METHUEN — The thief who broke into the ATM at Riverbank may have left more than he took.
It appears the thief cut himself while prying open the machine in the lobby of the 20 Jackson St. bank branch, where investigators found drops of blood, said Capt. Thomas Fram.
Police are hoping the blood can be used to help them identify the criminal through DNA, Fram said.
The crime happened Wednesday at 10:20 p.m., according to bank security tapes. Bank officials discovered the broken ATM the next morning and called police.
Investigators believe the thief tried to get his hand inside the machine to take the money, but the opening was too small for him. He left blood on the floor, but was otherwise empty-handed, police said.
Blood samples were sent to the state crime lab for analysis, and will be run through the state's DNA database, Fram said.
Officer Thomas Torrisi and Detectives John Cushing and Laurie Borrelli are investigating the crime.
