Chief: Jackson ATM thefts troubling, escalating
After five more crimes targeting ATMs in the Jackson area, Police Chief Lee Vance is asking the public to tell police what they know.
"It's the first time I remember a series of crimes such as this being committed in Jackson," he said.
Throughout the summer, there have been multiple instances of ATMs being stolen or of people attempting to steal them. In most cases, a window in a business is broken and the thieves wrap a chain around the ATM and haul it off. A stolen pickup is usually used, he said.
"I believe we are dealing with a group of individuals," Vance said. "But when you look at the video you see at least two, sometimes more than that."
Tevin Ransburgh, 25, was arrested in late June in connection with the June 8 burglary at the Circle J store,359 E. Fortification St. And, Andrew Moore, 39, was just arrested today in connection with the July 6 burglary of Texaco at 123 W. Northside Drive.
Meanwhile, Vance said, an arrest warrant is still out for Courtney Buckley, 33, in connection with the July 5 burglary of Shell Sprint Mart at 4775 Clinton Blvd.
In some of the security videos in the break-ins, the suspects are on the scene for up to 30 minutes. Vance wouldn't elaborate on how they were able to pull it off.
"What it says to me is that they've got some sophistication about how alarms work," he said.
Police are primarily concerned because they believe the perpetrators in Monday morning's ATM thefts may have also been involved in an armed robbery.
"A gun was brandished and someone was robbed at gunpoint," Vance said. "Obviously that takes it up to another level. We have to increase the urgency of all involved in trying to get these people identified."
Bob Singh, property owner of a convenience store on Briarwood Drive hit in mid-June, said some companies won't sell insurance to businesses in Jackson because of the crime rate.
Vance said the thousands of dollars of damage to the stores and businesses is troublesome because he wants his city to be a place where people can go to work and feel safe.
"People set up businesses and try to make money for themselves, they pay property taxes and are vibrant members of this community," he said. "We certainly are not going to stand by and allow business owners or anyone else in this city to be victimized by a group of individuals who have no disregard for anyone else’s property, and now have moved into the realm where they clearly don’t have any regard for anyone’s life when you point a gun at someone."
There are people out there who can help stop this rash of ATM crimes, Vance said.
"If there’s somebody — and I know there is — who knows who these individuals are that we have not identified, or if they know where the individuals are that we have identified, it's crucial that they let us know," he said.
Anyone with any information on the whereabouts of these subjects is urged to contact the Jackson Police Department at 601-960-1234 or 601-355-TIPS (8477).
Contact Therese Apel at tapel@gannett.com. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.