By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

MOORESVILLE — Rowan County detectives are investigating the early-morning theft of an ATM from A-OK Mart.

It’s not known how much money was in the machine.

The burglar alarm sounded at 2:10 a.m. Friday at the store, 3320 Deal Road. When deputies arrived, they found the front glass window broken and an empty space where the ATM had been located. The cash register appeared undisturbed.

Store owner Lalsen John Churakakuzhy said there was only change in the register and it had not been removed. The ATM belonged to Carolina Teller Systems Inc. of Charlotte.

Store surveillance video showed two white men walking around the property before the alarm sounded. The men pulled a white Chevrolet S-10 extended-cab pickup next to the building on the Unity Church Road side. They got out of the truck and moved the camera aside.

One man looked as if he were holding a hammer, the video showed. He used the hammer to break the front window and unlock the door. The two men walked inside and, within seconds, picked up the ATM and hauled it out of the store.

One man was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, something covering his face, long pants and gloves. The second suspect was wearing a dark toboggan, long-sleeved shirt, long pants and gloves.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office at 704-216-8700 or Salisbury-Rowan CrimeStoppers at 866-639-5245. Any tips can also be made online at http://tips.salisburyrowancrimestoppers.org/.