THOMASVILLE — Bandits who hit three area businesses early this week are specialized in their trade: They break glass and carry away cash registers.

Investigations are under way in three jurisdictions into incidents at businesses in Thomas and Grady counties and in Adel late Monday night and early Tuesday.

The saga began shortly before midnight Monday in Grady County at a convenience store at U.S. 84 and Pine Park Road. Someone broke glass, entered the store and fled with a cash register.

About midnight or shortly thereafter, the burglar alarm sounded at a convenience store at U.S. 84 and Powell Drive east of Thomasville. The responding Thomas County Sheriff’s Office deputy found a burst glass front door.

“There was a huge curbing-like slab of concrete on the floor inside the business,” said Bob Brettel, sheriff’s office investigator.

Investigators watched a video from the store’s security system.

“Cameras show him picking up the cash register off the counter and stepping through where he had broken glass in the door,” the investigator said, adding that the Pine Park store video shows the same activity.

“Except in the Pine Park incident he had an accomplice in the store with him,” Brettel explained. The other person’s face was not clearly visible.

“It appears to be the same guy, no question,” said Brettel, who learned Wednesday of a similar incident about 4 a.m. Tuesday in Adel.

It seems the same person is on the Adel store video — again bursting a glass door and making off with a cash register.

“They looked at the video. It appears to be the same guy,” Brettel said.

Officers think they might have their man in an inmate at the Brooks County Jail. The individual was arrested this week and charged with theft.

The Thomas County Sheriff’s Office is processing evidence gathered at the 84 East store.

The bandit also took cartons of cigarettes from the Pine Park store, said Lt. Steve Clark, Grady County Sheriffs’ Office chief investigator.

Another Grady investigator also is weighing evidence and taking a close look a the Brooks inmate.

“Everything’s under investigation,” Clark explained late Thursday afternoon.



Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 220.