By: Yuritza Arroyo
Hudson County authorities are investigating an early morning commercial burglary Wednesday.
At approximately 2 a.m., police responded to reports of a burglary and theft at the Exxon gas station located at 514 Kearny Avenue, Kearny officials reported.
According to officials, the gas station was closed at the time.
Kearny Police said responding officers found the glass entrance door to the Exxon’s mini-mart smashed and the interior ransacked.
When the store’s owner later arrived, he informed officers that an ATM was missing inside the mini-mart.
According to police, further investigation showed three apparent males in a Range Rover -- previously reported stolen from Franklin Lakes -- smashed the door with a crowbar, entered the mini-mart, and stole its ATM.
Police say the men loaded the ATM into the Range Rover by hand before fleeing. It is believed the ATM contained approximately $1,000 in currency.
Detectives are reporting an increase in these types of thefts in the general area since this past weekend.