Thieves Caught On Camera Stealing An ATM In Lone Wolf

Thieves stole an ATM machine from a convenience store overnight.

"They were professionals and they knew what they were doing," Chris Poindexter said who owns CJ's convenience store in Lone Wolf.

He said a surveillance camera captured the burglary that happened just before 2 a.m. Saturday.

The video shows the suspects breaking out the window of the front door.

One suspect enters the store, with a bandana over his face, and places a chain around the ATM.

The chain is connected to the bumper of a white four door truck.

Poindexter said the suspects used the force of the truck to yank the machine out of the ground.

"It did take them three tries to get it out so they spent a little longer than they anticipated," Poindexter said.

The more time, the more opportunity  to make a mistake.

Poindexter said they slipped up when the driver of the truck got out to help load the ATM.

"They had no intention of the driver getting out and being caught by a camera," he said. 

It gives him hope that someone will recognize the suspect.

He wants them caught for many reason including the damage to his store.

The surveillance cameras and light fixtures were painted over on the outside of the store.

Inside, the floor was ripped up, the electrical cord damaged, and the glass front door completely shattered.

The Kiowa County Sheriff is investigating the burglary and it is not the first in  the area.

At least one other ATM theft has been reported in the county this year.

If you have information, the Kiowa County sheriff's office wants to hear from you at (580) 726-3265.