Manning businesses burglarized; public's help needed

Posted

Manning Police Department Detective Rick Elms is asking the public to help identify a suspect or suspects in a series of burglaries which took place at Manning businesses Saturday night.

Early Saturday, police responded to an alarm at Brunson Pharmacy, 12 N. Brooks St. When police arrived, they found the front door pried open. Investigators viewed video from a security camera which showed an unidentified suspect entering the front door using a crowbar. The suspect allegedly opened a cash register and removed $160, as well as broke into a container with loose change. He or she tried to open a safe but ran out the door when the alarm activated.

At 7:40 a.m. Saturday, officers responded to a report of a burglary at JK’s House of Ribs, 151 Durant St. A crowbar or pipe was used to pry the door open, but when that failed, the suspect broke the glass and unlocked the deadbolt. Damage to the door is estimated at $500.

A video shows the suspect inside the store for about 20 minutes, going through the cash register and cabinets. The suspect allegedly took several rolls of change from the register and about $500 from a black locking-type box in the office. Also stolen was a bottle of Curve Cologne and a silver-and-gold cross pen in a blue gift bag.

The suspect was wearing light-colored gloves and a bandanna over his or her face, which was never removed. He or she was also wearing dark jeans and a dark hoodie with light-colored stripes straight from the neck to the shoulder.

The suspect tried to pry open a soda vending machine on the front porch, causing an estimated $125 in damage.

Officers responded to a third incident at Gullah Gullah, 23 W. Boyce St., where someone pried open the back door, doing a small amount of damage. Nothing was reported missing, but at least one item had been moved.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Elms at Manning Police Department, (803) 435-8859.