STRATEGIC PARTNERS
March 12, 2002
SAN FRANCISCO -- Two freestanding ATMs took a licking, and left a couple of emptyhanded -- and probably ticked off -- would-be thieves at a San Francisco parking garage in the early hours of March 10.
According to a San Francisco Examiner report, a nicely-dressed Asian woman approached an attendant at the five-story White House Parking Garage around 3 a.m., saying she didn't feel comfortable going to her car alone.
The 38-year-old male attendant on duty turned her down at first, but then agreed to accompany her to the second floor. There, he was jumped by two apparent accomplices, a blond white male wielding a knife and a black male, both wearing gloves and ski masks.
They took the attendant back to the first floor, tied his hands behind his back with plastic tape and locked him inside the restroom near two ATMs. The trio then used a white Ford van to bash the ATMs to pieces -- but the safes held, faring better than the alignment on the would-be getaway van.
They are believed to have fled on foot, leaving several hundred unsecured dollars in the attendant's booth.
"It's very unusual," robbery inspector Stephen Morimoto told the Examiner. "I know of no other cases like this."
Police said another parking lot employee discovered the attendant about 5:36 a.m., shaken but physically unharmed.
All that is left where the ATMs once stood are two gaping holes, a bashed-in wall and tire marks.
"They had a plan, but I don't think they did a lot of background work," Morimoto said. "They thought these machines would explode and all this money would come flying out."
