Thieves Accused of Ripping ATM Full of Cash From Ground in Hemet

Two men were behind bars Thursday on suspicion of stealing an ATM and attempting to haul away another one in two separate Riverside County locations.

Ernest Brandon Causey, 26, and Thomas Carlton Wilson, 38 -- both of Riverside -- were arrested Wednesday following a joint investigation by the sheriff's department and Hemet police that began earlier this month.

Causey and Wilson were each arrested on suspicion of auto theft, conspiracy, grand theft and attempted grand theft. Causey was additionally booked for petty theft, while Wilson is facing allegations of parole violations.

He's being held without bail at the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta, where Causey is also housed in lieu of $167,000 bail.

According to sheriff's Sgt. Vanessa Sloniker, the two suspects allegedly tried -- but failed -- to steal a stand-alone Chase Bank ATM in the 6000 block of Hamner Avenue in Eastvale in the predawn hours of April 3 and April 6.

The two apparently tried their luck again on April 11 in Hemet.

In the predawn hours that day, the pair allegedly succeeded in stealing an ATM outside a bank in the 1800 block of East Florida Avenue, Hemet Police said.

"Arriving Officers found that the ATM Kiosk had been ripped from its foundation and stolen," Hemet Police Lt. Dean Evans said.  "After reviewing the bank’s security tapes, detectives learned that multiple male suspects used a large white box van to rip the ATM from its foundation and haul it away."

According to Evans, that machine was loaded with cash.

"The Victim later advised Detectives that the machine contained a large amount of US currency when it was stolen," he said.

Evidence collected at the scene pointed to Causey and Wilson as the perpetrators, according to the agencies.

Sheriff's and Hemet police personnel tracked the duo down and arrested them without incident at Wilson's apartment in the 7500 block of Philbin Avenue in Riverside, Sloniker said.

– City News Service.