Security

Illinois police arrest 3 on suspicion of dozens of ATM smash and grabs

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June 9, 2023

Sparta and Waterloo, Illinois police recently arrested three people they believe are involved in a string of more than 30 ATM smash and grab attacks in Iowa, Minnesota, Alabama, Texas and most recently Illinois.

Investigators tracked the three suspects down after two ATM attacks at the Sparta Banking Center and 1st National Bank in Waterloo, according to a report by KSDK.

The suspects allegedly used a rental truck to steal the two ATMs, and investigators were able to track the men to a National Car Rental outside Lambert International Airport in St. Louis, Missouri.

"Lambert police were very helpful in tracking these gentlemen through the entire airport and finding out what flights they were on," Andy Dahlem, a detective with the Waterloo Police Department, told the news outlet.

After analyzing flight information, rental car logs and FBI resources, the investors found evidence of movement of the three men across the states where the ATM robberies took place.

"In every case that we're seeing, they're in a town two or three days," Cody Mahan, sergeant of the Spart Police Department, told KSDK. "They scope out the area, hit the ATMs, and then they fly out as quickly as possible to get out with as much money as they can."