Metro Man Behind Bars For Stealing ATM From Gas Station

A metro man is behind bars accused of stealing an entire ATM from a gas station and then leading authorities on a chase.

Investigators with the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office said Aaron Peterson used a skid loader to blast through the convenience store wall.

The store owner gave News 9 the surveillance video to show how he pulled it off at the Conoco gas station near I-35 and Hefner.

The thief used the skid loader to claw at the ATM and eventually plucked it from its place at Sudip Roy's store.

“It looks like a movie,” said Roy, who owns the store.

“I saw there is a big hole, giant sunlight is coming through the backside of my building and I couldn't believe myself,” he added.

Roy discovered the mess when he got to work Wednesday morning.

“‘Where is the ATM?’ then I came inside and I saw the ATM is not here,” Roy told News 9. 

“I could not believe, really, because it's bolted on the ground,” he added.

An alert Lieutenant with the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office said he happened to be driving down I-35 right after the crime and saw Peterson driving the skid loader on the access road. He thought it was suspicious and said Peterson drove the skid loader into the ditch and ran when he approached him.

Deputies found and arrested Peterson on possessing stolen property, burglary, malicious destruction and obstructing an officer.

2/17/16 Related Story: Authorities Arrest Suspect Accused Of Stealing ATM In Northeast OKC

The ATM was in the back of a truck nearby.

Roy said the damage from the ATM heist is well over $10,000.

“I'm just a little bit frustrated because we just bought this business last year, September 1st, and we are a Christian family here, we like to do some business,” Roy said.

He said he has a monitored alarm system, but it did not go off since the guy came through the wall rather than a door or window.