A group of potential thieves attempted to steal an ATM machine from a San Diego gas station early Thursday morning (January 6), reports the San Diego Union-Tribune.
When deputies arrived at the gas station, the group of four ditched the ATM and fled the scene.
The incident occurred at a Chevron on Valley Center Road north of Woods Valley Road.
An employee reported the attempted robbery at around 3:40 A.M. telling authorities a dark-colored pickup smashed into the gas station's convenience store and four people were attempting to steal the ATM.
Sheriff's Lt. David Ladieu said the group managed to haul the machine from the store but it's unclear how. The group drove a short distance with it.
When they tried to break into it, deputies arrived and the group abandoned the ATM and took off in the pickup.
Deputies pursued them for a short period before the group managed to escape. According to Ladieu, the group fled empty-handed and deputies were able to recover the ATM.