Thieves used torches to steal $700K from ATMs

[Asrokhel]

Machines across southern Ontario and Quebec have been targeted

An Ontario police force has put up a $25,000 reward in hopes of stopping a group of fast-acting thieves who use welding torches and pry bars to steal stand-alone ATM machines from business locations, often completing their thefts in less than a minute.

During a string of bold thefts, the masked thieves manage to extract the cash from small, stand-alone bank machines often in use at retail locations such as restaurants and gas stations.

Police say the thieves have made off with $700,000 so far in a string of more than 50 robberies at bingo halls, flea markets, arenas and grocery stores. The thefts date back to July 2011 and include locations from Ontario?s Niagara Region to Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.

Many of the robberies have been caught on surveillance tape. The video shows the thieves wearing gloves, masks and nondescript clothing to conceal their identities.

Police are seeking two suspects. One is a stockier man standing about six-feet tall, and weighing about 225 pounds, the other a smaller man about five-foot-ten and weighing 180 pounds.

?They remain very active, committing multiple entries on a monthly basis," said Det. Bob Lester of the Halton Police, the department posting the $25,000 reward. ?They are very well organized and remain consistent in their method of operation.?

The suspects have used many different late-model vehicles to escape following thefts, including newer minivans and SUVs.

Police believe the escape vehicles may be rentals.

Police are asking anyone working in the bank machine or welding supply business with information that may help solve the case to contact them.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2012/11/05/ontario-torch-gang.html

[neufuse Veteran]

that video reminded me of a cheasy 1990's VHS tape that someone edited with their first linear editor and found the wipe buttons...

[Hum]

Cheaters sometimes prosper :shifty:

[Growled Member]

Those are some very resourceful thieves.

[Nagisan]

Too much Skyrim lately....when I read "Torches" I imagined thieves somehow using a stick with a burning ball of cloth to steal from ATMs.....after watching the video, I am disappoint.

[Detection]

Those are some very resourceful thieves.

I've a feeling they won't know when they have too much of a good thing and end up in a rat trap being too greedy, $700k should be enough for anyone with any sense

Will it be only the banks who have to cough the bill ?

[tiagosilva29]

For the last two or three years it has become trendy to blow up ATMs with butane cylinders.

[fintechfooty]

we need some 1080p cameras jeez, then they can actually say "the suspect failed to hide anything".

[Digit12345]

I've a feeling they won't know when they have too much of a good thing and end up in a rat trap being too greedy, $700k should be enough for anyone with any sense

Will it be only the banks who have to cough the bill ?

Considering they've managed to elude authorities for over 50 incidents, they're likely to be very cautious and thorough. They're already smart enough to spread out their attempts over a reasonable time and area. You'd have to be on constant alert all the time and at every place which is just unreasonable and is probably what these thieves depend on. Not to mention these guys probably scout the area they're going to rob multiple times beforehand.

[Detection]

Considering they've managed to elude authorities for over 50 incidents, they're likely to be very cautious and thorough. They're already smart enough to spread out their attempts over a reasonable time and area. You'd have to be on constant alert all the time and at every place which is just unreasonable and is probably what these thieves depend on. Not to mention these guys probably scout the area they're going to rob multiple times beforehand.

Yea, but as with all long term criminals, eventually the police will spend the time and resources to catch them, it will end up cheaper for the country in the long run considering they already stole almost 3/4 of a million $

Either that, or all ATMs will be emptied nightly

[peacemf]

hmm, the videos don't really say where to make the cuts with the torches, pointless video!!! :D :shiftyninja:

for some reasons I was thinking it was flashlight torches :(

[Digit12345]

Yea, but as with all long term criminals, eventually the police will spend the time and resources to catch them, it will end up cheaper for the country in the long run considering they already stole almost 3/4 of a million $

Either that, or all ATMs will be emptied nightly

I have a feeling if it ever reaches that point, the thieves would know enough to take a break and spend their cash. And then after some period when the national alerts have cooled down, they would resume their activities. If the thieves were smart, they would not spend that money frivolously and invest intelligently so that they would be set for life, and not have to continue with these increasingly riskier nighttime ventures.

[Detection]

I have a feeling if it ever reaches that point, the thieves would know enough to take a break and spend their cash. And then after some period when the national alerts have cooled down, they would resume their activities. If the thieves were smart, they would not spend that money frivolously and invest intelligently so that they would be set for life, and not have to continue with these increasingly riskier nighttime ventures.

That would be the ideal thing to do I guess, but I imagine by now they are pretty confident and it will be like a drug, the adrenaline junkie rush they will get after every successful job will keep them hooked

[Digit12345]

That would be the ideal thing to do I guess, but I imagine by now they are pretty confident and it will be like a drug, the adrenaline junkie rush they will get after every successful job will keep them hooked

As much as I do not condone their actions, I'd hate for them to get caught over some basic stupidity on their part. It would take away from their merits as supervillains in the making!

[pes2013]

Great plot :) I dont have access to a portable blowtorch though :(

[CyberManifest]

I have a feeling if it ever reaches that point, the thieves would know enough to take a break and spend their cash. And then after some period when the national alerts have cooled down, they would resume their activities. If the thieves were smart, they would not spend that money frivolously and invest intelligently so that they would be set for life, and not have to continue with these increasingly riskier nighttime ventures.

Don't banks keep track of the serial numbers of the bills put in their ATMs? They could track the serials to their so called investments and WAM! Caught red handed!

[Knife Party]

Cheaters sometimes always prosper :shifty: :shifty:

[pes2013]

Don't banks keep track of the serial numbers of the bills put in their ATMs? They could track the serials to their so called investments and WAM! Caught red handed!

If they are somewhat bright they would put it in a offshore account as soon as they got it.

[Digit12345]

Don't banks keep track of the serial numbers of the bills put in their ATMs? They could track the serials to their so called investments and WAM! Caught red handed!

There are very sophisticated methods of money laundering. Traffickers, embezzlers, con artists, drug dealers etc. have been doing it for a long time.