POWNAL — It’s possible that Pownal is becoming a popular stopover for ATM thieves anxious to crack them open and grab the cash.
After several thefts or attempted thefts in the region this fall, ATMs like those often seen in convenience stores were found discarded — minus the cash — off gravel roads in Pownal, according to a number of town residents and local officials.
Law enforcement officials, however, have thus far provided few details concerning the incidents in Pownal and in nearby Hoosick, New York.
Pownal residents, most of whom asked not to be named, said discarded ATMs were found over the past month off Skiparee and John Lee roads, along the Hoosic River in the vicinity of the North Pownal Bridge, and off Indian Massacre Road.
One resident said a second ATM also was found on Indian Massacre Road, which runs parallel to Route 346 and crosses into New York.
New York State Police confirmed an ATM theft in late September at a Stewart’s Shop in Hoosick, and police released surveillance video last week of a thief yanking a file cabinet-size ATM out of a store in Hoosick, with a chain apparently tied to a vehicle.
The full surveillance video clip was posted by WRGB Channel 6.
Anyone with information on that theft, which occurred early Tuesday morning, is asked to contact the Rensselaer (N.Y.) County Sheriff’s Office at 518-270-0128.
Residents in Pownal said they are aware of at least one recent ATM theft or attempted theft at the Stewart’s Shop on Route 7 in Pownal, but that incident could not be confirmed last week with police.
Bennington County Sheriff Chad Schmidt declined to comment specifically about the incidents, but said in an email, “All I can tell you is that there are open investigations and multiple agencies are cooperating on it. Other than that I don’t want to release many details. I would encourage business owners to have cameras installed around their parking lots and inside their businesses.”
Jim Winchester, who owns a store and deli less than a quarter mile from the Pownal Stewart’s, said Thursday that someone tried without success to pull an ATM from its base in his store, and surveillance photos of the person were taken.
Winchester said he later decided to have the rented teller machine taken out of his store.
The post Stolen store ATMs are dropped off in Pownal appeared first on VTDigger.