Firefighting tools used in more ATM thefts

Mark Segraves,wtop.com

WASHINGTON - In the past several weeks thieves using firefighting equipment have robbed as many as 16 different ATM machines in the area.

The brazen daylight crimes were first reported in late August when two men were taped breaking into an ATM at a convenience store in Maryland while stunned customers and employees watched.

At first, police in Maryland and the District would only confirm two incidents, but D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier now says the number has grown.

"In total," Lanier says, "there have been 16 between Prince Georges and the District. What I can tell you is we're gonna catch them."

Lanier says besides using the jaws of life each time, the crimes have another common element.

"It is a particular type of ATM that's being targeted and most of those have now been replaced," Lanier said on WTOP's Ask The Chief Program.

Lanier say in the District most of the thefts have been along the H Street/Benning Road corridor.

The tools the thieves use in the robberies are a hydroram - a miniature "Jaws of Life" - and a Halligan bar, which looks like a heavy-duty crowbar. Both tools are used by firefighters and law enforcement to force entry.

The equipment may have been stolen from the Prince George's County Fire Department last April.

All of the incidents have been at gas stations or convenience stores. Police say two to three men carrying firefighting tools walk inside wearing hoods and heavy gloves.

Within seconds, they pry open the ATM machine, empty out the cash and make their getaway.

So far, the thieves have hit ATMs in D.C. and Maryland.

On Aug. 20, they robbed an ATM in Northeast D.C. at the Chevron gas station in the 4200 block of Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue.

Minutes later, police say they broke into an ATM at Frank's Tavern Liquor in Chapel Oaks in Prince's George's County.

Shocked customers and employees watched the brazen break-in in both cases. One of the incidents was caught on a cell phone camera:

The hoods the thieves wear appear to be the same type of fireproof hood firefighters wear under their helmets. The gloves also appear to be the same type used by firefighters.

"A theft did occur and some of the equipment seen in the video is similar to what was taken," Prince George's County Fire and EMS spokesman Mark Brady tells WTOP. "There is no reason to believe that this is the exact equipment and that the theft in April had any connection to these ATM robberies."

"This is an ongoing police investigation and we cannot provide any additional information, including, the name of the firehouse where the theft occurred."

A D.C. Fire and EMS spokesperson says D.C. officials have reviewed the video and have determined none of the equipment used was from any D.C. fire station.

Equipment used by fire and police can be purchased online.

Police will not say how much money was taken from the ATMs.

The suspects are described as black men, approximately 5 feet, 8 inches to 5 feet, 6 inches tall. The getaway car is described as a blue four-door pickup truck.

D.C. and Prince George's County Police are investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 202-727-9099 or 1-888-919-2746.

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