An attempted ATM theft at a White Settlement, Texas 7‑Eleven at about 3:45 a.m. on Christmas Eve was captured on surveillance video after suspects hooked a stolen SUV to the ATM and dragged it through the store. The damaged ATM and its safe were later recovered along a nearby highway service road. Police say the SUV had been stolen in Dallas roughly an hour earlier, and investigators suspect the same two-person team may have carried out similar robberies at other convenience stores. Authorities are asking the public to submit tips to help identify the suspects.
Christmas Eve ATM Heist Caught on Camera: SUV Drags ATM Through Texas 7‑Eleven
stolen ATM
An attempted ATM theft at a 7‑Eleven in White Settlement, Texas — a northwestern suburb of Fort Worth — left the store heavily damaged and was captured on surveillance video, police say. Authorities believe the same pair of suspects may have targeted other convenience stores in the area.
What Happened
The incident occurred at about 3:45 a.m. on Christmas Eve. According to investigators, one suspect forced open the store entrance, secured a metal cable from an SUV to the ATM, and a second person accelerated the vehicle, dragging the machine across the store and damaging the front of the building. CNN anchor Kate Bolduan described the scene as “causing a total mess.”
Video And Recovery
The White Settlement Police Department released a compilation of surveillance feeds showing extensive interior damage as the ATM was yanked through the store. Officers said the ATM eventually detached from the vehicle and was abandoned by the suspects. Police later located the heavily damaged machine — and recovered the safe — along a highway service road.
Investigation
Fox 4 KDFW reported the SUV used in the attempt was abandoned nearby and had been stolen from a Dallas apartment complex roughly an hour before the heist. Multiple local police departments are cooperating on the investigation.
"He’s been hit three times. He’s got a lot of convenient stores in Dallas‑Fort Worth," White Settlement Police Chief Christopher Cook said, adding that investigators suspect the same team is behind a string of similar robberies. "It is always a stolen SUV, it’s always two guys, and they do the same thing."
Suspect Description And How To Help
Police described the two suspects as men wearing black hooded sweatshirts, black pants, face masks and orange gloves; one wore white sneakers and the other wore black sneakers. Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact Detective Geovanny Ramirez at 817‑246‑7070, ext. 420, or to submit tips anonymously to Tarrant County Crime Stoppers at 817‑469‑TIPS.
Watch: The surveillance clip was shared via CNN. Photo credit: Fort Worth Police Department.
