WALB.com News, Weather and Sports for Albany, Valdosta and Thomasville. Leading the way for South Georgia. | Store, sheriff take added ATM measures
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By Christian Jennings - bio | email
Thomasville, GA (WALB) - On Friday, ATM bandits made yet another appearance in south Georgia, leaving behind a trail of destruction at the Suzie Q's on 319 in Thomasville.
They first showed off their skills in Grady county in June, hit this Ochlocknee store in July, and attempted to steal an ATM in Mitchell county in August.
Robin Robinson works at the Quick Buys in Ochlocknee where employees have enhanced security since the bandits hit.
"We've added another person at night so no one leaves alone," said Robin Robinson of Quick Buys
They also did some in-house re-arranging, starting with their new ATM.
"They moved it over here to the back of the store so it wouldn't be so easy for them to bust the window and yank it out," said Robinson.
The first step is moving the ATM to the back of the store, but the next step is making sure a security camera is pointing directly at it.
Other stores are replacing the type of glass they put in their windows.
"A lot of stores now go to Plexiglas. It's harder to get into, not impossible but it is harder,
said Thomas Co. Sheriff's Inv. Tim Watkins.
Suzie Q's even went so far as replacing glass with bricks to deter thieves.
"We're beefing up patrols at the stores, checking on them more frequently, that's all we can do right now," said Watkins.
All of the stores broken into have alarm systems that went off during the burglaries, but the ATM thieves were in and out in two to three minutes.
That's why it's crucial for store owners to make it harder for them to steal, prolonging their stay, and hopefully landing them in jail.
We know of three similar ATM thefts in Leon county over the past couple of months, and another in Wakulla county, Florida.
Investigators suggest store owners take extra time to board up their windows at night, or even purchase metal roll-down doors for extra security.
Thomas County investigators found the ATM from the Ochlocknee theft in some woods near Meigs last week.
They also know the truck used in the most recent theft was stolen from a Thomasville car dealership.
If you have any information on the men in the videos, call your local law enforcement.
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