NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — The NYPD is searching for a group of thieves who broke into nearly 50 establishments across New York City and stole ATM machines over the last four months of 2024.
The burglars forcibly entered 49 commercial businesses in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx between Sept. 19 and Dec. 26, removing ATM machines and other property, police said.
The scheme involves three people, two burglars and a driver. Officials said that the trio steals vehicles and removes their license plates before using them in their getaway.
Police on Friday released a surveillance video showing two men in hooded sweatshirts, masks and gloves quickly handling an ATM machine in the disheveled aisle of a closed Queens convenience store before carrying it out.
The incident occurred at about 1:20 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 23 at the 75th St. Super Bazaar, located on 31st Avenue in Jackson Heights.
Jarjeet Singh, the deli owner, said that the ATM contained about $2,000, and his surveillance cameras caught the thieves committing the crime in less than 10 minutes.
“But they [did] not touch anything else, only [the] ATM,” Singh told 1010 WINS. “We have been in business [for] 25 years. This thing [has] never happened before."
No injuries have been reported as part of the burglaries, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.