The wall of an Uptown convenience store was smashed early Thursday and an ATM was stolen, New Orleans police said.
It's at least the third ATM that's been targeted in New Orleans in less than a month.
Thursday's burglary was reported around 4 a.m. at the Tchoup Stop in the 5600 block of Tchoupitoulas Street (map), police said. An exterior wall was damaged and the ATM inside the building was stolen, according to the preliminary information from police.
Workers were cleaning up around noon Thursday. Yellow police tape and cones blocked a gaping hole in the building and scrap from a Capital One ATM was piled in the back of a truck.
The interior cashier counter and its glass window was damaged. The bottom of the counter and the wall appeared to have been rammed by something like a vehicle. A black skidmark was visible on the floor of the store.
Police said they were investigating the cause of the damage and didn't say if there was surveillance footage.
Attempted theft 2 blocks away
Another ATM was targeted last month two blocks away at the Regions Bank at Tchoupitoulas Street and Jefferson Avenue (map). Police said two men were caught on camera trying to steal an ATM there Jan. 10.
They were in a dark grey Ford F-250 pickup truck with a damaged tailgate, and authorities are looking for them.
ATM stolen on Esplanade Avenue
Police said they believe the two men in the truck stole an ATM the same day in January from a business in the 2500 block of Esplanade Avenue (map).
They were seen on camera using the pickup truck to break through the exterior wall so they could get the ATM that was inside the building.
Police released surveillance images of the two men Jan. 11.
Police said they believe the two January crimes are related, but the most recent one is under investigation.
No suspects have been identified or arrests made yet, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111.