Two men tried to steal ATMs from two Prince George's County gas stations Wednesday morning, police say.
The would-be robbers made their first attempt at 4:50 a.m. at an Exxon gas station in the 4700 block of Allentown Road in Camp Spring, Md. Authorities say two men in a pickup truck wrapped a chain around the machine but weren't successful in hauling it away. The ATM was found outside the station, and police do not believe any money was removed.
About 20 minutes later, the duo slammed their truck into a Citgo gas station in the 5700 block of Old Branch Avenue in Camp Springs. Police say the men drove the truck into the building a second time but were only able to carry the machine as far as the parking lot before police arrived.
The men fled the area in their truck, which was later found a short distance away.
Earlier this month, three ATMs were stolen from businesses in Maryland and D.C. During one of the crimes, the thieves rammed their truck into the wall of a gas station, ran inside and took the ATM. The machine was recovered later that day, along with two others.
No injuries were reported in any of the cases, but authorities have condemned the heavily damaged Citgo.
"Right now, I can tell you that patrol officers are conducting area checks, especially at gas stations," said Prince George's County Pfc. Nikki Hubbard.
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Police have not said whether the cases are related, but they are working to get surveillance video from the gas stations involved in Tuesday's attempted thefts.
