Brazen thieves smash van into store with clerk inside

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Smash and grab thieves may be getting bolder.

They hit again this time on I-10 near Studemont, but there's a twist to this one.

The damage left behind is extensive, and typically, the thieves target stores that are closed, but not this time.

Houston police say three men backed a van up to the store then rammed it through the window.

The men then allegedly tied a rope around the ATM and tried to pull it out of the store using the van.

But the rope broke and they left with nothing, all of this happening in front of the night shift clerk who was inside the store.

"She said the males were all wearing masks and possibly gloves," Lt. Larry Crowson said. "Waiting right now on the manager so we can review surveillance video."

The store still has the ATM, but the damage done to it will cost thousands of dollars to fix.