Alaska man charged with using front-end loader to steal ATM - WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & Sports

By DAN JOLING
Associated Press

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - An Anchorage, Alaska, man has been charged with a snatch-and-grab theft with a twist - the use of heavy equipment to do the grabbing.

Federal prosecutors have charged Adrian Turnbow, 25, with bank larceny in the attempted theft of an ATM with a front-end loader.

The FBI is investigating three other Anchorage ATM thefts with heavy equipment since Dec. 25. Excavators in at least two previous cases were stolen from Turnbow's former employer.

Turnbow remains jailed. His attorney, federal public defender Darrel Gardner, said Turnbow has not been required to enter a plea.

A security guard called Anchorage police early Monday to report a front-end loader trying to take an ATM from an east-side bank, according to an FBI affidavit.

Responding officers spotted the loader attempting to flee. The loader became stuck in a parking lot embankment and police detained the driver who was wearing a ski mask and carrying a loaded handgun.

Alaska State Troopers on March 1 arrested three people in possession of an ATM stolen that day from a bank in south Anchorage. They are charged with possession of stolen bank property. Turnbow's truck was found at the scene. He had reported it stolen.

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