HOW TO HELPSee video of the Fountain Plaza car wash here: http://youtu.be/qAGH1Igb5yc. If you recognize the robbers, call 706-639-1540.
LaFAYETTE, Ga.-The folks at Fountain Plaza had been expecting good business lately at the unmanned, 24-hour car wash.
But recently, the staff opened the change machine to remove the bills and a red flag went up.
"The quarters were way low," owner Miriam Hammond said. But there "weren't many dollars."
Blame thieves.
LaFayette police said the thieves got away with an estimated $500 to $700 in quarters. And because the theft exceeds $500, it's a felony.
Hammond said there have been some failed attempts over the years to break into the change machine, but this is the first time anyone has succeeded.
"People who are into robbery are pretty innovative," she said. "So I'm not saying they [change machines] are foolproof, but they do have deterrents so you can't easily get something out of them."
Police wouldn't be specific about how the thieves extracted the money.
"I don't want to give anyone else the idea," Sgt. Stacy Meeks said. "They manipulated the machine, without damaging it, to produce the change."
There are 10 video surveillance cameras at the car wash, and one points directly at the change machine.
The video reveals a white male and female and their light-colored minivan.
"In this case the camera system wasn't very elaborate, but it was sufficient enough for us to get a good shot of the suspects," Meeks said.
And he hopes it will be good enough to help solve the case.
Timothy Bradfield covers Walker County. Contact him at timothyb2010@gmail.com.