MPD seeks suspect for unsolved January burglary

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The Manning Police Department is looking for the public's help in finding a suspect responsible for the January burglary of a local business. Inv. Rick Elms said police were hoping a DNA profile would provide a suspect for the burglary of Palmetto Cash Express, which happened in the early morning hours of Jan. 22. But results were inconclusive. "This involved a lot of damage to the business, but the suspect did not get any money," Elms said. "We are hoping someone will recognize the individual from surveillance footage and call it in." The grainy footage shows a black male with a slight beard wearing a ski cap and a sweater. According to a report from the Manning Police Department, the suspect broke into the Palmetto Cash Express at 232 W. Boyce St. in Manning before 5:42 a.m. Jan. 22 and caused about $7,000 in damages to the building's security system and other property. The business manager told police that ADT called her about that time that morning and said the electricity was out, and that they were not calling police. When she got to the store, she noticed a strong smell of bleach. Duke Energy advised police the power had been out since 4:38 a.m. at that location alone. Elms said officers found that the meter behind the store had been removed and was on the ground directly below the meter box. Aluminum siding had been pulled back and the insulation was removed from the building's walls. File cabinets inside were damaged, and paperwork was thrown throughout the building. The alarm system's box was forced open and wires appeared ripped out, along with the battery for the backup system. The battery was on the floor directly under the alarm box, and the antenna was broken off the cell backup for the alarm. In the bathroom, where the video recording system was mounted on the wall in a vault, officers observed that the vault had been forced out to hew all. It was open and the CD drive was ejected. The manager said nothing appeared missing from the business, and that cash is not kept on the premises. If you have any information as to the whereabouts of this suspect, or if you have any information about this incident, call the Manning Police Department at (803) 435-8859. Callers may remain anonymous.