After a months-long investigation, a 34-year-old Riverside man was arrested for allegedly stealing ATM machines throughout Murrieta, Menifee, Perris, Moreno Valley, Jurupa Valley, and Norco, as well as in the Counties of Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego.
On January 15 at 10:40 p.m., deputies from the Perris Station responded to a burglary call in the 300 Block of Wilkerson Avenue in the City of Perris. The victim received a notification that his business was being burglarized and responded to the scene.
The victim observed two unknown suspects stealing the ATM Machine using a tow strap connected to the tow hitch on a Ford Ranger truck, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. The suspects loaded the ATM Machine in the back of the truck before fleeing the scene.
The Perris Robbery/Burglary Suppression Team (RBST) assumed this investigation and learned there were nine ATM burglaries that occurred recently throughout Murrieta, Menifee, Perris, Moreno Valley, Jurupa Valley, and Norco.
In addition to the ATM burglaries that occurred within Riverside County, RBST learned there were an additional 20 ATM burglaries that occurred in the Counties of Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and San Diego. All the ATM burglaries utilized the same Ford Ranger to drag an ATM from the business, where it was loaded into the bed of the truck and driven away, authorities said.
Through coordinated efforts with allied agencies, video surveillance captured the suspect vehicle and license plate. Further investigation led to multiple search warrants and the arrest of Paul Kolacki, a 34-year-old resident of Riverside.
Kolacki was located on June 6 in the City of Riverside and taken into custody. More than $6,000 was recovered from the ATM thefts, authorities said. Kolacki was booked into Cois Byrd Detention Center on suspicion of multiple counts of burglary, grand theft, and vandalism.
This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact RBST Deputy Nicholas Ramirez at Riverside County Dispatch or the Perris Station at 951-210-1000.
