Thieves wielding a U-Haul truck as a battering ram smashed their way into a north Seattle 7-Eleven early Thursday in a bold attempted ATM heist. The incident, which left the store with significant damage, unfolded on the 300 block of North 125th Street in the city's Bitter Lake neighborhood.
The bandits, driven by greed, were seen on surveillance footage trying to forcibly remove the cash machine after breaching the building around 2:45 a.m., according to a neighbor's account obtained by KOMO News. In the chaos, the culprits failed to dislodge the ATM and made off with nothing, but left the shop owner to confront damages allegedly running into the thousands.
Police arrived to find the abandoned U-Haul at the scene with the ATM still inside the store. The suspects had already scattered, likely switching to an alternate getaway vehicle. King 5 reported that the U-Haul, the instrument of destruction, was later towed from the premises.
The investigation continues with no immediate clues as to the identity of the suspects. This latest smash-and-grab follows a disturbing local trend, notably after a Redmond pot shop was hit just over a week ago, with thieves using a stolen KIA to execute the crime. Details about whether the U-Haul was also stolen have yet to be fully confirmed. An employee, recounting the night's turmoil, told King 5 they had been left to clear away the aftermath of shattered glass and debris.
