Posted 11:08 pm Thursday, December 13, 2012
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Police: Van stolen, used in attempted ATM robbery
Johm Huml and his wife, Nikki, were ready make a grand debut in Tyler with their restaurant, but the couple could not have imagined their company van would be stolen and used to steal an ATM.
The Humls, who are opening the Dickey's Barbecue Pit on the WSW Loop 323, near the La Quinta Inn, were surprised to learn their van was stolen from right in front of the restaurant and used in a crime.
"Never in a million years would I think that under the lights and parked right in front of the store on the Loop that our van would be stolen," Huml said Wednesday.
Tyler police spokesman Don Martin said the van was stolen sometime early this morning, and then it was used the van in an attempt to steal some quick cash.
"They took the van to the Texas Bank and Trust on Grande and wrapped a chain around the ATM and attempted to pull it out of the ground," he said.
However, Martin said the bungling would-be thieves, set off an alarm and abandoned their endeavor.
"We do have video of the suspects, and we are looking at that now," he said.
Huml said he was called and told his van was on Old Jacksonville Highway down from FRESH by Brookshire's with the doors open and still running.
"The police are out there now dusting for fingerprints, and I hope soon I can bring it back up here to the store," he said.
Huml said the thieves popped the locks out of the van and hotwired the vehicle.
"It's really all kind of crazy, but at least the van has been recovered," he said.
