Authorities in two Wisconsin suburbs are investigating a new form of bank robbery that relies on technology rather than force. In Greenfield, police say thieves stole about $230,000 from ATMs on March 11 and 12, while in Glendale the loss was roughly $110,000 on March 4 and 5.

How the crimes were carried out

Video obtained by local news station WISN shows the suspects pulling up to the machines, using a key to open the front compartment, and later returning to trigger the cash dispense. In each case a driver remained in the front seat while a passenger, apparently on a FaceTime call, operated the ATM. In Glendale one suspect even took a selfie with the cash after the machine spat out the money.

Law‑enforcement response

FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Alan Karr described the scheme as “ATM jackpotting,” noting that it allows criminals to obtain large sums without the violence of a traditional bank robbery. Karr could not comment on the specific investigations but explained that the FBI has warned banks about the threat earlier this year.

Search warrants reveal the suspects made multiple visits: in Greenfield they returned 13 times within six hours, and in Glendale they appeared six times over three hours. Glendale police believe one of the individuals may be from Chicago, though no charges have been filed.

Bank and public‑safety advice

Both UW Credit Union and U.S. Bank emphasized that customer accounts were not affected and that the stolen cash came directly from the machines. Karr urged banks to adopt “common‑sense” security measures, including updated software, stronger physical protections, and increased camera coverage around ATMs.

Since 2020, the FBI reports 1,900 jackpotting incidents nationwide, with 700 cases in 2025 alone resulting in more than $20 million in losses. The trend underscores the need for banks and local law‑enforcement agencies to stay ahead of evolving cyber‑enabled theft methods.

What residents can do

Residents are encouraged to report suspicious activity around ATMs and to remain vigilant when using these machines. While the investigations remain ongoing, police in Greenfield have closed their case due to a lack of leads, and Glendale continues to pursue connections between the two incidents.

Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.