Driver flees after ramming through fun center

TUKWILA, Wash. — A van drove through the doors of a fun center in Tukwila in an attempt to steal an ATM, but the culprits didn’t wait around when the plan failed.

The crash occurred around 4:40 a.m. at the Family Fun Center & Bullwinkle's Restaurant at 7300 Fun Center Way.

Police said the van smashed through the restaurant's glass doors.

The ATM was apparently too heavy to remove and the thieves  abandoned the van and left the scene.

"I have no idea why they thought they could just break into an ATM machine like that, but they just don't simply break open that easily," said Murphy.

Police believe the van the suspects used to drive into the building was likely stolen and that they probably had a getaway car waiting.

Police said it was lucky that the van didn't hit a pillar that supports the front part of the building.

The early-morning smash-and-grab attempt left the arcade a mess for hours, with shattered glass, bent steel and skid marks left behind.  The attempt also left a huge hole in the wall where the ATM was mounted.

The ATM was left mostly in tact on the ground, with all the money inside.

The fun center said it has surveillance video and police will be reviewing the footage.

The business does not open until noon on Wednesday, so no one was believed to be inside at the time of the break-in.

KIRO