Stolen ATM recovered minus cash

The Daily Inter Lake

At about 1 a.m. Monday, someone rammed a vehicle into Janelli's Deli on Meridian Road. Breaking the glass doors, thieves ran in and stole an automatic teller machine.

The machine was recovered Monday afternoon when a property owner on Three Mile Drive found it in a driveway. The machine had been relieved of its cash.

Crimestoppers will pay for information leading to an arrest in the crime.

"It was a planned deal. There is no doubt in my mind," said Janelle Gentry, owner of the deli/convenience store.

The burglars had to move an iron sculpture and a Mountain Trader kiosk before they rammed the vehicle into the building, she said.

"I was flabbergasted," Gentry said.

She said she was at the business within six minutes of the alarm activating from the break-in.

"The policemen's response was exceptional," she said.

Kalispell police Chief Frank Garner said it would be possible for one person to muscle the ATM into a vehicle, but he believes there were probably two people involved.

There was evidence left at the scene, he said, and there should be noticeable damage to the vehicle used to ram the building.

He expects to have more information about the crime today.

Anyone with information should call detective Jim Wardensky of the Kalispell Police Department at 758-7780 or Crimestoppers at 752-8477.