Updated: 10/30/2008 6:34:36 AM
An 18-year-old Texas man suspected of stealing an ATM machine right out of a convenience store faces new charges.
Nicholas Henderson is now charged with engaging in organized crime.
Henderson was arrested in July for burglary after police located him near a stolen ATM machine matching the description of the suspects that were seen in the store surveillance video.
The video, captured by the surveillance camera at Austin's Walnut Market convenience store, shows the suspects smashing the front glass doors and then wrapping a chain around the ATM machine, pulling it out of the front of the store.
"Anytime you have good surveillance video, it makes it easier for any detectives working a case to identify someone," said Senior Police Officer Veneza Aguinaga with the Austin Police Department.
Police have recently linked Henderson to a larger group out of Dallas targeting mostly convenience stores along I-35 in Austin, San Marcos and San Antonio.
"Back in July, we had several burglaries of businesses where people were targeting the safes and ATM machines," said Aguinaga.
In this case, the suspects tried to pry the ATM machine open, but they didn't get any money out.
Still, the damage was enough that store managers had to purchase a new ATM machine and had to pay $3500 dollars to replace the doors.
"We make sure we lock all the safes," said a clerk at Walnut Market, who did not want to be identified. "We also put extra locks on the doors."
