Business Owner Next To ATM Heist Concerned About Thefts In Area

As Oklahoma City Police continue to investigate an ATM heist at a 7-Eleven store, the owner of a business next door said he has been repeatedly targeted by thieves as well.

Police said a group of people used sledgehammers to break into the 7-Eleven on Southwest 59th Street Thursday morning. They then stole an ATM before getting away in several vehicles. Investigators said an SUV with the ATM inside crashed at 89th Street and Western Avenue. Police said they took one person inside that SUV into custody.

Another suspect led a vehicle chase that ended at a motel near Reno Avenue and Martin Luther King Avenue, where the suspect ran off on foot, said police.

Police told News 9 Thursday evening that they've since arrested four people for the ATM heist. Their names have not been released.

Saent Izquierdo, the owner of Whatchamacallit Tools, which is located next to the 7-Eleven, said the day before the ATM heist, a group of suspicious people was walking around outside of his business, possibly scoping the area out. Izquierdo said he was not surprised by the ATM heist because thefts happen on Southwest 59th Street frequently.

"We've been seeing a lot of, I guess criminals if you want to call it that way, stealing from different businesses all around here," said Izquierdo. "Always something happening and I feel sorry for them. But like I said, that's a daily thing over here on 59."

Izquierdo sent News 9 surveillance video from Oct. 16, which showed a man trying to steal five boxes of power tools from Izquierdo's store.

A few weeks ago, we had somebody coming in. He was trying to run with about $2,000 in merchandise. He grabbed the power tools, about five boxes, and he was trying to run away with that," Izquierdo recalled.

Izquierdo then hopped over the counter and grabbed the thief, preventing him from stealing the power tools. A customer helped Izquierdo restrain the perpetrator as well. Izquierdo said the thief got away with nothing and escaped on a bicycle.

Unfortunately, Izquierdo said another thief targeted his store again Thursday afternoon and was able to successfully steal several boxes of power tools. 

Due to the frequency of thefts at his store, Izquierdo said he's only allowing customers to use one of the three doors at his business. Izquierdo hopes police will provide more patrols in the area.