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CPD: Suspects Fled After Truck Crashed Into A Currency Exchange

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Chicago Police are investigating Wednesday a crash where a pick-up truck drove into a currency exchange in River West.

Police are looking for two men, the driver and passenger, who fled the scene. But that may not be all they did. Investigators said the crime began before the truck ever hit the building. CBS 2's Sandra Torres has an update on the investigation.

The truck smashed into a currency exchange building in the 800 block of North Milwaukee around 4:05 a.m. Wednesday morning. Police said the vehicle is a 1991 white Chevrolet that was traveling southbound on Milwaukee, struck into the glass structure on Milwaukee, near Chicago Avenue. Early reports indicated the incident is a possible smash-and-grab with a stolen vehicle.

Crews removed the pick-up truck around 8 a.m. Wednesday,but the damage is done. The currency exchange is in a glass structure, so there is shattered glass everywhere. Fortunately, the store was closed when the crash happened and no one was injured.

"They did not get anything except make a really big mess," said the store manager, who asked that his identity remain hidden.

He said surveillance cameras captured two men getting out of the vehicle after the crash.

"I reviewed it and it shows the truck going through, but as soon as they did that, the cameras fell so you could not see -- it showed one individual going to ATM," the store manager said.

The ATM ended up slightly cracked open, but the suspects could not get any money from it.

"Everybody thinks ATM's are just easy, but they are like a safe, this was bolted to the floor," the store manager said.

And it turns out the 1991 white pick-up truck was stolen last Thursday.

Armando Arrollo Gustos said he has had the truck for 12 years and used it to sell scrap metal part time. He said he is happy to recover it, though he never imagined someone would use it for a crime.

Police said they are still looking for the two suspects.

In the meantime, the manager of the currency exchange told CBS 2 they are going to be closed Wednesday, but they hope to be up and running by Thursday.

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