COVINGTON, Ga. – Investigators with the Newton County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) are looking for the people responsible for a string of business break-ins around Covington late Monday night and early Tuesday morning.

According to a NCSO incident report, at 11 p.m. June 26, Deputy Luke Hanes responded to a report of a burglary on Crowell Road, at EZ Tobacco. On arrival, he found that the front door had been shattered. Investigators were called to the scene.

Haresh Parekh, owner of EZ Tobacco, told The Covington News the thieves stole a large amount of cash, cigarettes and a toolbox with tools.

At 1:40 a.m. June 27, Deputy James Stevens responded to a report of a commercial burglary at the A1 Food Mart located on Highway 212. According to the report, when Stevens arrived at the scene, he noted that the lights on the exterior were taken down and the front door was shattered. The complainant reportedly told Stevens he showed up at the business and discovered the front door shattered.

According to the report, the complainant did not notice anything missing and the scene was turned over to an investigator.

At 3:13 a.m. while on patrol, Deputy Ezekiel Walker discovered a broken window at the Starrsville Chevron on Highway 36. According to the report, Deputy Eric Almond arrived for back-up and as the deputies were checking the business, it appeared that the ATM was broken into due to damage on its exterior. The amount of any money taken was not immediately reported.

A short time later, at 3:34 a.m., Deputy James McGilvray responded to a glass break alarm at the Marathon Station on Highway 81 South. According to the NCSO report, when he arrived, McGilvray found the window to the right of the front door busted. He, along with Deputies Ashley Kelly and Luke Hanes made entry into the building and cleared it. According to the report, the ATM did not have any damage or signs of forced entry.

According to a press release from NCSO spokesperson Deputy Felicia Jefferson, the suspects made entry into the businesses using a crowbar to smash the front doors. She said the first suspect appears to be a black male, approximately 6 feet to 6 feet 5 inches tall, wearing black pants, a black Pittsburgh Pirates jacket and black hat and walks with a limp. The second suspect is a black male approximately 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 8 inches wearing all black.

The suspect’s vehicle appears to be a dark green Dodge Caravan with a faded hood and roof.

NCSO is asking anyone with information to contact the sheriff’s office at 678-625-1400. You can also contact the investigator assigned to the case, Sgt. Brent Langley at 678-625-1453 or by leaving an anonymous tip at newtonsheriffga.org.