In a string of bold thefts that have been unfolding since May, Orange County has witnessed thieves employing stolen vans to snatch ATMs right out of the ground, as reported by the sheriff's office. According to a news release by Orange County deputies, the criminals have been specifically targeting church vans for their heists, leaving the community and its places of worship in a state of unrest.
The nefarious activity came to a temporary stop last Friday, when law enforcement caught three suspects in the thick of an ATM heist at the Coin Laundry Café on Curry Ford Road. The suspects were identified as Rodrigue Jean Jules, 24, Tenkamein Akeem Beacham, 28, and a 17-year-old minor. All three are now facing multiple charges, including burglary, grand theft, and criminal mischief, as deputies announced in a statement detailed by ClickOrlando.
According to WFTV, the Orange County Sheriff's Office has been tracking this pattern of ATM thefts for a couple of months, indicating that these arrests may just be the tip of the iceberg in a larger trend of such crimes in the area. Citizens are encouraged to contact authorities via 911 or Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS with any information regarding similar cases.
