ATM stolen with skid loader from Sioux Falls bank

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SIOUX FALLS (AP) — The New Year's Day theft of an ATM machine from the drive-through lane of a Sioux Falls bank was a well-orchestrated heist in which the thieves stole a skid-loader by driving it through a chain-link fence, pried the cash machine from its casing and escaped within minutes, police said.

Authorities were still searching Tuesday for the masterminds behind the early-morning Sunday theft of the ATM from First National Bank on East Benson Road. Police said the cash machine's burglar alarm sent a signal to police about 7 a.m., and the culprits had fled by the time officers got there around 10 minutes later.

Police spotted tire tracks leading away from the empty space in the bank's drive-through lane. Officers followed the tracks to a field, where they discovered the shell of the ATM and the skid loader used to haul it away.

The media reported that the skid loader had been stolen from First Rate Excavation, despite having been stored in an area surrounded by chain-link fence. The loader was driven through the fence to make the heist, police said.

"It's pretty rare that this sort of things happens," police spokesman Sam Clemens said.

The ATM is valued at $45,000, officials said. It wasn't clear how much cash was inside the machine.

The media reported that an ATM was stolen in January 2011 as well. In that incident, the machine was taken from First Premier Bank on North Potsdam Avenue. A pay-loader stolen from a machinery shop was used to haul the machine away.

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