LACKAWANNA COUNTY, Pa. — Police are investigating break-ins and thefts of ATMs in Lackawanna County overnight.
The owners of Reina's Place along Business Route 6 in Eynon showed up at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday to find their back door broken open and their ATM missing. They'd later learn that they weren't alone.
Tiffany Smith says burglars had their eye on one thing when they broke in: the restaurant's ATM.
"We accept cards now, so I don't think it's necessary to have one. We'll definitely be changing our locks and getting a better security system."
Smith thinks the crooks must've been in the place before because they knew how to access the back door. The burglars made a mess ripping the machine from the floor, but Reina's still opened for breakfast.
"The cops are on it," Smith said. "They're going to get our surveillance footage, and hopefully, it will be taken care of it, but that's how I started my day!"
Chris Wilson had the same abrupt start to his day. Police believe the same team of burglars stole his ATM at Eagle Billiards also along Business Route 6 in Dickson City.
Wilson's security system captured the heist carried out by two masked men.
"I don't know whether they were in here before, and that's how they found out about the ATM, but most of my people know we've been 24/7 since we were broken into once before. So, unfortunately, it's not the first time, but eventually, it will be the last. I think the word is getting out there," Wilson said.
Police believe those two break-ins are connected to a third at another business in Scott Township, but in that case, nothing with stolen.