Smash and grab suspects still at large

SPANISH FORT, Alabama (WALA) - An attempt to steal an ATM machine quickly went wrong in Spanish Fort. Not only were the suspects caught on tape, but police just happened to be across the street at the same time.

Surveillance video captured the attempted smash and grab at the BP station in Spanish Fort around 1:30 Tuesday morning.

"Approximately three subjects pulled up to the BP station, they backed up and backed the van into the front glass window and doorway four times in an attempt to steal the ATM machine," said Rick Chenoweth with Spanish Fort Police.

The last hit completely smashed the front of the store. Two of the suspects covered their heads and hands and entered the store. But one of the suspects lost his covering in the action. His face was clearly shown to the camera.

The bad luck kept on coming for these suspects. Not only were cameras catching their every move, but police were right around the corner.

"The problem is they didn't know where our officers were, one was a half a block away. The others were patrolling the building right across the street. When the alarm went off, our response time was less than a minute," said Chenoweth.

When the suspects saw police, they jumped back into the van and took off across the bay heading west. The chase finally ended in Prichard.

"The suspects bailed out of the van at Dunlap Circle and Barber Drive. We have the van, no money or anything else was actually taken," Chenoweth said.

Police said another piece of bad luck for one of the suspects is that he lost his pants in the chase. They were recovered in Prichard.

The suspects continue to be on the run. They are facing a slew of charges including burglary, criminal mischief, possession of burglary tools, and possession of a stolen vehicle.

If you have any information on this case, please call Spanish Fort Police.