Police arrest man for attempted ATM robbery in Quilicura

SANTIAGO.- After a seven-hour search effort that included personnel from the Special Forces of the GOPE and tracking dogs, the man who tried to take an ATM machine from an Easy store in Quilicura was found and arrested.

At 3:00 AM this morning, the suspect -who has been identified as 26 year-old Daniel Becerra Jorquera and has no prior arrest record- beat the establishment's security guard, 68 year-old Pedro Rojas Hidalgo, over the head with a metal rod and then tied him up.

According to Colonel Víctor Arroyo, head of the Prefectura Norte de Carabineros, Becerra Jorquera was found hiding between some mattresses in one of the store's warehouses and has allegedly justified his actions as being caused by economic difficulties.

Arroyo added that the search for the man began after the ATM machine security alarm began to sound while Becerra was attempting to steal it.

The suspect was found wearing black sweat pants, a red t-shirt and a black jacket, and was taken to the 49th Commissary of Quilicura.