GIDDINGS POLICE STOP ATM THEFT IN PROGRESS AFTER CALL FROM RESIDENT

  

A report from a citizen stopped an ATM theft in progress at the Round Top State Bank in Giddings Tuesday morning.

Giddings police say at least four suspects attempted to steal an ATM from the bank shortly after 6 a.m.  According to Giddings Police Detective Steve Spencer, the suspects tried to load the ATM onto a flatbed pickup, which was reported stolen out of Houston, but were scared away by a resident who followed them and notified police.

Officers arrived at about 6:15 a.m., and a chase ensued after the suspects fled on foot.  Within an hour, two suspects were taken into custody: 22-year-old Billy Ross and 28-year-old Jermaine Phillips, both of Houston.

Ross and Phillips were charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity with the underlying offense of Attempted Theft.

According to Spencer, at least four people were involved in the incident, but he suspects there may have been upwards of six involved.