Cashing out

Thieves steal ATM from mall in central Israel, can’t open it

Police searching for suspects who fled the scene without the cash, leaving behind extensive damage

A still image taken from a video shows damage incurred at Savyonim Mall in Yehud, central Israel, after thieves broke in and stole an ATM on Friday night, January 10, 2025. (Screenshot, X, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
A still image taken from a video shows damage incurred at Savyonim Mall in Yehud, central Israel, after thieves broke in and stole an ATM on Friday night, January 10, 2025. (Screenshot, X, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

A mall in the central city of Yehud sustained extensive damage over the weekend when thieves stole an ATM that was apparently packed with cash, and made an unsuccessful bid to extract the money inside it.

The incident occurred at the Savyonim Mall overnight Friday-Saturday.

Video footage published by news outlets and shared on social media showed shattered windows and damaged escalators inside the mall, as well as damage to nearby shops.

A police spokesman told The Times of Israel on Sunday that an investigation into the theft was underway, but that officers had yet to apprehend any suspects.

“They came at dawn,” the spokesman said, adding that police were alerted to the theft by a neighbor who lives near the mall and heard suspicious noises.

“Police came and chased after them, after the suspects’ jeep, but they managed to enter an agricultural field near Moshav Hemed,” he said, adding that the thieves then disappeared.

The suspects left the damaged ATM behind as they fled, and before they could steal the cash inside.

Despite the damage, a local news site reported that the mall was open as normal on Sunday, and an appraisal was carried out to determine the extent of the harm.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.

Most Popular
read more: