Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott announced today the investigation into several burglaries at closed businesses in the Bluff Road and Shop Road area.  

Sheriff Lott stated that the suspect(s) have been breaking into the businesses and then breaking into vending machines and cash registers and stealing money. The department is requesting the community’s assistance in identifying those responsible -- anyone with information on the identity of those responsible is asked to call 888-CRIME-SC or go to www.sccrimestoppers.com to receive a cash reward for information leading to the arrest in these cases and any crime.

1080 Shop Rd (Shuman-Owens Supply) 6/4 Used a pick axe to make a hole under the electric fence. Once on the property the subject broke into a vending machine and removed coins. Subject then broke the front store door and took money from the cash register.

1641 Shop Rd (Apple Services) 6/10 Forced entry into the business and took keys from lock box, business checks, toner cartridges and other items and vandalized the business.

621 Rosewood Dr (Sloan Construction) 6/7 Forced entry onto the premises entered and vandalized the business. Suspects took uniforms, lawn equipment and other items.

1625 Bluff Rd (Southern Pump and Supply) 5/30 Forced entry into business and took candy from vending machine and food from the refrigerator.

1300 Bluff Rd. Forced entry into business and took money from register.

1639 Shop Rd (Airgas National Welders) 6/21  Suspects made entry through the rear door on the loading dock breaking the glass window with a hammer. Suspects rummaged through various office workstations and broke into a soda vending machine located in the break room. Suspects took a cash register and fled the scene register was found behind the business.