BY NATE KING
Salina Post
An ATM was damaged at a local bank after someone attempted to pull it apart yesterday morning.
Salina Police Sergeant Tonniges said this morning that officers were dispatched to the Sunflower Bank branch at 3025 Cortland Circle, at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday after a passerby noticed a truck hooked up to an ATM.
When they arrived they found a green Dodge 2500 pickup with a tow chain hooked around the rear axle of the pickup truck and connected to the severely damaged ATM.
Tonniges said the people who attempted to steal the ATM did gain access to its cash compartment.
"There was some cash taken, however I'm not going to give you the undisclosed amount, but there's about $50,000 worth of damage to the ATM," Tonniges said.
It was later discovered that Dodge Ram pickup was stolen and that was stolen from the nearby 2000 block of Caywood Drive. The legal owner of the vehicle told officers that the vehicle had been parked in their driveway and was taken sometime after 1 a.m.
Tonniges said despite the Dodge being locked, those who stole the vehicle gained entry into the vehicle and punched the ignition.
Tonniges said the department is conducting a video footage canvas of the surrounding area in an effort to locate surveillance footage.
During their investigation Salina Police officers also uncovered another attempted vehicle theft in the 2800 block of Melanie Lane. This incident involved a blue 2005 F-250 pickup truck belonging to a resident of Salina.