PHILADELPHIA–Looters have been using explosives to try and break into dozens of ATMs in this city since protests and riots have broken out in the wake of the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis. At least one person has allegedly died as the result of attempting to use explosives to rob a cash machine.
In addition, at least one man has been arrested for selling homemade dynamite along with instructions on how to use it specifically to break into ATMs, according to Fox News. The suspect, identified as Talib Crump, faces a slew of charges, including one count of possession of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Authorities said it's unclear whether or not he is connected to any of the explosions, Fox news said.
In addition to the looting and vandalism, there has been a “marked increase in attempts to forcibly enter ATM machines,” Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said. “These attempts have included the extremely reckless and dangerous use of explosive materials.”
Outlaw said police have responded to at least 135 “explosive events” overall in the last few days, including about 50 ATMs that were damaged or opened as the result of blasts, Fox News reported.
The Devices Used
“As best we can determine at the moment, the vast majority of these machines were damaged or opened by the use of M250 to M100 illegal explosive devices,” Outlaw said, adding the police are receiving help from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
According to the report, most of the damaged ATMs had no money in them. Outlaw is encouraging business owners in the city who have their own private machines to make sure they’re empty of cash until the situation calms down.
“It's not worth the injuries that we're seeing associated with this,” she added. “And it's not worth the risk to the community and the danger that it's been imposing.”