Two Arrested in ATM Theft with Excavator

By: Tatum Todd
Source: oregonlive.com (TNS)
Video: KPTV

Police have arrested two men who allegedly used a stolen excavator to smash open drive-through ATMs in an audacious Clackamas County heist in June.

Matthew Evan Armour, 32, faces charges of first-degree aggravated theft, conspiracy to commit first-degree theft, first-degree criminal mischief, unauthorized use of a vehicle and possession of a stolen vehicle, court records show.

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Armour’s alleged co-conspirator, Kevin Owen Miller, 51, was booked on charges of first-degree aggravated theft, first-degree criminal mischief, first-degree theft and unauthorized use of a vehicle, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

Police allege that Armour and Miller stole the excavator from a construction site near the U.S. Bank branch at 11521 SE Sunnyside Road in Clackamas during the early morning hours of June 23—then drove it to the bank’s drive-through automated-teller machines.

The duo used the excavator’s claw arm to smash open the ATMs and make off with over $58,000 in cash, police said. The thieves caused more than $1,000 in property damage during the break-in, court records state.

Sheriff’s officials said they got a call about the theft around 5:30 a.m. on June 23, and the excavator was still running when deputies arrived at the scene—although the thieves were nowhere to be found.

Sheriff’s deputies arrested Armour last Friday as he was leaving an apartment complex that they were searching as part of the theft investigation, officials said.

Portland police arrested Miller on a warrant on Saturday, near Southeast 52nd Avenue and Southeast Holgate, officials said.

Armour was convicted in 2022 of unauthorized use of a vehicle, heroin possession, felon in possession of a firearm, fleeing police and third-degree escape.

Miller was convicted of first- and- second-degree burglary, first-degree theft, second-degree criminal mischief and possession of a burglary tool in 2014, as well as first-degree theft and felon in possession of a firearm in 2015.

—Tatum Todd is a breaking news reporter who covers public safety, crime and community news. Reach them at [email protected] or 503-221-4313.