Teenager charged in ATM robbery

Teenager charged in ATM robbery


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SALT LAKE CITY — An 18-year-old West Valley City man is facing felony charges after he and a 17-year-old friend allegedly tried to steal an ATM machine.

Jesus Tovar Frias was charged with burglary and criminal mischief, both third-degree felonies, attempted theft, a class A misdemeanor, and unlawful possession of burglary tools, a class B misdemeanor, in 3rd District Court Friday.

According to charges, a woman who lives near the Holiday Oil located at 4825 W. 4100 South heard a "loud bang" just after midnight on Nov. 15. She told police that she looked outside and saw a black truck backing into the doors of the business.

She said she saw two men run in the store and then quickly run out of it again, the charges state.

Police obtained surveillance video that apparently showed the truck backing into the doors and breaking the store's windows, followed by one man entering the store with a rope that he tied around the ATM machine, court documents state.

When the truck, tied to the other end of the rope, pulled forward, the rope snapped. A second man then entered the store and the pair attempted to move the ATM machine together. When that failed, they tried to wedge it open using crowbars, the charges state.

The men then fled from the store, but they were stopped by officers soon after, who noted that a rope was tied to the ball joint on the truck. The officer arrested the two men and searched the vehicle.

According to the charges, a search of the truck revealed two pairs of gloves, three crowbars, a flashlight and a power saw. Frias spoke with police and confirmed that he and his friend had tried to steal the ATM.

The charges state that the manager of the Holiday Oil estimated that the damage to the store and ATM totaled $4,900.

Email:emorgan@ksl.com

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