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Thieves break into cars at Covington hotels, steal a handgun
Covington Police

COVINGTON, Ga. – Investigators with the Covington Police Department are trying to track down whoever broke into vehicles at local hotels two different days this week, getting away with cash and a handgun.

Police first responded to the Holiday Inn Express and Hampton Inn on Paras Drive Feb. 9 after five pick-up trucks were reported broken into. All five victims told police they parked their vehicles during the afternoon or evening on Feb. 8 before coming out the next morning and finding their trucks damaged.

The items reported stolen ranged from a dark navy blue gym bag containing tennis shoes, socks, two skull caps and a physician's prescription pad taken from one truck, to a work binder and a phone taken from two others. Two vehicle owners reported that while their vehicles had been ransacked, nothing was taken.

Police were back at the two hotels Feb. 11 after a report of a suspicious vehicle and more vehicles reported broken into with the thieves getting away with a handgun this time.

According to one CPD incident report, officers responded to the Holiday Inn Express just before 2 a.m. Feb 11 after a hotel employee watching security cameras observed a gray four-door car with four occupants drive through the Holiday Inn parking lot into the Hampton Inn parking lot and back into the Holiday Inn lot where it parked between two vehicles. The employee told police that two of the occupants got out and began pulling door handles.

The grey vehicle reportedly left the area heading toward Interstate 20 before police arrived, but responding officers observed the glove compartment open on a vehicle belonging to a registered guest at the hotel. After making contact with the guest, officers were advised that a Nike back pack had been taken from the car.

Authorities were back at the Hampton Inn four hours later after a guest found the rear driver’s side window on his work truck broken out. According to police report, that person told police that approximately $400 cash, a Wells Fargo money bag and a company checkbook along with a flashlight and a Taurus .380 cal. handgun loaded with eight rounds of ammo had been stolen from the truck.

Windows were reportedly broken out on two other cars, one pick-up truck and one SUV parked at the hotels. The drivers of those vehicles told police nothing was taken.

A CPD spokesman said police still have not identified any suspects and have not determined if the break-ins are connected.