San Antonio police are working to track down a pair of brazen thieves who yanked an ATM out of a Southwest Side barbershop early Friday morning, then took off in a pickup before sunrise.
Officers were called to the 2300 block of Quintana Road shortly after 6 a.m. Witnesses told investigators they saw at least two people trying to haul away the machine before it was loaded into a pickup truck and driven off. No arrests have been reported, and police say the investigation is still very much active.
According to KSAT, an SAPD sergeant at the scene said the suspects used "high-powered tools" to break into the shop, then wrapped a chain-like object around the ATM and dragged it out. The outlet reports the burglary call was logged at about 6:15 a.m. Friday and that investigators are now reviewing surveillance video tied to the case.
How thieves are targeting ATMs
Crimes involving unattended ATMs generally fall into two buckets: crews that physically rip the machines or their cash boxes out of storefronts, and high-tech "jackpotting" schemes that use malware to force dispensers to spit out cash.
The FBI has outlined both digital and physical warning signs linked to jackpotting and similar attacks, and it recommends steps like upgraded locks, additional internal sensors, and stronger camera coverage around machines. On the enforcement side, the Department of Justice has pursued multi-state prosecutions involving organized crews that used malware to drain ATMs across the country.
What police are looking for
Investigators are asking anyone who might have captured a dark-colored truck on dash-cam or doorbell video around daybreak in the 2300 block of Quintana Road to get in touch with SAPD. The KSAT report notes that officers are reviewing surveillance footage and canvassing the surrounding area as the probe continues.
Advice for businesses
Security experts say local shop owners with on-site ATMs should double-check their systems, preserve any relevant footage, and consider basic hardening measures. The FBI guidance highlights simple but important steps such as changing default locks, installing threat sensors, and enabling longer video retention so suspicious activity is easier to review after the fact.
Authorities also urge anyone who notices possible tampering or signs of an attempted attack on an ATM to report it to their local FBI field office or through the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
