Burglars targeting automatic teller machines on the Westside and Midtown are sometimes taking the entire device with them in a mini-crime wave that police are working to thwart, officials said Tuesday.

Los Angeles police say the series of burglaries targeting machines outside businesses from Venice to the Wilshire District began in April.

Two suspects have broken into several machines by prying them open to steal the cash inside.

On occasion, they have taken the whole machine, hauling it away in a white pickup truck, authorities said.

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-- Richard Winton