A group of thieves in San Jose who appeared to be targeting businesses with ATMs smashed through six storefronts across the city early Tuesday, according to the police department.
The six businesses hit were spread across different parts of San Jose, but police suspect the same group is responsible for all of the break-ins, which occurred between 3 a.m. and 4:30 a.m.
Investigators believe the group was attempting to steal ATMs at the following locations:
- Don's Liquors, 1053 E. Capitol Expressway
- Branham Liquor and Wine, 1656 Branham Lane
- Santa Clara Smoke Shop, 565 E. Santa Clara St.
- Camden Liquors, 5837 Camden Ave.
- G&A Color Nail Salon, 3041 McKee Road
- Safeway, 1455 Berryessa Road
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Police did not say whether or not any cash or goods were stolen from any of the businesses.
Crews at the Santa Clara Smoke Shop spent Tuesday making repairs.
"They did a lot of damage," said Joe Ali with the smoke shop. "We work all day, every day just to make a couple dollars and they do this. That's wrong."
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Ali added the smoke shop does not even have an ATM machine.
At Don's Liquors, it appears the thieves could not get past the metal window bars protecting the store, so the cash inside the ATM was saved. But no such luck at Branham Liquors, where the thieves struggled, but eventually got the machine onto a truck.
"They destroyed our business," said Jimmy Singh with Camden Liquors.
The investigation is ongoing, and no arrests had been made as of early Tuesday afternoon. Police said they will be extra vigilant overnight in case the thieves decide to strike again.
Anyone with information about the break-ins should contact the SJPD burglary unit at 408-537-1310 or leave a tip with Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at 408-947-7867 or at svcrimestoppers.org.
