Thieves steal telehandler from construction jobsite, unsuccessfully try to knock over an ATM with it

Updated Sep 15, 2014
Credit: Jacksonville Sheriff’s OfficeCredit: Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is hunting for those involved in a failed attempt to either steal or burglarize an ATM using a telehandler.

According to a First Coast News report, police said the JLG G10-55A, valued at more than $135,000, was stolen early Monday morning from a construction jobsite near Prudential Drive. The machine was rented by Superior Construction Company on load from United Rentals.

Around 7 a.m. Monday a sheriff’s deputy was flagged down by a Synovus Bank employee after the branch’s ATM was found severely damaged and the stolen telehandler sitting just a few feet away.

From the look of the sheriff’s office photo above the crooks either tried to lift the ATM out of its housing or they simply used the telehandler’s forks to try and ram the ATM open. Either way, they were unsuccessful and fled the scene as bank employees said no cash was missing. It apparently didn’t occur to them that the telehandler is probably worth more than any cash they would have found inside the ATM.

No suspects have been named but the sheriff’s office is expecting to receive surveillance footage of the incident.