Four Arrested for Using Hydraulic 'Jaws of Life' in ATM Robbery Spree Across D.C. and Maryland

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A series of brazen automated teller machine (ATM) robberies utilizing heavy rescue equipment has led to the arrest of four individuals, police announced. The suspect group allegedly targeted cash machines across Maryland and Washington, D.C., using hydraulic tools typically reserved for emergency vehicle extractions.

According to investigators, the crew employed what are commonly referred to as the "jaws of life"—hydraulic spreaders and cutters—to force open the reinforced steel casings of the ATMs. This method allowed them to quickly access and retrieve the cash cassettes inside, leaving heavily damaged structures behind.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), alongside neighboring Maryland law enforcement agencies, had been tracking the group for several months. In September 2024, D.C. police released surveillance footage and photographs, appealing to the community for assistance in identifying individuals caught on camera during one such theft. The investigation culminated in a series of coordinated arrests in May 2026, putting an end to the high-profile robbery spree.

The four suspects face multiple charges, including grand larceny, possession of burglary tools, and destruction of property. Authorities hope these arrests will deter similar high-tech property crimes in the region.