An unidentified man used brute force early Friday to tear an automated teller machine from its foundation at the Gateway Service Station in Peter’s Rest, according to the V.I. Police Department.
The 911 emergency call center received a report of the incident at 3:52 a.m. Friday. Responding officers arrived at the site and met with an employee of the service station.
The employee said that at 3:47 a.m. he saw an older model, white colored SUV back into the service station. The vehicle was driven by an unknown man wearing a black hoodie that obscured his face.
The man backed the vehicle up to the ATM unit, got out and threw a large rope over it. He then got back into the vehicle and drove off, pulling the ATM unit from its housing as he drove off onto Centerline Road, dragging the unit behind him.
The incident is under investigation by detectives, who urged anyone with information about the crime to phone 911 or the anonymous tip service, Crime Stoppers USVI, at 1-800-222-8477.