avenue.

"I came around the turn. It was dark, and I couldn't see it in the street, and my truck hit it," Sanchez said. "It was just something you don't expect every day."

The damage to Sanchez's truck was minor, and he was able to drive away in it.

Customers of the SAFE Credit Union are shocked such a bold crime could be committed at the bank they use. Rocky Murillo of North Highlands said he does not know why someone would go to such lengths to steal an ATM.

"That's crazy. That is crazy, because somebody had the balls to steal a machine, oh my God," Murillo said.

Micah Grant, VP of communications and government relations for SAFE Credit Union, sent KCRA 3 the following statement:

"SAFE Credit Union is working with law enforcement on this situation. Our members' security is our top priority and we take measures to ensure their account information is safe. We ask anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office."

As of Wednesday night, no arrests have been made.

Authorities are encouraging anyone who saw the ATM theft or who may have information about who was involved to contact the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office or Crime Stoppers immediately.

| National News Below | Maine woman tricks home intruder with a snack

Truck crashes into stolen ATM that blocked roadway in Sacramento County

The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office said the ATM was taken from the back of the SAFE Credit Union on Watt Avenue, near Margaret Way, with a forklift.

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