Darien Police: Thieves Cut Through Roof, Ripped Open ATM

Police are investigating an elaborate burglary where $1,700 was taken from an ATM inside Abello’s Deli.

Police responded to the deli located at 72 Tokeneke Road on June 8 around 1 a.m. after an alarm went off. Officers found the building was secure from the outside and contacted the alarm company. The alarm company couldn’t reach a keyholder.

Workers showed up at 5:30 a.m. and found the ATM had been ripped from the floor and dragged into a walk-in cooler area, police said. Detectives believe they dragged the ATM to avoid being seen on surveillance for an extended period of time.

The ATM was heavily damaged, police said. It appeared the thieves took a heavy object and repeatedly hit the side of it and then pried open the frame to reveal the cash.

The thieves cut a hole in the roof to avoid the alarm going off when they entered. The alarm only went off after the thieves exited the building using a door that locked behind them.

It is believed they used a tool within the deli to pry open the ATM.

They gained access to the building using a ladder behind the deli.

Two suspects were captured on surveillance footage. It is believed they entered the store around 12:15 a.m. and exited around 1 a.m.

A surveillance camera was also smashed by the thieves.