FRESNO, Calif. (KMPH) -
The laundromat bandit strikes again, this time in southeast Fresno. The Fresno businessman who was burglarized on Monday is convinced it's the same guy who hit a Visalia coin-op laundry.
Early Monday morning the thief cased the laundromat at Clovis and Kings Canyon in southeast Fresno. No one was inside so he props the door open. That's because some doors automatically lock when change machines are tampered with.
The thief pulled a tool out of his jacket and started cranking. In less than a minute he was in. He pulled out the change box, tucked it under his coat and he was out the door.
Kurt Archer caught it all on security video. "He obviously has developed a knack for that type of lock and decided he's gonna stick with what he knew. Get in fast, get what he needed and get back out."
In this burglary the thief wore a hat with a wig attached. Archer is convinced the man in the Fresno and Visalia surveillance video is the same person. They look similar in height, weight and both have the same goatee.
He got away with 300 to 400 dollars, not to mention another 400 dollars in damage to the change machine. Archer calls him elusive and not a priority for police. "I realize that the likelihood of finding the guy is slim to none. There are people out there getting hurt on the streets. They gotta take care of what they gotta take care of."
Kurt Archer feels fortunate about the 800 loss. He says in many cases break–ins cost four to six times that amount.
