Three men were arrested after allegedly using a heavy chain and a stolen vehicle in a series of ATM thefts in Long Beach, including one incident in which a pedestrian was struck and seriously injured, police announced Friday.
The suspects targeted businesses on July 14 in the 6500 block of Paramount Boulevard and July 15 in the 6600 block of Long Beach Boulevard, according to the Long Beach Police Department. In both cases, they allegedly wrapped a large chain around a stand-alone ATM, hooked it to a stolen SUV and yanked the machine from the business.
“During the July 15 incident, the suspects struck a female pedestrian with their vehicle and fled the scene without stopping,” police said. “The pedestrian sustained life-threatening injuries.”
After a months-long investigation by burglary detectives working with the department’s Computer Crimes and Auto Theft details and Real Time Crime Center, officers obtained warrants and arrested the men on Aug. 21, police said.
The suspects were identified as Luis Torres, 36, of Lynwood; Richard Moran, 29, who was homeless in Compton; and Clarence Hardiman, 32, of Compton.
Torres and Moran were booked on suspicion of grand theft, felony vandalism, possession of burglary tools and conspiracy to commit a felony. Torres and Hardiman were additionally suspected of vehicle theft with prior offenses and Hardiman was suspected of felony hit and run causing injury.
All three were being held without bail.
“During the arrest operation, detectives recovered evidence, including a large chain consistent with the group’s method of stealing ATMs,” according to an LBPD statement. “Detectives also recovered a stolen car and a stolen motorcycle.”
Anyone with information about the suspects was urged to contact the LBPD Burglary Detail at 562-570-7351 or LBPDBurglary@longbeach.gov.