Plano police arrest 8 people in connection to dozens of ATM thefts in Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex
Plano, Texas – A dedicated team of law enforcement officers, composed of members from the Plano police and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) units, has arrested eight individuals believed to be involved in dozens of criminal cases.
The suspects were implicated in a sophisticated Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) theft ring that reportedly had its tentacles spread throughout the expansive Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.
“All over DFW and who knows if they had even gone anywhere else so very active,” Jennifer Chapman, a public information officer for Plano police said. “That’s what makes it a little more difficult to kind of follow.”
The culmination of this intensive operation occurred around dawn on June 1, when the suspects were caught red-handed during the commission of a heinous act. Specifically, they were in the midst of orchestrating a burglary at an ATM situated in a 7-Eleven convenience store, located in the 900 block of Fort Worth Drive, Denton.
This operation, according to the Plano Police Department, is indicative of the diligent efforts of various law enforcement jurisdictions working in collaboration to establish justice. The department articulated their conviction that the capture of these suspects was the direct outcome of their well-coordinated, multijurisdictional efforts.
“We’re extremely proud of the officers and the detectives that worked in conjunction with other agencies and partnering with the actual 7-Eleven stores themselves,” Chapman said.
It is anticipated that these arrests will result in the clearance of more than 50 ATM theft offenses for many DFW-area law enforcement agencies, Plano police said in a press release.
Before the arrest in Denton, Plano police were investigating a similar burglary at a 7-Eleven store on May 25 in Plano. The method involved maneuvering a pickup truck in reverse until it was adjacent to the storefront, after which they shattered the window glass. In a display of audacious criminal technique, they wrapped a chain around the ATM and wrenched it from its position within the store.
Adding another layer of audacity to their operation, the vehicle utilized in this brazen act was reportedly stolen from Garland. Following the crime, the purloined pickup truck was later discovered in the vicinity of a nearby apartment complex, according to the local law enforcement authorities.
While delving into the intricate details of the Plano heist, seasoned detectives succeeded in identifying various vehicles suspected to be part of the criminal operation. They were also able to delineate the specific modus operandi employed in these organized ATM burglaries.
In addition, the Plano police revealed that during the course of their investigation, detectives stumbled upon an unsettling pattern of similar crimes, executed at disparate locales throughout the metropolitan area. This revelation prompted the initiation of a comprehensive investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
In response to this surge of organized crime, detectives from a constellation of departments including Plano, Coppell, Dallas, Euless, Frisco, Garland, and Grapevine, as well as members of the Department of Public Safety, rallied together to join forces.
They were joined by a 7-Eleven Zone Asset Protection Manager, thereby forming an unprecedented alliance. This collective investigative endeavor, spanning across multiple jurisdictions and various expertise, eventually paved the way for the decisive apprehension of the suspects involved in this complex web of ATM burglaries.
Here are the eight suspects arrested in this investigation:
- 29-year-old Anthony Dewayne Turner, Dallas
- 25-year-old Cortaveya Jean Jackson, Mesquite
- 24-year-old Danaijay Jacoby Derrett, Dallas
- 27-year-old Dominique Marquis Childress, Dallas
- 29-year-old Joseph George Milton Turner, Dallas
- 26-year-old Leroy Alvin Walls, Dallas
- 37-year-old Louis Edward Coleman, DeSoto
- 24-year-old Marlon Briscoe, Dallas
All eight suspects were charged with theft of ATM property under $300,000, a second-degree felony. All have been able to bond out, according to Chapman.
Police are now focused on giving tips to other stores.
“Our crime prevention unit is going to go out and try to what we call harden the targets so we can prevent some of these in the future,” Chapman said.
The arrest signifies a major breakthrough in their relentless pursuit of justice, underscoring their commitment to safeguarding the community against such nefarious activities. This operation showcases the police department’s proactive stance in combating the rising trend of organized crime, aiming to create safer neighborhoods for its inhabitants.
