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Mar 20, 2008 2:23 pm US/Central
6 Caught Trying To Steal ATM In Dallas
DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ―
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Able Security and Investigations
Six people, who may have ties to previous ATM thefts, were arrested this morning outside a pharmacy as they attempted to steal a money machine during a smash and grab.
The early morning attempted robbery happened at the Walgreens in the 5000 block of Ross Avenue in Dallas.
A witness, who works for a local private security firm, called in this recent crime and helped police catch the group.
During the past six months, several 24-hour pharmacy locations in Dallas, Irving and Grand Prairie have been targets of similar smash and grab ATM robberies.
Walter Roberts is head of Able Security and Investigations, a private firm that set up the security outside the Walgreens location and said from previous survellience, it takes about 45 seconds to pull off a robbery like this.
"They were in a blue van. They backed the van up to the store, hooked the chain around the doors, pulled the doors up and backed up hooked the chain around the ATM and at that time my guys had already called 911," he explained.
In these previous crimes, the alleged criminals back up to the front door, wrap a tow line around the machine and then pull the ATM from the building.
"They all ran in different directions. They didn't take vehicles. DPD had their chopper up, I know that, and they were able to apprehend five," Roberts continued.
The five originally were caught while the sixth one who got away was later captured by DPD when he sent a text message to his buddies and asked them where they wanted to meet. Police obliged.
Police have not confirmed the men have ties to the previous robberies.
"What my guys witnessed this morning, it seemed like the bad guys got the word when the police and we were getting ready to move in, so we were thinking they had a lookout or maybe a scanner," Roberts added.
Roberts calls the string of ATM robberies " well organized and fairly sophisticated" and he feels good his company was able to put a dent in the system.
"Even though I work for a private entity, keeping of the citizens of Dallas safe (is what) my guys like to think that's what they do, also."
Lt. Vernon Hale with Dallas Police agrees the Law Enforcement and Private Security (LEAPS) public-private partnership is beneficial to these and other crimes.
"Basically, it just gives us an avenue to communicate with the thousands of security guards we have out there in the city of Dallas," he said.
"It's a two-way street; it gives us the ability to share intelligence and information both ways. We need those guys out there with their eyes and ears, to look around, tell us what they've got, share intelligence with us whether it be a general crime problem or whether it be a terrorist incident."
Roberts adds that when his people call in a crime, the police know it's a trained officer with valid information. And, it doesn't cost taxpayer money.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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