Stolen Backhoe And Loader Used In ATM Thefts

Heavy equipment burglary has become a new hype in the last few months where a lot of equipment theft news has been highlighted. 

This time, it happened in Washington and Ohio, where thieves misused the stolen equipment. The two very similar incidents have pointed out that equipment safety is now the biggest concern as the owner of the stolen equipment has to suffer a huge financial loss. 

What happened in Ohio?

The first incident was in which a stolen equipment, a compact loader, was used to steal the ATM in Toledo, Ohio.

The careful planning that went into this crime was made clear by Toledo Urban Federal Credit Union surveillance footage.

Details of the incident

A maroon pickup truck and a Kubota CTL with pallet forks pulled up to the ATM drive-thru at about 4:30 in the morning. The CTL operator eventually tipped the ATM over after trying to remove it. 

After that, the CTL operator loaded the ATM into the back of the pickup truck after the driver helped push it aside after it was down.

The criminals left the CTL at the scene, but considering the accuracy of their operation, it was finally returned to its owner.

Unfortunately, the stolen pickup truck is still missing, and the criminals are still in hiding.

What happened in Washington?

A similar incident in Ohio happened in Washington, after only 10 days, where stolen equipment was used to steal an ATM.

This time, there were witnesses to the incident, which took place at approximately 8:50 a.m. in broad daylight.

An ATM machine in a parking area was taken down by the three masked, dark-clad criminals using stolen Cat Used Backhoes. The ATM was loaded into the back of a stolen Ford F-350, and witnesses saw the backhoe smashing away the building.

Unfortunately, the robbers left the location when police arrived, setting off a fast-paced pursuit that culminated near Sumner’s municipal limits. 

After that, the suspects drove carelessly during the hunt, sometimes diverging into oncoming lanes making things more difficult.

According to investigations, the truck was taken from Kitsap County, about an hour from the location of the crime, and the backhoe had been stolen from a work site only two miles away. 

Once again, the culprits are still unknown, however, both pieces of equipment were abandoned.

How does this equipment theft affect the owners?

These types of awful incidents highlight the growing pattern of construction equipment being used illegally. 

Although contractors and equipment owners have long been concerned about heavy machinery theft, the risks are raised by the fact that it is also frequently used in crimes like ATM heists.

The equipment that was stolen is not the only loss. If stolen equipment is used in mishaps or criminal activity, owners may be held liable, incur expensive downtime, and face insurance claims. 

Whereas, banks and businesses suffer financial and property damages as a result of the targeted ATMs.

In short, these two incidents have caused a huge loss to multiple companies at once. 

Pro hacks to save your equipment from burglary

Park your equipment at safe space

Install GPS tracking

Employ immobilizing tools

Frequent documentation and audits

Work along with the local government.

What should be done to stop this criminal act?

The audacity of these ATM thefts utilizing stolen construction equipment shows how urgently increased security measures are needed. 

To stop this increasing threat, law enforcement and equipment owners must cooperate. 

Whereas, to safeguard your belongings, exercise caution and take preventative measures. 

If you do this, you help avoid the exploitation of expensive machinery in illegal operations in addition to protecting your company.

Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more equipment offers and insights into the industry.