A thief is on the run after stealing an ATM from the CVS Pharmacy on Broad Street in San Luis Obispo.
A solo burglar busted the front glass doors of the store with an unknown metal object just before 4:30 a.m Friday, according to Sgt. Bryan Treanor of the San Luis Obispo Police Department.
"Then was able to tie a chain around the ATM and actually pull it out of the store with his vehicle," Sgt. Treanor said.
"Suspect vehicle is a white utility van. The word 'vanpool' on the back," said the early morning dispatch call.
Turns out, that van was stolen from a fleet of more than 100 vehicles belonging to Ride-On Transportation in San Luis Obispo.
Executive Director Mark Shaffer says the lock was broken on the van's side door and the thief hotwired the ignition.
"It was actually one of our agricultural vanpools which are pretty old vehicles and pretty beaten up. The good news is, is that it wasn't a newer van," Shaffer said.
SLOPD says the van was stolen from Sacramento Drive sometime Friday morning. The thief then drove less than a mile to CVS to grab the ATM.
But it all ended outside the former site of The Graduate. The ATM was left partially in the bike lane. The van was also ditched right up the road.
Police are now working to determine if this theft is linked to a similar incident on Halloween morning.
"They weren't able to remove the ATM but the CVS on Madonna was actually hit," Sgt. Treanor said.
Police say no money was taken in this most recent theft.
The police department was notified through an audible alarm.
Anyone with information about this crime is urged to contact the San Luis Obispo Police Department.
