Thieves steal truck, smash into store to take ATM

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Michael Martinez woke up to a surprise.

"I didn't see the truck outside. I just kept walking around back and forth and I didn't see the truck anywhere," said Martinez.

Hours earlier someone stole his truck and used it crash into a convenience store nearby. Harris County deputies say thieves stole Martinez's truck, crashed into the store and took off with the store's ATM.

It happened around 4am Saturday at Aldine Bender and Aldine Westfield in north Harris County.

One employee was inside and was taken to the hospital. He was checked out should be okay, according to a co-worker.

"We've lost a lot of things. Damage everywhere," said Paul Mishra, an employee at the store.

The crooks took off and abandoned Martinez's truck a block from the crime.

"My brother-in-law is like and everyone's like, 'Ah they took your truck that's not right'," said Martinez.

While it may not be right, Martinez said after what he's been through, losing a truck, is no big deal.

"My daughter she had a stroke. She was three months. My son he got diagnosed with autism. So it's a hard life but it's been good," said Martinez.

As crews put up boards and cleaned the store front to get it back to new, Martinez thought the same about his truck. The glass, the concrete faade can all be replace, like his truck.

"Life goes on. If someone hits it, if someone steals it, we're still going to be here," added Martinez.