An ATM stolen from a Blue Earth bank more than four months ago contained several thousands of dollars.
That’s according to Police Chief Tom Fletcher.
“The machine has yet to be recovered,” he says. “There was $8,340 inside of it.”
Authorities continue to investigate the theft that occurred at First Bank during the early morning hours of Friday, Sept. 7.
The police chief at this time there are no new developments in the case.
According to police reports, a man entered the ATM lobby around 4:12 a.m. and began using a pry bar and sledge hammer to try and remove it.
When he was unable to free the machine, authorities say, he left the lobby and backed a pickup onto the sidewalk.
The man then reportedly went back into the lobby with a logging/tow chain and put it around the ATM and the drove the pickup forward and dislodged it.
A new ATM has been installed in the same lobby and Fletcher says he was not asked for any advice as to where it should be located.
“I know the new ATM has more security features and is reinforced,” he says.
In addition, there is a security camera in the lobby and another one outside on the building.
Police believe the suspect who stole the ATM may have had some help because he had a radio with him to communicate with a lookout or lookouts.
He is described as having an athletic build and was wearing a long, light colored shirt or a dark hooded sweatshirt, with dark pants, a hat and a facemask.
The truck in the theft reportedly was stolen from Hawkins Chevrolet in Fairmont and later recovered by the Faribault County Sheriff’s Office at 400th Avenue and County Road 4, about six miles west of Frost.
Anyone with possible information regarding the theft is asked to call the Blue Earth Police Department at (507) 526-5959.