Smash-and-grab thieves no match for cash machine
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TUKWILA, Wash. -- Some would-be thieves smashed a van through the entrance of the Family Fun Center in Tukwila early Wednesday, but police said they didn't get away with any money.
Officials said the crooks crashed the van into the front doors just before 4:40 a.m. and tried to steal the cash machine that was inside.
The cash machine was bolted to the floor so the thieves were unable to steal it, but their efforts left the machine battered and broken.
Unable to get the machine or the money inside, the the intruders took off and left the van at the scene, police said.
"I'm not sure what they were thinking, I'm not sure I can get onto their level," said Mike Murphy with Tukwila Police. "It was a pretty dumb thing to do."
Employees spent several hours scrubbing away the skid marks and sweeping up debris while a contractor covered the giant hole in the building.
And by noon -- normal opening hours on a weekday -- the Family Fun Center was ready for eager kids.
"I'm especially happy because I got two kids that want to celebrate their report cards," said Deniel Span. "I think it's wonderful."
Investigators spent a few hours collecting evidence and are reviewing surveillance video from the business.
Officials said the crooks crashed the van into the front doors just before 4:40 a.m. and tried to steal the cash machine that was inside.
The cash machine was bolted to the floor so the thieves were unable to steal it, but their efforts left the machine battered and broken.
Unable to get the machine or the money inside, the the intruders took off and left the van at the scene, police said.
"I'm not sure what they were thinking, I'm not sure I can get onto their level," said Mike Murphy with Tukwila Police. "It was a pretty dumb thing to do."
Employees spent several hours scrubbing away the skid marks and sweeping up debris while a contractor covered the giant hole in the building.
And by noon -- normal opening hours on a weekday -- the Family Fun Center was ready for eager kids.
"I'm especially happy because I got two kids that want to celebrate their report cards," said Deniel Span. "I think it's wonderful."
Investigators spent a few hours collecting evidence and are reviewing surveillance video from the business.
God help us all when thieves finally grow brains... until then, here's a van crashed through a family fun center.
If the thieves had half a brain they would have learned the ATM was bolted down ahead of time and thought twice about trying to steal that ATM. Left the van there? I wonder if the van was stolen.
These guys are a couple of " Bullwinkle's " alright
The idiot thieves (like all thieves) could care less that they cause thousands of dollars in damage in an effort to get a couple of hundred bucks.
That sign over the door is pretty funny, considering they got nothing.
Oh my goodness... I'm laughing right now because these guys must feel like the two ATM thieves from Barbershop.
Well i'm guessing they did not have fun there.
Thank you, please drive to the first, errr, window.
Cash machines...we call those ATMs...
Nobody ever said crooks were smart.
I'm guessing it's somebody who frequents there. Otherwise how would they know they had a cash machine.
I'm sure these little darlings will be caught.
My idea of family fun runs more to miniature golf and bumper cars, but I guess they have something for everybody.
@Insomniac Dreams They have the bumper cars in common!
Duh.
Wouldnât it be great if ATMâs were self-aware and could defend themselves like the Nautilus did against the giant squid in the old movie 20,000 leagues beneath the sea â and shock the bejesus out of thieves until police can respondâ¦â¦. Â
Isn't there a video or pictures of the idiots who did this? I'm assuming that they had some type of surveillance inside. Maybe someone might recognize them.
They were just trying to get compensated for the damage the building did to their van! It was the buildings fault after all.
Something similar happened to the Shell station in Maple Valley a few weeks ago. They got the cash machine but there was no cash inside. The van used was found in Covington and the machine was found in Kent. Betcha it's the same people.Â
@PrairieDawn It did?  That's just around the corner from us, I had no idea! Â
So when they catch them they will slap their hands and let them go. They should have to perform work until they pay for the damage.
@Alex Clayton I tend to err on the side of being more strict.  If they are unable to follow basic societal laws/rules then they don't belong in our society.  Ship them off to a different continent completely and never allow them to return. Â
I mean I really can't think of any reason why my idea is bad. Â Of course, I just don't know where these people should be shipped off to. Â Jail doesn't work, because that's on our dime. Â Killing them is immoral. Â Maybe let them loose in south Africa or something.
@Landshark @Alex Clayton The British tried that... it came known as Australia ...
@Doxie @Freespeech @Landshark @Alex Clayton Ideally I only need five minutes for the small typos... 5 minutes is better than nothing!
@Freespeech @Landshark @Alex Clayton You have to be quick, you only get 5 minutes!
@Landshark @Alex Clayton OMG... we have a EDIT BUTTON BACK... ZOMFG FINALLY!!!
@Landshark @Alex Clayton North Africa would be okay as well. Personally, I vote for Antarctica.