Two Venezuelan Nationals Arrested in Albany, Texas ATM Theft

ALBANY, TX — The Shackelford County Sheriff's Office and Albany Police Department have announced the arrest of two Venezuelan nationals suspected of attempting to steal an automated teller machine (ATM) in the city of Albany, Texas. The arrests were made early Thursday morning, October 16, 2025, after a coordinated response by local law enforcement officers.

According to official reports, police responded to reports of suspicious activity near a local bank's ATM location. Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered a theft in progress, with suspects attempting to break into and remove the cash vault from the machine. Following a brief pursuit, police successfully apprehended two individuals who were identified as Venezuelan nationals.

Law enforcement officials are investigating whether the suspects are linked to a larger, multi-state organized crime ring targeting financial institutions and ATMs across Texas. Shackelford County authorities have contacted federal immigration officials to verify the legal status of the two detainees, who remain held in the county jail facing felony charges of theft, criminal mischief, and engaging in organized criminal activity.

“Our officers acted quickly and decisively to prevent this theft from succeeding,” stated the Sheriff's Office in a press release. “We are working closely with regional and federal partners to determine the full scope of their operations and whether additional suspects are at large.”

The names of the arrested individuals are currently being withheld as the investigation continues and formal indictments are processed through the Shackelford County district court.