Bude ATM break-in probe continuing

by Sean Dunlap

Authorities are continuing their investigation into a break-in involving the curbside ATM at United Mississippi Bank in Bude during the early morning hours of Thursday, Nov. 3.

Bude Police Chief Reggie Cain said the incident, which happened around 2:10 a.m., was captured on at least two surveillance cameras at the financial institution.

“From the bank videos, it appeared that two black males — one heavy set and the other skinnier — approached the location in a dark-in-color, newer model Dodge Ram with no tag,” Cain said.

“They used a crowbar to initially gain access to the machine and then utilized a chain with hooks attached to the truck’s bumper to tear out the internal mechanism to get the money inside.”

The robbers, who were both wearing hoodies to obscure their identities, made off with an undetermined amount of cash, and Cain noted the machine had been filled with money prior to last Thursday morning’s break-in.

“It appears the suspects knew what they were doing because the entire incident took less than four minutes from beginning to end,” the chief continued.

“We are also looking at other surveillance video cameras nearby in regards to a possible look-out vehicle — a light-in-color car — that reportedly parked near CapCo and Sprint Mart at the intersection of U.S. Highway 98 and Mississippi Highway 184 around the same time.”

Other videos showed the two vehicles allegedly involved in the incident leaving the scene on U.S. Highway 98 headed eastward toward Summit.

Throughout the day last Thursday, portions of the bank’s parking lot were roped off with crime-scene tape as investigators looked for trace evidence and bank officials were examining the ATM, which was destroyed in the incident.

Cain said the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation are working with Bude police and other local authorities in the investigation.

Cain added all leads are being followed and video recordings were being examined thoroughly in hopes of finding additional clues that will lead to arrests in the case.

Cain is asking anyone who might have been in the area and witnessed suspicious activity near the bank last Thursday morning to call Bude Police at 601-384-7177 or the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department at 601-384-2323.



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