AN ATM has been stolen off the wall of a bank after the branch’s impending closure was announced.
Residents in Cleveland, Ohio were attempting to keep their local Huntington Bank open when a thief came and stole the ATM overnight.
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The machine was completely ripped off of the wall on Tuesday night.
Robbers were hoping to steal the money by gouging the ATM, but the machine had been empty for months.
When it was found the following morning, witnesses mainly saw a gaping hole and stray wires, according to Fox News affiliate WJW.
The next day, it was reported that police had decided to cover up the gap in the closed building with plywood, local ABC affiliate WEWS-TV reported.
Read More on Huntington Bank
“We are aware of the damage to our Buckeye Road ATM and are cooperating with police as they investigate,” a spokesperson for Huntington Bank told the station.
In February, the bank announced that it was shutting its doors, claiming that crime in the area has become a major threat to the business.
“Unfortunately, due to the unacceptable risk to our customers and employees, we cannot leave this branch open for an additional 90 days,” Kris Dahl, regional communications manager for Huntington said at the time.
“We will work with the City of Cleveland in the event actions can be taken to address the safety concerns for our customers and employees,” he added.
Residents rallied against the decision, stating the closure would leave them with very few options in the area.
A month later, the bank decided to remain closed, but work with the city to lower the crime rate.
“They’re going to do an evaluation over six months and then make a determination when the bank will reopen. That’s a major accomplishment,” said Bob Render, a block club leader.
Residents condemned the unknown thief on social media.
“They carved out the whole atm on 116 n buckeye,” one resident posted on Facebook.
“Sorry for the people who are customers of Huntington like me,” another wrote.
The Bank Closure Trend Continues:
Huntington Bank is not the only financial institution shuttering its brick and mortar locations.
Wells Fargo and Chase Bank announced plans to shutter 1,500 locations this year.
In March and April, Chase closed almost 20 locations and has its sights set on nine more over the coming months.
However, Chase claims it will be opening 500 US locations in the next three years
Meanwhile, Wells Fargo closed eight branches in just six days back in March.
Key Bank, Citizens, and three local banks also shut their doors last month.
Bank of America also announced planned shutdowns of over 50 locations in 2024.
The move to close branches reflects the current trend in the banking industry.
Digital banking services are increasingly becoming the preferred choice for consumers.
As a result, traditional branches are facing pressure to adapt or downsize.
“You are going to have to find another branch. It’s not safe for those workers or even you as a customer to go to that location.”
“Lazy, sad beyond pathetic individuals,” a third said of the criminals.
Despite the bleak news, Cleveland City Council President Blaine Griffin told residents that he doesn’t think this incident will hurt their chances of getting Huntington Bank back.
“Whenever you’re in an urban environment, unfortunately, you’re going to have to deal with some of these nuisance activities. There’s no excuse for it and it’s unacceptable,” Griffin said.
He said that the city has more meetings planned within the next few months, which could hopefully get things resolved.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Huntington Bank for comment.
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