Thieves try to steal an entire ATM

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - A man and woman are behind bars after police said they tried to steal an ATM. And, authorities believe it may not have been their first time.

According to police, thieves tried to steal the ATM from the Speedway convenience store at 16th and Post two days ago. But they couldn't get it out the door.

But that wasn't the case on Wednesday at 2:30 a.m. It took just seconds for the suspects to pull the door off the building. They used their pickup truck and a heavy duty chain to do it.

With the door off, one suspect went inside and wrapped the chain around the ATM. The driver pulls forward, yanks out the machine. And together they load it up and take off.

Witnesses waiting for a red light at 16th and Post spotted the pickup parked in front of the closed gas station.

"While they are calling 911 they see this pickup truck rev up and pull this ATM out of the front door area," said Sgt. Matt Mount, Indianapolis Metro Police Department.

Police responded to the call. A high speed chase followed. It ended with the suspects ditching the truck and running on foot. But, they didn't get far. Police caught 39-year-old Christina Certain and 63-year-old George Cole on the 2400 block of Kitley Avenue. Officers recovered the ATM and found a handgun inside the vehicle.

Police said the couple may also be responsible for Saturday morning's ATM robbery at Massachusetts and Rural. That time the store was open for business. One suspect pulled out a gun. Once again, the thieves tied a strap to a red pickup truck to rip the machine out of the store.

"Same truck, we believe, that was being used, possibly the same gun. It was the same type of gun used in the robbery on the December 27," said Sgt. Mount.

According to officers the red pickup truck had been stolen earlier this month from a home in Shelby County. The two suspects face charges of burglary, auto theft, and resisting law enforcement.