Albuquerque man arrested for trying to steal ATM, court documents say

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – An Albuquerque man with a lengthy criminal history is facing charges for allegedly trying to rob a bank ATM.

On April 11, police were dispatched to the PNC Bank at 3500 Candelaria Road NE for a vandalism call involving a man, later identified as Mario Vasquez, according to court documents. Vasquez was allegedly seen shooting at an ATM and attempting to rob it, a bank employee told police.

Vasquez then allegedly went to the Bank of America, at Carlisle Boulevard NE and Candelaria Road NE, where he was seen damaging an ATM. However, during a tour of the bank, employees said they saw no new damage to any of their ATMs, according to court documents. PNC Bank reported that one of its ATMs had a “criminal amount of damage” and that it wanted to file a complaint.

Officers arrested Vasquez in the area near Bank of America. He allegedly told police he was trying to verify his account at PNC Bank with a code and that the ATM was broken before he arrived. Vasquez also allegedly told police he opened the vending machine to connect some wires. He also told police he grabbed some documents from the PNC Bank ATM and various coins “in case he needed them,” according to court documents.

Authorities also found brass knuckles on Vasquez that he claimed he found on the ground and was carrying for protection.

Vasquez was arrested and charged with commercial burglary and unlawful carrying of a deadly weapon. His criminal history includes vehicle theft, drug and firearm charges.