DeKalb County Police have intensified the search for Terrence Tamplin, a 63-year-old man accused of burglarizing Matthews Cafeteria, a fixture in the Tucker community known for its homestyle cooking. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, the incident occurred around 8 p.m. on Monday when Tamplin allegedly entered the restaurant's office and stole a cash register drawer containing approximately $600. Surveillance footage provided by an employee led to the prompt identification of the suspect.
Michael Greene, owner of the beloved eatery, shared the surveillance video with FOX 5 News, expressing both his dismay and his appreciation for the community's support. "We knew who he was, where he was headed, and had an arrest warrant being signed by a judge within two hours of the incident here," Greene said. Meanwhile, regulars at Matthews Cafeteria, like Frank Battle, remain stunned by the event, with Battle noting his frequent visits to the restaurant for "breakfast and dinner mostly, about three times a week."
The details of the burglary were also echoed in a WSB-TV report, including images of the suspect and his vehicle, a black Acura MDX SUV with Georgia license plate DAZ8296, posted by the cafeteria on Facebook. The report brought further attention to the restaurant's standing in the community as a cherished locale for 70 years. "It’s one of our big staples in the community," customer Joe Rio told WSB-TV.
The DeKalb County Police Department urges anyone who sees Tamplin or has pertinent information regarding his whereabouts to get in touch with them immediately.
