VIDEO: Authorities release security cam footage of tobacco outlet burglary

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July 13, 2012

VIDEO: Authorities release security cam footage of tobacco outlet burglary

By David Palmer The Cullman Times The Cullman Times Fri Jul 13, 2012, 04:57 PM CDT

DODGE CITY — Cullman County Sheriff’s investigators have secured a video of two men smashing the front door of the Dodge City Discount Tobacco store during an early-morning burglary attempt Wednesday.

The video shows a maroon Mazda pulling into the parking lot and stopping near an ice vending machine. Two men come out of car, one carrying a concrete cylinder that is used to break the glass of the front door. A second man brings plastic garbage cans that were taken from nearby S&S Foods into the tobacco store. The third person remained in the car during the break-in.

Sheriff Mike Rainey said investigators are asking that anyone who may have seen a similar vehicle in the area to contact the sheriff’s office.

County deputies responded to the burglary after a passing motorist witnessed the incident and immediately called the sheriff’s office around 4:15 a.m. Wednesday. County deputies descended on the scene and pursued the suspects’ vehicle at speeds up to 100 miles per hour south along Interstate 65. The suspects turned off on old U.S. Highway 31 South in Birmingham and wrecked. They fled on foot, but Rainey said there were not enough law enforcement officers on hand to set up a full perimeter.

“We have the car in our possession and we were able to get good fingerprints at the scene of the burglary and from the car. We also found blood samples. It appears in the video that one of the suspects didn’t duck low enough coming through the broken door and may have cut himself,” Rainey said.

The fingerprint and blood samples have been sent to a forensic laboratory in Huntsville. Rainey said results could be returned by next week.

“We’re also looking into this incident to see if there is any relations to a burglary at the Jet Pep on (U.S.) 278 West last week. We already know these same people broke into the Stuckey’s in Blount County before they came here. All of those items were found in the car and returned to Blount County’s sheriff’s office,” Rainey said.

Anyone with information regarding the burglary should contact investigator Corey Freeman at 256-734-0432.