NASHVILLE, TN — Nashville police are looking for two suspects accused of stealing an ATM from a Shell gas station early Tuesday after using stolen vans to break into the business, haul away the machine and flee.
Metro Nashville Police say the burglary happened around 3:35 a.m. at the Shell station on Briarville Road. Investigators say the suspects backed a van into the front of the store, then loaded the ATM into a white Ford van before driving off.
Police also say the first van was set on fire before the suspects left the scene. The Nashville Fire Department is now handling the arson part of the case.
Police say one stolen van was used to smash into the store
According to investigators, the van used to hit the station had been reported stolen earlier this month from a business on Myatt Drive. Police say it was backed into the front of the Shell store as part of the break-in.
That detail matters because detectives believe the suspects used more than one stolen vehicle during the burglary. The van that rammed the building was not the same one used to carry the ATM away.
After the crash, police say the suspects moved the ATM into a white Ford van bearing Tennessee tag BWJ0399. Authorities say that van had been reported stolen from 3700 Buena Vista Pike shortly before the burglary.
Fire investigators are handling the arson portion of the case
Before leaving, police say the suspects set the van used to crash into the store on fire. That added an arson investigation to what began as a burglary and auto theft case.
Nashville Fire Department investigators are handling that part of the incident while police continue the criminal investigation. The agencies have not said how the fire was started or how much damage it caused.
The sequence suggests a fast-moving crime scene: a vehicle break-in, a stolen ATM removed from the store, and the getaway vehicle that hit the building left burning behind. Police have not said whether anyone was inside the station at the time.
Detectives are pursuing active leads after the getaway
Metro police said Burglary and Auto Theft detectives are pursuing active leads in the case. No arrests had been announced as of Tuesday, and investigators have not publicly identified either suspect.
Police described the pair as two white men. Beyond that, authorities have released no additional details about their clothing, direction of travel, or whether surveillance video captured the burglary.
The only vehicle description released for the escape vehicle is the white Ford van with Tennessee tag BWJ0399. That van was tied to the stolen ATM as the suspects fled the area.
Why the Briarville Road burglary stands out
The burglary drew attention because of the number of moving parts involved in a short window of time. Police say two stolen vans were part of the same crime, one used to force entry and another used to remove the ATM.
ATMs are often targeted because they can be difficult to protect and can contain cash or other valuables, but police have not said how much money was inside this machine. They also have not said whether the ATM was recovered.
The incident also unfolded early in the morning, when businesses are typically closed and streets are quieter. That timing may matter for investigators as they piece together witness accounts, camera footage and vehicle movement around Briarville Road.
Crime Stoppers asks anyone with information to call
Police are asking anyone with information about the burglary, the stolen vehicles or the suspects to contact Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463. Tips can help detectives fill in the missing details about where the suspects went after leaving the gas station.
For now, the case remains active and under investigation by multiple agencies. Nashville police are focusing on the burglary and auto theft counts, while fire investigators examine the arson angle tied to the burned van.
Authorities have not said whether any additional charges are expected. The investigation continues as detectives follow what police described as active leads.
Local news that matters, from Dulaney Griffin.
