Officer Chris Rankin

Public Information Officer

903-798-3187 (office) 903-260-0294 (pager)

903-824-4199 (cell) 903-798-3023 (fax)

Texarkana Arkansas Police Badge

High Profile Commercial Burglaries

Texarkana Police are investigating two recent high profile commercial burglaries which occurred on both sides of the State Line. There are similarities in each of the cases and this has led detectives to believe that the crimes may have been committed by the same group of suspects. The burglaries have occurred within the last two months.

The Arkansas burglary occurred at the E.9th street Discount Tobacco store. During this burglary a group of three suspects broke into the store during the overnight hours and removed a substantial amount of cash from the business.

The Texas side burglary occurred at Cavender’s on Sowell Lane. During this burglary the store’s safe was stolen, and it too contained a substantial amount of cash. The safe was later recovered on a rural roadway near the west end of Bowie County.

Police are asking for any information regarding possible suspects in these thefts. Surveillance video was recovered and police are looking for three white males who have been involved in the thefts. It is believed that a truck or van may have been used in the Cavender’s burglary due to the removal of the safe. In each incident the suspects have been wearing what can be best described as work clothing or coveralls. They have also worn facemasks. Some of the clothing was camouflage pattern. One of the suspects appears to be very small, possibly a boy between 13 to 17 years of age.

Police are requesting information regarding suspicious activity at area businesses because it is apparent that the suspects have conducted surveillance before committing the burglaries. We are also seeking information regarding suspects who may have made recent high dollar purchases that appear to be unexplainable or inconsistent with their normal income.

As always, both local police agencies strongly encourage local businesses to make bank deposits as frequently as possible. If there is any suspicious activity prior to leaving a business for bank deposits please feel free to call for a police escort.

Please contact CrimeStoppers at (903)793-STOP with any information regarding either of these crimes. Callers will be eligible for up to $1000 for information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the suspect(s) in these crimes. All callers will remain anonymous.

You can also speak directly to a detective at either police department with any information. The number to the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department is (903)798-3130, and the Texarkana Texas Police Department can be reached at (903)798-3116.

Thank you and you can visit the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department online at http://www.txkusa.org/arkpolice.