About 1/2 mile from the Eureka Police Department was an attempted robbery at a PNC Bank at 15 Augustine Road, sometime between 11:45 p.m. Monday and 12:15 a.m. Tuesday.

Eureka police Sgt. Jason Randell said a thief or thieves reached around the side of the ATM to spray a black paint over the video camera system and other machine compartments before trying to pry open the machine.

Randell said the paint cans and a sledge hammer were found in the immediate area of the bank, down the small hill that slopes into the nearby pool of water.

"Someone tried to get into the machine, but couldn't, and we believe they fled on foot after the ATM alarm activated," Randell said.

He contacted Eureka-Wildwood Patch to help get communication within the community about the incident. Anyone who hears beneficial information to solving this case, or who believes they may have seen something helpful during the time the machine was vandalized, is asked to call the Eureka police team at 636-938-6600. He said tips about the attempted robbery can remain anonymous.

Another way to reach out about this case is to contact St. Louis CrimeStoppers' anonymous tip line at (866) 371-8477.

A sign on the ATM encourages the bank's customers to use the bank's alternative ATM located across Missouri Route 109 at the Circle K Shell station.

Randell said no other ATMs in the immediate area recently had been damaged, although a notable rash of larcenies from unlocked vehicles had occurred in nearby Augustine Heights subdivision with the last week.