Security

Man arrested for allegedly blowing up ATMs in California

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August 29, 2024

Son Nguyen, 44, was arrested after allegedly using explosives on ATMs in University City and Rancho Bernardo, California in June 2024. In particular, he faces two counts of damaging property for using explosives on two ATMs, according to a report by Fox 5.

In the first incident, Nguyen allegedly approached a California Coast Credit Union ATM, and placed a five-gallon plastic container in front of the ATM and insert a hose into the machine. Although this caused an explosion the suspect was unable to retrieve any money.

In the second incident, the suspect used a similar technique, but the ATM caught on fire and the suspect was unable to get cash.

"While serving a court-authorized search warrant at Nguyen's home, investigators found gas, black powder, potassium nitrate sulfur, explosive pre-cursor chemicals, a paper that explains how to make black powder and a firearm in Nguyen's residence, among other equipment and clothing items consistent with those used during the attempts," the Southern District of California said in a statement.