Blowtorch criminals set cash alight in bungled ATM robbery (PHOTO)

31 May, 2017 20:22 / Updated 8 years ago

An attempt by wannabe thieves to break into an ATM went awry after the grifters inadvertently set their prospective loot alight.

Police in Everett, a city north of Seattle in Washington state, said firefighters were called to Coastal Community Bank Tuesday morning after bandits had attempted to open the ATM with a blowtorch.

John Dickson, Chief Operations Officers of Coast Community Bank, said this is the second attempted robbery at the machine following another incident involving by masked men just a few weeks ago.

RT has contacted Everett Police Department for comment on the botched robbery. They said they will soon be releasing a statement on the incident in conjunction with the bank.

READ MORE: Spectacular bank heist fail caught on camera as robbers flee scene

Trying, and failing, to break into ATMs using blowtorches appears to be growing trend among criminals.

In February a man wearing a wig failed to get cash from a New Orleans ATM using a blowtorch,  while in March two suspects also failed to gain access to an ATM in both North Carolina and Houston.