LAKE STEVENS, Wash. — A trio of thieves who broke into a Lake Stevens grocery store and stole an ATM machine were caught on camera.
Surveillance video from Lake Connor Grocery in Lake Stevens shows a white pickup parked outside late Wednesday night.
One of the thieves, wearing a hat and bandana covering his face, steps out of the truck with bolt cutters in his hand and begins trying to cut through the store's padlock.
“The biggest shock was that it was this store, because it's a small, rural area really. Everyone works hard for the dollar. So, it just seems a little out of character,” said store clerk Michael Arbuckle.
The three burglars eventually broke the glass, got in and stole the ATM.
Arbuckle, who has been working at the store for about six months, said he was confused as to why someone would burglarize the small store.
His confusion quickly turned to gratitude for the community, which immediately reached out to help in any way it could.
Longtime customer Denise Springer said the beloved family market has a special place in Lake Stevens.
“We all care. And these people are all family. The McDaniels have been here forever. It’s our family,” said Springer.
Co-owner Shane McDaniel said the burglary couldn’t have come at a worse time, not only because the store lost thousands of dollars during the holidays, but because he’s busy organizing a community event for kids next Saturday, where he'll hand out gifts as a water-skiing Santa .
“It’s hard to get all that going and then you get this happening, and it just shuts the whole thing down,” said McDaniel.
Lake Stevens police say they are following up on several leads.
There was an ATM found in Skagit County and detectives are working with the company to determine if it's the stolen ATM from Lake Connor Grocery.
Cox Media Group
