Mandeville police officers nab one in attempted ATM theft

Two more suspects sought

Published on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 9:59 AM CDT

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The Mandeville Police Department responded to an ATM machine alarm at StateWide Bank on 1305 N. Causeway Blvd. Saturday.

When the responding unit arrived, the officer found three men attempting to burglarize the ATM.

The subjects fled on foot, and the officer was able to apprehend one of them.

Bellazer

Additional units, along with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, arrived and set up a perimeter using a canine unit, but the other two men were not found.

A check of the ATM machine revealed the suspects were trying to gain entry into the cash machine by way of a welding torch.

“This was not an educated attempt,” MPD Capt. Ron Ruple said. “Their use of a blowtorch or welding machine was not going to get them anything fast.”

Entry was not gained into the machine.

Christopher Bellazer, 22, 13184 Velma Road, Independence, was arrested on a charge of burglary of the ATM and resisting arrest.

Ruple said the investigation continues to identify the other two subjects.

Anyone with information regarding the missing subjects is asked to call the MPD at 626-9711.

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