ATM Robbery in Saint-Martin: Thieves Break Through Wall of Crédit Agricole
- A group of four masked individuals used a stolen construction vehicle to breach the walls of a Crédit Agricole bank branch and steal an automated teller machine (ATM)...
- The incident occurred shortly before 3:00 a.m., according to reports from ICI.
- The operation was executed with significant speed, with witnesses indicating that the entire process took no more than 30 minutes.
A group of four masked individuals used a stolen construction vehicle to breach the walls of a Crédit Agricole bank branch and steal an automated teller machine (ATM) in Saint-Martin-de-Valamas, Ardèche, during the early hours of Friday, May 1, 2026.
The incident occurred shortly before 3:00 a.m., according to reports from ICI. Witnesses described the suspects as wearing hoods and gloves, utilizing a heavy construction machine to destroy a section of the building’s wall to access and remove the ATM. The perpetrators then loaded the machine into a white van before fleeing the scene, leaving the construction equipment behind.
Operational Details and Timeline
The operation was executed with significant speed, with witnesses indicating that the entire process took no more than 30 minutes. The attackers arrived at the facility and breached the perimeter around 2:50 a.m. On May 1, 2026.
The use of heavy machinery to physically dismantle bank infrastructure represents a high-impact method of theft, causing substantial structural damage to the agency located at 90 Rue de la Poste in Saint-Martin-de-Valamas.
Regional Trend of ATM Attacks
This theft is part of a wider pattern of targeted attacks on financial infrastructure within the Drôme and Ardèche regions. According to ICI, this is the third ATM to be targeted in the area since March 2026.
Previous incidents include:
- An attack on a Crédit Agricole branch in Valence.
- An attempted burglary of ATMs at a Crédit Agricole branch in Saint-Vallier, which occurred during the night of Thursday, March 12, to Friday, March 13, 2026.
The repetition of these attacks against the same banking group suggests a coordinated effort or a specific tactical focus on Crédit Agricole’s regional infrastructure.
Authorities are currently searching for the four suspects and the white van used in the getaway. The construction vehicle abandoned at the scene is being treated as evidence in the ongoing investigation.