Burglars target car wash coin boxes

NILES TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - One of two Indiana men has been arrested for allegedly trying to steal money from coin boxes at some Berrien County ( Mich.) car washes.

Bryan Garland, 34, from Mishawaka, Ind. is in custody. He pleaded guilty to damaging property and possession of burglary tools. He will be sentenced on Nov. 19.

Police have not yet arrested 31-year-old Derrick Drudge from Elkhart, Ind., where he may be eluding authorhities. A five-count felony warrant for damaging business property (two counts) with a value of $1,000 to $20,000 (the damage was estimated near $20,000), breaking and entering a coin-operated device (two counts), and possession of burglary tools (one count) has been issued for his arrest.

The first crime occurred around 6 p.m. Oct 20 at the 5th Street Laserwash in Niles Township.

When police arrived they noticed somebody had broken into the coin-operated device. But it appeared the business alarm scared away the thieves before they were able to break into the portion where the money is kept.

Police collected evidence at the scene and alerted fellow units to be on the lookout for the suspects' vehicle, which was seen on video cameras near the business.

Then around 7:30 p.m., a sheriff's patrol unit saw two men trying to break into another car wash at Victory Lube on S. 11th Street in Niles Township.

Both suspects ran away, leaving behind their car and several burglary tools.

It was determined the two men did not get any money out of the machine.

The patrolmen called for a sheriff's office K-9 unit to come to the scene.

An officer and his dog Rico were able to track down Garland. But Drudge was able to escape the search.

If you know anything about this incident you are asked to call police or Michiana Crime Stoppers at 574.288.STOP or 1.800.342.STOP. You can also submit an anonymous web tip at http://southbend.crimestoppersweb.com/.