Thieves slice open ATM stolen from Juneau hotel, take money

Thieves used a stolen van to make off with an ATM from a downtown Juneau hotel.

Witnesses shortly before 3 a.m. Friday reported the ATM taken from the Ramada Inn.

Police say two men with hooded sweat shirts and scarves over their faces entered the lobby with a dolly, grabbed the ATM, loaded the machine into a white van and drove off.

Police at 3:30 a.m. spotted the van on the North Douglas Highway. It sped off as officers turned to get behind it.

Officers found the van unoccupied on the side of the highway. Officers later found the ATM near the road leading to Eaglecrest Ski Area. The ATM was cut open with the money removed.

The van owner reported it had been stolen from Auke (awk) Bay.