Thieves steal ATM but fail to get cash
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
Using a stolen garbage truck that had been altered to scoop up a cash machine, thieves smashed through the front of a Wai'anae video rental store yesterday morning but ran off without the money when police arrived.
Ricahrd Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser
The break-in occurred about 3:30 a.m. at the Wai'anae Mall Blockbuster store and left behind a trail of scattered videos, toys and broken glass.
A damaged ATM yesterday lay in the parking lot of the Blockbuster store at the Wai'anae Mall. At least two thieves used an altered garbage truck to try to steal the cash machine.
The thieves apparently were targeting an in-store First Hawaiian Bank automated teller machine, which was bolted to the floor, police said.
While thefts of automated teller machines have occurred before, police said this was the first time they had seen thieves use such an elaborate plan.
A Horizon garbage truck was stolen Friday and the thieves apparently spent the weekend modifying the truck. The lifting forks that are used to pick up Dumpsters had been cut and were replaced with a chained, scooping device made to hoist and carry the ATM, police said.
A surveillance camera inside the video store showed the truck ramming the ATM seven times and dislodging it from the floor, police said. The thieves tried to hoist the ATM onto the truck, but police arrived quickly, and the thieves sped off.
They ditched the truck behind the shopping mall and ran away. Police said they were looking for at least two men.
Police said the store's alarm system was set off when the truck smashed through the wall. Crews were working to repair the damage yesterday.
The broken glass was cleaned up, and the store reopened at about 5 p.m. yesterday.
