PITTSBURGH -- An ATM technician helped himself to $146,710 from National City Bank cash machines to feed a drug habit, according to the Pittsburgh Post.
In the 21 months that Michael Shurgot, 35, allegedly stole from ATMs, National City Bank lost $454,140 in 139 ATM thefts. The pattern was always the same. There was no forced entry, alarms were deactivated, and the thief knew combinations to safes.
Police said Shurgot admitted that he committed 92 of the thefts. He also told police that the that he didn't think he was the only one stealing.
A former employee of Fujitsu-ICL Systems Inc., he was fired last December.
Fujitsu-ICL spokeswoman Anne Prine told the Post it was an "isolated incident." She added, "We're working as closely as we can with the bank and the authorities to bring this to a conclusion. We're relieved that an arrest has finally been made."
Shurgot began stealing in February 1999, according to a police affidavit. At first he took small amounts, $260 to $460. By June, bank officials began to notice the losses.
His favorite target, according to the affidavit, was an ATM at Monroeville Mall where 24 trips netted him $14,530. He is accused of taking as little as $10 and as much as $47,550 during the thefts.
In May, the FBI learned about Shurgot from an informant. The informant told the FBII he visited Monroeville Mall with Shurgot, where Shurgot pulled out a manifest, located some information, removed two keys from a key ring and entered the mall. Five minutes later, the informant said, Shurgot came back with a stack of twenty-dollar bills
Shurgot later invited his new friend along as he worked. He repaired machines, "all the while smoking crack and drinking beer," the police affidavit says.
In June a surveillance camera recorded Shurgot entering empty-handed and leaving 15 minutes later with a box. He was not on duty for Fujitsu. Six minutes before he left the building, the ATM there recorded a malfunction. Another repairman arrived a short time later and discovered that the machine had been emptied of cash. An audit found that $21,510 was missing.
The FBI had identified Shurgot as the prime suspect but the Justice Department took no action for several months. Pittsburgh police were brought into the case and, using information developed by the FBI, got a warrant for Shurgot's arrest for the burglary that was recorded on tape.
According to the Post, he was arrested at home on Feb. 7. Police also seized what they believe is cocaine, marijuana and pain pills. They recovered $2,000. He has been arraigned on the drug charges and on the 92 additional thefts to which he reportedly confessed. Penn Hills District Justice Leonard H. Hromyak set bail at $200,000 and scheduled a preliminary hearing March 5.
