Thieves Try to Burn Their Way to ATM Cash in Solana Beach

Thieves have tried everything from hauling away ATMs to using sledgehammers but in Solana Beach Tuesday two thieves tried a torch to get to the cash.

Two men in hoodies were burning their way into the ATM outside the Chase Bank on Loma Santa Fe Drive around 2:30 a.m. when the alarm was triggered.

As San Diego County Sheriff’s Deputies arrived, the men ran to a nearby black pickup truck and sped away.

Deputies pursued the truck until it pulled over at the Carl’s Jr. restaurant on Solana Hills Drive. The two men inside jumped out of the truck and ran off.

Deputies called in police dogs to help in the search but it appears the would-be thieves escaped.

Officials say the truck was reported stolen from a location off of Briarwood.

There also may be limited images or video of the attempted theft because the men used spray painted over the ATM’s surveillance camera.

In March, thieves cut power to a Chevron Station in Encinitas and carried off the ATM.

In many cases, thieves will break through a storefront, tie a rope the ATM and use a vehicle to pull it out. The entire theft can take just a few minutes.

The Chase Bank is located near the Solana Beach Town Center west of Interstate 5.

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