Thieves take ATM from mall

Akron Beacon Journal

FAIRLAWN

Thieves stretched the concept of anytime banking when they stole an ATM from Summit Mall in the middle of the night.

Fairlawn Police Detective David Zampelli said the machine, weighing 500 to 600 pounds, was taken early Monday from the west concourse, near the Indians Team Shop.

Because of the size of the ATM, Zampelli suspects more than one person was involved.

Police put the time of the theft at 2:40 a.m., based on the last time the ATM’s computer communicated with Bank of America.

Mall security discovered the theft around 7 a.m.

Police are puzzled as to how the thieves got into the mall. There were no signs of forced entry, Zampelli said.

The machine is valued at $15,000 and contained about $113,000 in $20 bills, police reported.

Zampelli said a similar theft took place Dec. 2 at Strongsville’s SouthPark Mall.

The FBI has joined the investigation into both thefts, he said.