Stolen Excavator Used in Audacious ATM Theft in Puyallup; Suspects Remain at Large

PUYALLUP, Wash. — Authorities in Pierce County are searching for suspects involved in a daring heist that took place early Saturday morning in Puyallup. Investigators say a crew of thieves utilized a stolen heavy excavator to physically rip an automated teller machine (ATM) from its concrete foundation, causing extensive property damage before fleeing the scene.

According to the Puyallup Police Department, the incident occurred during the pre-dawn hours of November 30, 2024. The suspects reportedly targeted a local construction site nearby to procure the excavator. They then drove the heavy machinery onto the bank property, using the bucket to smash through the ATM's enclosure and tear the entire unit away from the ground. Surveillance footage shows the machinery operating in the dark, systematically destroying the structure to access the vault inside the machine.

Although police arrived shortly after the alarms were triggered, the suspects had already fled. It remains unclear exactly how much cash was taken during the heist, but the physical damage to the site is estimated to be in the tens of thousands of dollars. The excavator was left abandoned at the scene. Puyallup police are actively reviewing surveillance video and asking anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity or has dashcam footage from the area to contact the police tip line immediately.