DOUGHERTY COUNTY, GA -
Dougherty County Police are trying to find out who stole and cashed thousands of dollars worth of money orders and money grams from a South Albany apartment complex drop box.
Investigators hope store owners and clerks can help them.
The stolen money orders and money grams have been cashed, about $6000 worth. Investigators need to find out where they were cashed.
These are the copies of some of the money orders that were stolen in January from Westover Place Apartments on South Westover Boulevard. They were rent payments tenants put in the night drop box at the office. They were stolen out of that box.
The money orders are unique, because of the large handwriting in bold magic marker.
Dougherty County Police Sgt. Chad Kirkpatrick said "the name that was written on the money order was Westover Place Apartments, but someone has actually altered that name and put an unknown name that we can't read. And most of them appear to be the same handwriting."
Investigators were able to get copies of many of the cashed money orders, but they don't know where they were cashed. They are asking store clerks to take a look at these, and see if they recognize them.
Kirkpatrick said "After viewing these money orders, if they've cashed them, if some of these store owners have received these, if they come forward. Maybe they have video surveillance of the person who actually cashed it, will help us solve it."
Most of the money orders were for amounts ranging from $200 to $500. Investigators say they have some idea of a suspect pool.
Kirkpatrick said "There was no sign of forced entry to the lock box, so there is a possibility that it could be an internal thing. There is only a certain amount of people that had access to the lock box."
Apartment area manager Mary Watson said she and her employees had nothing to do with the thefts, and wanted to assure their tenants they are doing all they can to catch the thief.
Investigators say none of the stolen checks have been cashed, only the money orders and money grams.
Police say the apartment complex is working with the tenants about the payment of their rent, which they obviously tried to make, but their money orders were stolen from the complex's box.
If you have any information about those stolen money orders, call Dougherty County Police at 430-6600. Or call CRIMESTOPPERS at 436-TIPS. You could earn a reward.
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