Cigarette Bandits strike Medley’s: Vehicle rammed through storefront
The crime spree of a gang known as the Cigarette Bandits continued this weekend when the band of nicotine-loving burglars slammed a vehicle into Medley’s Diner and Market in Centertown to break into the store.
“They rammed their car right through the wall,” said Medley’s owner Billy Medley, who said Sunday morning was the first trouble he has experienced in his 12 years in business. “It’s going to cost thousands of dollars in damage repair because we had to replace the door, windows and blocks.”
Medley said the break-in occurred at 5:47 a.m. Sunday as that was the time the store’s alarm tripped. Deputies arrived within six minutes but the burglars had already fled. Medley said it appeared the bandits had tried to break open the front door with some kind of tool, and, not being able to gain entry, had rammed a vehicle through the front of the building.
Lawmen suspect the Cigarette Bandits may be responsible because the intruders took only tobacco products and a small amount of cash. Medley estimates almost $3,000 worth of cigarettes was stolen.
“We had to shut down Sunday because of the damage and that’s usually our busiest day,” Medley said. “This was just horrible, horrible, horrible.”
The break-in came shortly after a store in neighboring Cannon County was burglarized, with the suspects in that case taking only tobacco products. The Cannon County burglary happened just hours prior to the Medley’s break-in.
According to Sheriff Jackie Matheny, investigators are taking the burglary spree seriously and have been investigating the case since the bandits hit Hullett’s in Morrison and Foodland in Newtown this July. The bandit or bandits are also suspected of hitting a store in Van Buren County. The method of operation was similar in all the break-ins. Medley’s marked the first time a vehicle was used to ram a business.
Matheny said investigators are welcoming any information concerning any of the break-ins. He said lawmen are also unsure what the bandits are doing with what has now become a large stash of tobacco products.
“The vehicle they used would definitely have some damage on it,” Matheny said, noting investigators would like to talk to anyone who may have driven by Medley’s Diner just before or during the burglary. Investigators can be reached at 473-8738.