Burglars smash into Tesoro, steal ATM machine

For the second time in less than a week, burglars this morning used a vehicle to smash into a convenience market to steal an ATM. The latest incident at a Tesoro market at 3158 E. 17th Ave. involved two men using a stolen Mazda pickup to smash through the doors of the closed business about 3:45 a.m., said Officer Tim Moses, a Spokane police spokesman. The burglars grabbed the ATM machine and left while officers responded to a burglary alarm set off by the intrusion. A bumper from the truck was found broken off and was left at the scene. A short time later, an officer spotted the Mazda used in the crime at East 15th Avenue and South Napa Street with the damaged ATM in the pickup. The truck and the cash machine were hauled to a police evidence processing station to search for fingerprints and determine if cash was taken, Moses said. Last Thursday, two men wearing masks tried to take an ATM in a similar burglary at A-1 Gas & Grocery, 9914 N. Wall St. The would-be thieves used an SUV to break through the doors and then put a chain around the ATM to yank it free, but were unsuccessful. The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office was investigating that case. Spokane police and sheriff’s deputies have been called to seven other ATM heists this month, said Jennifer DeRuwe, police spokeswoman.