Man uses baseball bat to crash way into Flomaton shop; steals four chainsaws
Video captures suspect stealing chainsaws at Flomaton Small Engines
Suspect caught on surveillance vehicle
Flomaton Police Capt. Chance Thompson continued the search for an unidentified black male who used a baseball bat to smash his way into Flomaton Small Engines early Jan. 1 and fled with four new Stihl chainsaws.
Police are also trying to determine if the same person may be involved in an attempted break-in at Baker's convenience store in Canoe earlier that morning.
Jeremy Bondurant, owner of Flomaton Small Engines said his alarm system went off at 4:19 a.m. Jan. 1 when the suspect smashed into the store.
Video equipment showed the black male using a baseball bat to first try to slam through a door on the south side of the building with no success. He then went to a larger window, smashed out the glass and entered the store.
Once inside the store, the suspect went to the rack of chainsaws, gabbed four and then left out of the broken window he entered. Bondurant said the suspect was in and out of the store in 42 seconds.
Video also shows the suspect entering a white vehicle, possibly a Buick and fleeing the scene.
Atmore Police Chief Chuck Brooks said someone used a brick to try and break out the front door glass at Baker's shortly after 4 a.m. on Jan. 1 but was unsuccessful in gaining entry. It is also believed that suspect was driving a white vehicle.
There were unconfirmed reports of a burglary or attempted burglary at Southern Pine Electric Co-op about 10 minutes after the suspect or suspects left Flomaton Small Engines.
Anyone with information about the break-in at Flomaton Small Engines is asked to call the Flomaton Police Department at 296-5811 or their nearest law enforcement agency.
