Portland man suspected of attempted ATM theft in Camas

A Portland man was arrested Thursday in connection with an attempted ATM theft in Camas last May.

Robert Brooks, 46, was arrested in Northeast Portland on suspicion of attempted felony theft and felony malicious mischief and was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center in Oregon. Brooks is currently awaiting extradition back to Clark County, according to the Camas Police Department.

Shortly before 5:45 a.m. May 19, two men wearing masks and driving a stolen Ford truck attempted to steal an ATM outside Riverview Community Bank, 450 Third Ave., according to Camas police.

Police said the men used a heavy chain and tow hook connected to the truck to pull the ATM off its concrete base. However, they were unable to break into the machine’s cash vault.

The men fled in the stolen truck, which was later found abandoned in the 100 block of Southeast King Street, before police arrived.

Damage to the bank and the ATM was extensive, according to police, and was estimated at more than $80,000. The ATM contained about $30,000 at the time.

The incident was investigated by the Camas Police Investigations Unit. Evidence collected at the scene was sent to the Washington State Patrol crime lab for processing.

Police continue to investigate the attempted theft and ask that anyone with information about additional suspects contact the Camas Police Department at police@cityofcamas.us and reference case No. 24-0563.