FBI searching for thief who stole ATM courier van with $1.8 million inside

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - A $1.8 million heist, that's how much money the FBI said one man managed to get away with after he stole an ATM courier van from a bank.

The FBI released a grainy photo Wednesday that shows the man next to the white courier van outside Citizens Trust Bank on South Hairston Road in DeKalb County.

"Someone that has just come into to $1.8 million might be talking about it, might be buying things, might be sharing his wealth," said FBI Special Agent Stephen Emmett.

Special Agent Emmett said two couriers from ATM Response Inc. were servicing the bank on September 8 at around 6:45 in the morning.

Authorities said according to the company policy, the employees left the vehicle running with the keys in the ignition and the doors locked.

"When they returned to their vehicle they noticed that the window of the passenger side of the vehicle was smashed and the vehicle was gone," said Special Agent Emmett.

The DeKalb County Marshals Unit spotted the stolen van a short time later, less than a mile and half away from the bank in a DeKalb County neighborhood on Galleon Crossing; the cash was gone.

"Wow," said resident Erica Whiteside. "Yeah that's crazy."

FBI agents are asking residents in that neighborhood to rethink the events of September 8th and ask anyone who recalls anything unusual or out of place to call police or Crime Stoppers 404-577-TIPS

"I can't believe somebody would try to do that [be]cause that is crazy," said resident Jon Spencer.

FOX 5 News reached out to ATM Response Inc., but did not hear back as of Wednesday evening.