Edmonton police foiled an attempted ATM theft early Friday, after a suspect allegedly used a stolen front-end loader to rip through a wall and then led police on a “low-speed chase” while attempting a getaway with the ATM in the bucket.

Edmonton Police Service Staff Sgt. James Vanderland said officers responded to an intrusion alarm at Cashco Financial in the area of 55 Street and 137 Avenue at 6:24 a.m. 

“The whole front of the building was taken apart by a front end loader, and an ATM was missing,” Vanderland said.

An officer spotted the loader a short time later about four blocks away, with the ATM still in the bucket.

Vanderland said the suspect led police on a “low-speed pursuit” for about 10 minutes, topping out at speeds of 20 km/h. 

“A 40-year-old male was pulled over and surrendered without incident,” Vanderland said, adding that the loader involved in the alleged theft was also stolen. 

Cashco Financial regional manager Jacquie McBurney said she’s not surprised by the crime because of the tough economic times putting people under financial pressure.

“I understand that people are hurting, but there’s other sources out there to help them,” she said, as a cleanup crew swept up ceiling tiles, shards of broken glass and other debris created by the destruction of the windowed storefront.

McBurney said there was a similar robbery at the company’s Westmount location on Thursday, though a skidsteer was used in that instance instead of a loader. Vanderland said police have yet to determine if the two thefts are linked.

McBurney said past ATM thefts prompted the company to “armour” its machines, including bolting the ATMs to the ground. But would-be thieves have adapted, turning to heavy equipment to get the job done.

In September, security footage from a small grocer in the Sherbrooke neighbourhood captured a backhoe breaking through the store’s wall and snatching an ATM in a single scoop.