PS5 Controller Helps Arrest Multi-State ATM Robbery Suspects

Three men, Maurice Brooks, Micah Lazaro, and Anthony Smith, were arrested in Houston for a series of ATM robberies, including a heist in Tempe, Arizona, where they stole nearly $280,000. The suspects targeted a Bank of America ATM on November 5, 2024, confronting technicians and stealing cash cassettes. Investigators traced the suspects using GPS devices hidden in the stolen cassettes, which led them to an abandoned vehicle where a PlayStation 5 controller was found. This controller contained account information that helped police identify the suspects through linked social media profiles. The suspects are believed to be part of a Houston-based crime syndicate responsible for similar robberies across multiple states, including Las Vegas and Sacramento. They now face federal charges of bank robbery and conspiracy.