Thieves allegedly used a “Jaws of Life” tool to break into ATMs at Maryland 7-Eleven stores (Prince George’s County Police Department).

The “Jaws of Life” is a tool typically employed to pry open crushed metal to rescue individuals perilously trapped in vehicles after an accident. However, a trio of thieves utilized this lifesaving device to break into ATMs at several Maryland 7-Eleven stores, according to police allegations.

The Prince George’s County Police Department announced in a press release that its officers apprehended three men connected to a series of robberies that commenced in January. Law enforcement officials reported that the masked assailants would enter the store post-midnight, directing employees — and any customers present at the time — to lie on the ground at gunpoint. Subsequently, they would use the hydraulic tool to access the ATM before escaping with the cash.

In all, authorities say they stole some $200,000.

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“This ‘Jaws of Life’ that they were using … to hatch an idea to apply a tool meant for lifesaving, in order to perpetrate a crime and instill fear in workers, business proprietors, and ordinary shoppers at those locations. It’s astonishing the different ways people think of using such a beneficial tool that has saved countless lives, twisting it for malicious purposes,” remarked Prince George’s Police Chief Malik Aziz during a press conference, as reported by The Washington Post. “We remain vigilant to anticipate such threats.”

The suspects are 34-year-old Maurice Roots, 33-year-old Jeff Crews and 39-year-old David Jerome Walker. All three live in Washington, D.C. Crews and Walker are linked to the following robberies.

• Jan. 29:

  7-Eleven in the 1400 block of Cherry Hill Road in Beltsville

  7-Eleven in the hundred block of Watkins Park Drive in Upper Marlboro

• Feb. 1:

  7-Eleven in the 7900 block of Good Luck Road in Lanham

• Feb. 6:

  7-Eleven in the 6100 block of Oxon Hill Road in Oxon Hill

• Feb. 19:

  7-Eleven in the 11300 block of Baltimore Avenue in Beltsville

Roots participated with Crews and Walker in a robbery on Feb. 22 at a 7-Eleven in the 9400 block of Lanham Severn Road in Lanham, according to cops. In that theft, the trio allegedly made out like bandits, running off with more than $32,000, according to court documents obtained by The Washington Post. They allegedly forced the employee down to the ground and turned off the store’s surveillance system before they went to work on the ATM.

Additional charges against all three are pending, as cops believe they participated in more robberies.

“We have a belief that these may grow and that they did cross state lines and that there are going to be more [charges] added to this right here,” Aziz said, according to local NBC affiliate WRC. “To me, it’s organized crime.”

WRC, citing court documents, reported the break in the case came when a surveillance image captured a Lexus GS 350 fleeing the scene. Cops reportedly tracked down that Lexus and put a GPS tracking device on it. Investigators then began surveilling the suspects and built out their case from there.

Walker currently faces the most charges at 45 with Crews following close behind at 43. Roots stands accused of seven charges. A search of the suspects’ homes resulted in the recovery of cash and numerous firearms, cops said.

Crews and Walker are in custody in Washington, D.C., pending extradition to Prince George’s County. Roots is in the custody of the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections.

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