By By Lydia Grimes – features reporter
If you see someone smoking more cigarettes than usual, you may want to give the East Brewton Police Department a call.
Evans Tobacco House on Forrest Avenue in East Brewton had unexpected and unwanted visitors to the store sometime between 2 and 6 a.m. Wednesday according to a report from police officers.
More than $12,000 in cigarettes and related items were taken from the store during the break-in, officers said.
Officer Stephen Bradley said the manager of the store, Joann Evans, arrived at the business Wednesday morning to find broken glass and broken burglar bars at the front and rear entrances of the store.
The burglars were able to gain access to the store through the front door of the business after breaking the window portion of the door, Bradley said.
Each pack and carton of cigarettes bears an Escambia County and Alabama tax stamp, which would make the merchandise identifiable should the culprits attempt to take the items outside of the county to attempt a refund, Bradley said.
Although several break-ins have been reported in recent weeks in the Brewton and East Brewton areas, Bradley said he believes this incident was a random act.
Bradley said when the guilty party or parties is apprehended in the case they face charges of burglary, first degree and criminal mischief, first degree.