WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA |Thief targets carwash cash machines

Thief targets carwash cash machines

By Keitha Nelson - bio | email

BAKER, LA (WAFB) - Police are looking for the man who broke into the cash machines at carwash locations and got away with thousands of dollars. During his last burglary, surveillance cameras caught him in the act.

Detectives believe the thief is using the cash machines like they're his personal ATMs. He appears to be targeting Bubbles and Suds locations in Baton Rouge and Baker.

Brandon Dodson, the owner of Bubbles and Suds, says he was hit twice at his Sherwood Forest and Old Hammond locations. The following week, police believe the same guy pulled his stunt off again in Baker.

Caught on surveillance video, police say the guy drives up to the vacuum machine as if he's about to use it, but instead, helps himself to the cash machine.

"This guy rolls up and he gets in these machines so quick," said Baker Police Chief Mike Knaps. "Quicker than you can with a key."

Knaps believes the guy captured in the video is no amateur. The back-to-back burglaries have cost Dodson more than 20-thousand dollars.

"You work hard you know to put nice stuff out there," said Dodson. "Then somebody comes and they just in a night, in 10 minutes they break in and steal everything you work for."

Dodson has three locations, two of which were hit. He has since added stainless steel plates to the cash machines and extra padlocks. His cameras are also still rolling.

If you have any information about the car wash burglaries call Crime Stoppers at 344-STOP (7867).

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