SEATTLE — An ATM at a credit union near the campus of Seattle Pacific University (SPU) was targeted in an attempted burglary.
Police say just after 4 a.m. Tuesday, officers responded to a report of a burglary on West Nickerson Street. Seattle police say two suspects used a front loader to smash and grab an ATM from outside the SPU campus store.
SPU Safety and Security Director Cheryl Michaels said the attempted theft "caused significant damage to the structure which held the ATM."
The suspects fled after unsuccessfully stealing the ATM, one driving the front loader and the other using a truck, police said. Officers spotted both suspects and attempted to arrest them, but the suspect from the front loader jumped into the bed of the truck and the two fled, police say.
The front loader was still moving when the suspect jumped off it, and it rammed into the back of a police car, causing damage but no injuries. The suspects got away, and the ATM was recovered at the scene.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact the SPU Office of Safety and Security (OSS) at (206) 281-2922.
SPU OSS provided safety tips for students in light of the incident. They advise those on campus to be vigilant, stay in well-lit areas, use emergency call boxes if they are near, keep emergency contacts handy and report any suspicious activity on campus.
Seattle Department of Transportation's 15th Avenue Northwest and Ballard Bridge Paving Project has been causing the typical traffic headaches: lane reduction, closures and detours, to name a few.
“People have been talking," said Kenzie Peck, a cashier at a nearby grocery store. "All these trucks and stuff, it’s in the way.”
But nobody saw this coming.
"That's just like, that's just like GTA stuff," said Peck, referring to the popular video game Grand Theft Auto. "You don't think that stuff happens every day... It's not just like stealing a candy bar, like, you're stealing the whole machine over there? That's crazy."
To get to the Seattle Pacific University ATM, the suspects drove the heavy machinery from 15th and Market all the way across the Ballard Bridge.
"That’s just like right in the open. No one saw?" said Peck.
Now, SDOT said they are working with their contractor, Gary Merlino, to try and make sure this does not happen again.
"I would've thought that they would've kept it like more on lockdown, ya know?" said Peck.
Regardless, Peck said this is a story that's been on everybody's lips at the grocery story on this Tuesday.
"My job isn’t that interesting, so when stuff like this happens, we kind of hear about it. And everyone’s talking, 'Yo, someone stole an ATM? It’s the talk of the town recently," he said.
Police did not share whether they believe the suspects got away with any money from the ATM.