Couple arrested for attempting to remove ATM in Kitsap County

PORT ORCHARD, Wash. — Two Port Orchard residents suspected of attempting to rip out an ATM with a tow truck were arrested early Monday morning, according to the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies responded to a report of a theft in progress at Chase Bank on Southeast Mile Hill Drive at about 5:30 a.m.

Security officers at the bank reported that two suspects were attempting to break into an ATM in the drive-thru at the back of the building, according to KCSO.

Two deputies in the area arrived at the scene minutes later, and found the ATM lying on its side, attached to a tow truck.

Deputies spotted a female suspect standing next to the tow truck when they arrived at the scene.

Authorities later determined that the tow truck had been reported stolen out of Tacoma.

A generator and a Jaws of Life were also used by the suspects in the theft.

“This flatbed tow truck that they used had actually been stolen from a business in Tacoma and there was some hydraulic equipment that’s usually associated with firefighters — Jaws of Life machine, generator — and it actually had stickers on it from a fire station in Pierce County,” Lt. Ken Dickinson, of the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office, said.

One of the suspects, a 31-year-old woman, fled from the scene on foot as deputies arrived, running toward Mile Hill Drive. She was quickly caught and taken into custody.

The second suspect, a 36-year-old man, also fled on foot and was caught near the entrance of the Kitsap Cannabis store.

As the man was running away, he dropped a semi-automatic handgun that was later determined to be stolen. He was taken into custody after a brief struggle with a deputy, according to KCSO.

“As he chased him, they saw a handgun fall off of the guy and into the parking lot there, which kind of upped the stakes a little bit there,” Dickinson said.

The male suspect was booked into the county jail on multiple charges, including first-degree theft, malicious mischief in the first degree, possession of a stolen vehicle, and unlawful possession of a firearm. His bail was set at $500,000.

The woman was booked on charges of first-degree theft, malicious mischief in the first degree, possession of a stolen vehicle, and an outstanding warrant. Her bail was set at $302,500.

Dickinson said that after detectives interviewed the pair, they were able to connect them to another crime that happened last month. Deputies said they recognized the man’s tattoo on his hand and made the connection.

“So we were able to see the hand tattoo through surveillance for the Amazon theft and when we interviewed him, we obviously saw the tattoo on his hand again and were able to match that up,” he said.

Deputies booked the two on additional charges after they determined the couple was responsible for stealing an Amazon van and its contents in November.

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