The store is in a fenced, secured, lit compound with suveilance cameras.
Burglars Hit Smoke Shop at Opportune Time, LEGGETT, December 24, 2009 - Sometime during the night hours between the hours of 3 and 6 am on December 24, 2009 burglars broke into the Alabama Coushatta Smoke Shop located off of US-59 North in Leggett. The fenced and secured compound is under 24 hour video surveillance, however, during the rain storm the electricity went out in the middle of the night and that's when the burglars did their dirty deed. The fenced compound was locked but the burglars cut the chain at the front entrance and opened the gate and cut the fence at the northeast corner at the back of the establishment. Once inside, the burglars busted through the front door, and managed to open the sliding freight door at the rear of the store. According to tribal security, the burglars didn't necessarily target tobacco but instead computers and other sensitive equipment. Investigators with the Polk County Sheriff's Office initiated and investigation in conjunction with Alabama Coushatta Tribal Security. In light of the vulnerability during a power outage, the tribe is looking at alternative power sources like generators to prevent a recurrence.
Stewart Poncho with Tribal Security at the scene of the burglary.
Two large entrance gates were chained shut...
...but the burglars cut the chain to gain entrance.
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