TAMPA, Fla. — Who is blowing up ATM machines in the Bay area?
- Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister gives update on string of ATM attacks
- Another ATM explosion occurred Sunday in Valrico, according to authorities
- Previous incidents in November and December in other Hillsborough locations
There are now three unsolved cases of bank machine explosions.
The latest explosion happened Sunday at a Regions Bank, located at 3522 Bell Shoals Road in Valrico.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is investigating the most recent explosion, as well as a November 4 ATM explosion in Oldsmar and a Dec. 22 incident at the Pilot Bank on Linebaugh Avenue in the Westchase area.
Sheriff Chad Chronister, who spoke about the ATMs investigation Monday, said a fourth machine was targeted but not detonated in December.
Chronister said he believes that all three of these explosion are connected and the ATF has identified the type of explosives that was used.
Meanwhile, the most recent explosion happened at a drive-up ATM located outside the branch's building.
The person involved blacked out the cameras and blew up the ATM and got away with some of the cash inside. Officials have not said how much cash was stolen.
"I always like to err on the side of caution and I wouldn’t want to walk up on this individual as he’s detonating this device," Chronister said. "I don’t know how sophisticated this device is I don’t know how experienced he is so you never know the damage of the harm that he could cause to anyone else."
Investigators are now combing through surveillance video with the goal of releasing an image of a suspect or suspects.