Latest news with #ATMtheft
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Cash machine raiders boasted police 'hadn't any concrete evidence' during £700k burglary spree using angle grinders to prize open ATMs
A gang of robbers who stole around £700,000 in ATM thefts boasted that police had no 'concrete evidence' against them just days before they were arrested. The group, who are now facing prison sentences, used angle grinders and sophisticated 'jaws of life' tools - typically used by firefighters - in a looting spree which saw them strike nine times in just under a year. Raiding machines in West Mercia, Leicestershire, Avon and Somerset, Bedfordshire, Greater Manchester, Cumbria, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Staffordshire, they used stolen high-speed cars with fake registration plates to flee crime scenes. The group also used a reinforced flatbed truck to pummel their way into the businesses. West Midlands Police launched an investigation into the gang after discovering that they were based nearby, and detectives closed in after finding that the thieves had booked two holiday lets in Cumbria as a base to strike from in August 2024. For three consecutive days they operated in the North Western county, stealing £128,000 from cash machines that they had prized open before using a stolen Audi as a getaway vehicle. However, it was during the group's attempts to return the stolen vehicle to the Midlands, where it was sourced, that an officer spotted it on the back of a low loader being driven by Daniel Hickenbottom. Hickenbottom was arrested and it later transpired that his role in the plot was to take stolen vehicles from A to B on the trailer in a move to avoid detection by the authorities. Subsequent investigations saw the rest of the gang identified through analysis of video footage, mobile phone records, voice recordings and forensic examinations including fingerprints and DNA. Detectives uncovered that Noel Reilly, Craig Howell and Simon Pagett would plan and carry out the raids, and were spotted on CCTV buying clothing to wear on the thefts before arriving in stolen cars with tools to break into the ATMs. During the investigation, police recovered a WhatsApp audio recording from Reilly, who said police had no 'concrete evidence' against the gang. Eleven days later, the force launched dawn raids to arrest him and other gang members. Oliver Matthews was the owner of Bloxwich Resprays, where the gang would store their stolen vehicles and use as a base. He would drive around the country after crimes to assist the gang. On Friday, after a trial lasting more than a two months at Wolverhampton Crown Court: Noel Reilly, aged 46, of Appletrees Crescent, Bromsgrove pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle, handle stolen goods and possess criminal property Simon Pagett, aged 43, of Dartford Road, Bloxwich pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle, handle stolen goods and possess criminal property Oliver Matthews, 39, of Baneberry Drive, Featherstone pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle Craig Howell, 44, of Hatfield Drive, Wolverhampton, was convicted of conspiracy to burgle, handle stolen goods and possess criminal property Daniel Hickenbottom, 38, of Chantry Avenue, Bloxwich, was convicted of conspiracy to burgle, handle stolen goods and possess All five will be sentenced at a later date. Det Sgt Tom Frenchum, from West Midland Police's Major Crime Unit's Proactive Team, said: 'A huge amount of planning and preparation went into these offences and the gang showed a high level of sophistication throughout but our detective worked tirelessly to disrupt them and now put them behind bars. 'The gang had specific roles – some would carry out the ATM attacks, while others would help with the logistics of transporting the stolen vehicles and the specialist cutting equipment.' The investigation was part of the force's Operation Target, which they say is a '24/7 effort' to target those involved in serious and organised crime in the region. The force say: 'Our officers work around the clock to target those involved in guns, drugs, money laundering and exploitation.'
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
Chicago police warn of string of 18 ATM thefts on West and Northwest sides
Chicago police are searching for thieves who break into businesses, load ATMs into the back of their vehicles, and take off. Surveillance video shows four thieves dressed in black get out of an SUV in the 5300 block of West Madison Street early Friday morning in the Austin neighbhorhood. They broke through the window of a business, then stole the ATM inside. Investigators believe the same crew has broken into at least 18 businesses since June on the West and Northwest sides. Police have only a vague description of the burglars, who wore masks, gloves, and dark clothing. Anyone with information on the burglaries is asked to call Area 4 detectives at 312-746-8253, or to submit an anonymoust tip online at using reference #25-CWP-022D.
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
Man accused of "jackpotting" scheme in Denver metro area, Cañon City arrested
A man has been arrested after police said he stole thousands from an ATM in the Denver metro area in a "jackpotting" scheme. Cañon City police said Joel Alejandro Morantes-Leal is facing charges for cybercrime and third-degree burglary after a bank ATM was compromised in May. "Jackpotting," or "logical attacks," is a type of cyber or physical attack that compromises an ATM and forces it to dispense large amounts of cash. These schemes can either use malware, black box attacks or an attacker placing a device between the ATM and the host service provider. Authorities said Morantes-Leal stole $68,000 from the ATM in Cañon City. The Cañon City Police Department said they were working with regional and federal law enforcement to locate Morantes-Leal, who they said is an undocumented Venezuelan national. Morantes-Leal was arrested in the Denver metro area on May 29 in connection with an investigation into similar crimes.
Yahoo
04-08-2025
- Yahoo
Man sought in Wells Fargo ATM fraud thefts across El Paso
A thief has stolen thousands of dollars in a string of fraudulent transactions at Wells Fargo ATMs across El Paso, Crime Stoppers of El Paso said. Crime: El Paso bank customer robbed in 'jugging' after followed from ATM The same unidentified man is suspected in at least six thefts — all involving Wells Fargo customers and ATMs — since late January, Crime Stoppers of El Paso liason Sgt. Javier Sambrano said in the Crime of the Week. The man appears to be in his 30s with a dark complexion and is overweight, Crime Stoppers said. He appears on security camera images wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with "Lowriding" in white letters and a picture of a car. He also wore a face covering and a ratty green "U.S. Army" baseball cap. Crime Stoppers said that the thief appears to be driving a newer model Volkswagen SUV. Anyone with who can identify the suspect in the ATM thefts may call Crime Stoppers of El Paso at 915-566-8477 (TIPS) or leave a tip online at Tipsters could be eligible for a cash reward if information leads to an arrest. Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@ and @BorundaDaniel on X. History: Gunfight at Central El Paso drive-in theater in 1957 left one officer dead, another injured This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso police investigate Wells Fargo ATM fraud theft spree Solve the daily Crossword
BBC News
09-07-2025
- BBC News
Whetstone Co-op cash machine stolen in ram raid
A cash machine has been stolen from a Co-op store in a ram raid in Leicestershire. Police said officers were called to the store in Cambridge Road in Whetstone at about 04:00 BST where a vehicle had driven into the front of the shop. A spokesperson said the ATM was then loaded into a blue Toyota Hilux, which left the scene with a blue Insp Ed Prowse said the investigation was "very much ongoing" and appealed for anyone with information to come forward. The force said the Toyota Hilux collided with an unmarked police vehicle at an unrelated traffic stop after it left the scene of the ram raid.A spokesperson confirmed the officer involved was not injured. Cambridge Road has been closed from the roundabout to the Hunter Road junction. Warwick Road from the The Dicken to the roundabout was also closed and access to the roundabout was limited from Brook Street, Burnham Drive and Grove Road, according to the force. A spokesperson for Co-op said: "The store is temporarily closed and it is too early to confirm when the store will re-open but we will do this as soon as possible, to continue to serve the community."We urge anyone who may have any information to come forward to police, who are investigating."
