Sheriff's Office Seeks Tips After North Star ATM Theft in Mountain Iron

Cash was taken from an ATM at the North Star Credit Union in Mountain Iron, and the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office has released photos and is asking residents for help identifying the people and vehicle involved. The office confirmed the ATM was damaged and that cash was removed, and investigators say the crime occurred overnight between midnight and 3:00 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 2.

"The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the theft of cash from an ATM which was located at the North Star Credit Union in Mountain Iron," the sheriff's office wrote in an update. Northern News Now and WDIO reported that area surveillance footage shows a four-door sedan believed to be occupied by two individuals. After reviewing the footage, "investigators observed a four-door sedan believed to be occupied by two individuals," and "photographs of the suspect vehicle and the individuals involved have been released."

Officials described one person as wearing a dark-colored sweatshirt with a large white logo on the back and a second individual appearing to wear a dark-colored hoodie. News outlets noted that "several persons of interest are already being looked into," though the sheriff's office has not publicly named any suspects or released information on arrests. No dollar amount for the stolen cash has been provided and no charges have been announced.

For Mountain Iron and neighboring Iron Range communities, the theft underscores concerns about late-night crime at neighborhood institutions. North Star Credit Union serves members across the range, and an attack on an ATM raises questions about local security and the potential disruption to customers who rely on in-person services. Small-town banking hubs also double as community anchors, so visible property damage and police activity can have an outsized effect on residents' sense of safety.

The sheriff's update lists Sgt. Chad Larson as the media contact. Anyone with information related to the incident is asked to call the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office at 218-726-2340. The county's Central Records Division handles data requests through the Duluth Courthouse, and county office phone numbers include Duluth at 218-726-2000, Hibbing at 218-312-8100, Virginia at 218-749-7100, and Ely at 218-365-2399. The Records Division notes that all public data requests are handled by the Duluth Courthouse location.

The investigation is ongoing and the sheriff's office says it will release additional information as it becomes available. For now, residents can help by checking dash and security cameras, reporting unfamiliar activity to law enforcement, and calling 218-726-2340 with any tips or photographs that could aid identification.