Authorities looking for burglars who attempted to take ATM from Snelling gas station

Authorities are looking for two people accused of ramming a vehicle into a Merced County gas station building and attempting to steal the ATM inside.

At about 3:45 a.m. Tuesday, Merced County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a burglary in progress at the Chevron gas station located on Highway 59 in Snelling, according to Merced County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Michelle Oliver. Dispatchers informed the deputies that a vehicle had struck the side of the building and the people were attempting to take an ATM.

Deputies checked the area but did not find the suspects, according to the release. Detectives said surveillance footage showed two people entering the building and taking multiple items from store shelves.

Authorities said the video shows one of the people putting a tow strap around the ATM and trying to pull it from the building, causing major damage. The suspect vehicle is believed to be a dark-colored Chevrolet Silverado, possibly an early 2000s model.

The sheriff’s office said the vehicle may have damage to the back end.

Anyone with information regarding the incident or pertinent security camera footage from the area is asked to contact the Merced County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Bureau at 209-385–7472. Tips can remain anonymous, according to authorities.

This story was originally published February 22, 2023 at 12:40 PM.