Customers of CCF Bank in Blue Earth have not been able to drive up to the ATM for cash —- it has been removed after being damaged.
Early Sunday morning, around 3:26 a.m., Blue Earth police responded to a report that the ATM alarm at the bank on South Main Street had been activated.
When law officers arrived moments later on the scene they found an empty Ford F350 pickup with the doors open and engine running in the parking lot.
“The pickup was stolen from a repair shop here in town,” says Police Chief Tom Fletcher. “It was hooked to the front of the ATM in an attempt to remove the front panel to access the cash inside.”
Fletcher says the suspects were able to take any money and fled in two passenger cars.
“One of the cars is a Kia Soul and the other is a tan sedan ,” he says. “Security footage shows multiple unidentified suspects.”
This is the second time that an ATM located in downtown Blue Earth has been the target of thieves.
The other incident was across the street from CCF at First Bank, which occurred during the early morning hours of Sept. 7, 2018.
Fletcher says the case is still open and remains under investigation. Authorities say the ATM, which was removed from First Bank, has not been found and contained more than $8,300.
Anyone with possible information regarding either incident is asked to call the Blue Earth Police Department at 507-526-5959.