Thieves Target 2 Oakland County Businesses In Brazen Smash-And-Grab Robberies

FERNDALE (WWJ) - Police are looking for a group of brazen thieves who stole ATMs from two businesses in Oakland County.

The thefts happened early Wednesday morning at the Marathon gas station along 10 Mile Road and Hilton Road in Ferndale, and at the Cash Connection payday advance store on Dequindre near Woodward Heights in Hazel Park.

Gary Ruskevitz, who works at the gas station, said two suspects made off with at least $1,000.

"Around 1:30, 2 o'clock in the morning, somebody decided to pry open the door, hook a chain to the ATM and yank it right out of the wall. It destroyed the drywall and 2x4s and all that stuff," Ruskevitz told WWJ's Charlie Langton.

Hours later and just a few miles away, someone crashed a vehicle through the front doors of the Cash Connection store. The thieves jumped out of the vehicle, grabbed the ATM and took off.

A man who only wanted to be identified as "Jim" owns the business. He said the crooks made of with about $2,000.

"They broke in but couldn't get it out by hand so they took a van and smashed it in the back end -- it's an older van -- and that's about it," he said.

Police are now reviewing security camera footage from both businesses in hopes of identifying the suspects.

It's unclear at this point if the same people are involved.

Anyone who might have information on the case is urged to contact Ferndale police at 248-541-3650 or Hazel Park police at 248-542-6161.