Masked Thieves Rip $88,900 from Saginaw Credit Union ATM in Daring Nighttime Heist
In the early hours of May 12, 2024, the quiet streets of Saginaw, Michigan, were disrupted by a brazen crime that left a local credit union reeling and a community on edge. At approximately 3 a.m., two masked men emerged from a tan pickup truck outside the United Financial Credit Union on Weiss Street, their gloved hands clutching crowbars. Their target: an ATM containing nearly $89,000 in cash. What unfolded was a meticulously planned heist that culminated in the theft of $88,900 and the arrest of two suspects now facing federal charges. The incident not only shook the trust of the credit union’s members but also highlighted the audacity of criminals exploiting vulnerabilities in financial institutions.
The crime began under the cover of darkness, as security cameras captured the suspects’ calculated movements. The men, later identified as Samuel Fobbs Jr. and Johnathan Walker, attempted to pry open the ATM with crowbars, their efforts initially thwarted by the machine’s sturdy construction. Undeterred, they escalated their approach. The driver of the pickup truck, believed to be a stolen Ford F-250 reported missing from Genesee County two days earlier, backed into another ATM on the property, causing structural damage. The suspects then employed a heavy gold chain, purchased from a local Harbor Freight store, to hook the targeted ATM to the truck. With a forceful pull, the vehicle ripped the ATM from its foundation, exposing the internal vaults. The men pried open the machine further, extracting $88,900 before fleeing the scene, leaving the idling truck and scattered debris behind.
Saginaw Township Police responded swiftly to the ATM’s burglar alarm, arriving to find the wreckage but no suspects. The investigation quickly gained traction as detectives analyzed security footage and mobile device data from the area. A breakthrough came when authorities linked a phone number to Fobbs, whose device was traced to the vicinity of the crime within an hour of the theft. Further analysis revealed Fobbs’ phone had traveled from Houston, Texas, to Saginaw in the days leading up to the heist, with navigation records showing searches for the United Financial Credit Union, Harbor Freight, Walmart, and a Red Roof Inn on Outer Drive. At the hotel, investigators uncovered a video sent to Fobbs by Walker, showing the suspects and an accomplice counting stacks of cash on a bed, a reckless display of their ill-gotten gains.
The investigation also revealed connections to similar ATM thefts in Louisiana and Alabama, where authorities identified matching tactics and the same phone number. This pattern suggested a broader criminal network, with Fobbs and Walker potentially part of a coordinated operation targeting ATMs across multiple states. The stolen pickup truck, crowbars, and gloves purchased from Walmart underscored the suspects’ preparation, while their use of the Waze app to navigate Saginaw’s streets highlighted their reliance on technology to execute and escape the crime.
Federal authorities moved quickly, charging Fobbs and Walker with bank theft and conspiracy. The arrests brought relief to United Financial Credit Union, which serves over 21,000 members across nine branches in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. The credit union, established in 1964, has long prided itself on community trust and financial stability, managing assets of over $321 million. For members, the theft was a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities even trusted institutions face. While the credit union’s insurance covered the financial loss, the incident prompted discussions about enhancing ATM security, including the potential use of tracking devices to deter future thefts.
The Saginaw heist is part of a troubling trend of ATM thefts in Michigan. In 2022, United Financial Credit Union faced similar incidents at its State Street and Dixie Highway branches, with thieves using stolen vehicles to dislodge ATMs. Those cases, which remain unsolved, bear striking similarities to the 2024 theft, raising questions about whether the same network is responsible. Across the state, law enforcement agencies are collaborating to address these crimes, which often involve stolen trucks, heavy chains, and late-night raids.
As Fobbs and Walker await trial, the Saginaw community is left to grapple with the broader implications of the crime. For United Financial Credit Union, the focus is on restoring confidence among members and strengthening security measures. The incident serves as a sobering reminder of the lengths to which criminals will go for quick profit and the importance of vigilance in protecting community institutions. With federal charges pending, the case underscores the consequences awaiting those who target the financial lifelines of hardworking Americans.
