U-Haul trucks smashed through Detroit, Royal Oak Township businesses

U-Hauls used to ram into hookah stores leaving massive damage

A pair of smash-and-grabs targeting ATMs took place at shops in Detroit and Royal Oak Township.

DETROIT (FOX 2) - Two Metro Detroit business owners woke up to heavy damage to their buildings Monday morning after U-Haul trucks smashed into them overnight.

It happened along the Detroit border in Royal Oak Township, and in the city just a few miles away.

What we know:

Just after 3 a.m. Monday, a U-Haul truck was backed into Royal Oak Township's Prestige Hookah and Smoke Shop on Eight Mile near Wyoming. Michigan State Police said the suspects, who fled before authorities arrived, tried to steal an ATM from the business.

MSP said that the U-Haul had not been reported stolen before the crash, but did note that the truck had a punched ignition and damaged steering column.

"Unbelievable, it is very unfortunate," said Raymond Thompson, the owner. "The whole purpose was for them to maybe try to get the ATM out of there, they didn’t get a chance to, the coolers and what not were in the way."

About five miles away, at Fenkell near Hubbell in Detroit, another U-Haul truck crashed into a check cashing business around 3:45 a.m. The business also rents U-Hauls, so the thieves were able to break into a lock box and steal the keys to the truck.

The owner of the business said the thieves got away with an empty ATM because the cash is removed nightly.

No suspects are in custody.

A worker at a U-Haul rental business nearby aid no box truck from her site was involved in the incidents but she is shocked by the criminal activity.

"Crazy, yeah," said Brenda Bland, U-Haul employee. "Because when you think about it, they had no regard for their safety, because you ran into a wall and you could have lost your life - it’s just crazy."