Crooks Finally Make Off With Gas Station ATM After 3 Smash-And-Grab Attempts In A Month

NEW HUDSON (WWJ) - Oakland County Sheriff's deputies are looking for the suspects who drove their vehicle into a gas station and made off with an ATM that had about $2,000 inside.

The incident happened around 4:25 a.m. Friday at the BP gas station on Grand River Avenue near Kent Lake Road in New Hudson, off of I-96. Police said it took the thieves less than two minutes to break into the building and steal the ATM using a heavy chain.

Sherri Heinz, the station's general manager, said the crooks didn't leave much evidence behind after smashing through the front glass doors.

"The people who took it had gloves on, stuff like that, so there's nothing really," Heinz told WWJ's Charlie Langton. "We've got a call to our video guy to see if he can enhance the license plate and stuff like that and maybe we can catch them."

Police are also reviewing that security footage. Physical descriptions of the suspects were not immediately available; they were dressed in dark clothing with bandanas and hats covering their faces. The suspects are believed to be driving a white truck, possibly a white, 4-door Ford F-250 with running lights on the top.

The gas station has been targeted in two similar smash-and-grab crimes recently. The first was on Christmas morning, although the would-be robbers weren't very successful.

"They came in and tried to take the ATM, but they couldn't get it," said Heinz. "So, we had to have the door boarded up."

The thieves struck again about two weeks ago, but were again unsuccessful in taking the ATM.

"They pulled the boards open and stole cigarettes and stuff," said Heinz.

Joe, who works at the gas station, said he's frustrated over the whole incident.

"It's ridiculous. It's pointless. People are more willing to break into a business than get a job and work for what they want," he said.

Last year, the gas station was targeted by a suspect who robbed the business three times in a month, making off with about $600 to $700 each time.

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