Police blotter
The following accounts were taken from reports provided by the Columbia County Sheriff's Office. Additional reports are available at www.columbiacountyso.org:
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Irate customer crushes bank tube
The manager of a Martinez bank reported to police last week that an irate customer had crushed a money tube in the drive-through.
The manager said that about 11 a.m. March 26, she and a female customer had an argument at the Wachovia Bank, at 3726 Washington Road. The manager said the woman took the money container from the pneumatic tube, dropped it in front of her vehicle and ran over it. The woman then drove away.
$10,000 in items stolen in burglary
Two Fort Gordon soldiers called police last week after discovering someone had broken into their Martinez apartment and stolen more than $10,000 worth of items.
One soldier said that between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. March 26, someone pried open the door to the Ridge Crossing apartment he shares with a roommate.
The soldier said the items included Xbox and Nintendo Wii video game systems, seven pairs of designer sunglasses, three gold chains, a pair of earrings, a shotgun and $5,000 worth of clothing.
Man charged with taking buffet food
A California man was arrested last week after the manager of a Grovetown motel said he raided the motel's breakfast buffet.
Corey Smith, 26, of Los Angeles, was charged with theft by taking and was being held in the Columbia County Detention Center Friday on a bond of $1,100, according to jail records.
The manager of the Motel 6 at 459 Park West Drive told police that just after 9 a.m. March 26, she and another person saw Smith take several items of food, worth about $10, from the motel's breakfast buffet.
The manager said Smith entered the lobby through the front door, took off one of his shirts and wrapped food in it. He ran out the back door.
Appling man jailed on shoplifting charges
An Appling man was arrested after he was caught shoplifting nearly $150 worth of merchandise from the Evans Wal-Mart store late Thursday.
Christopher Thomas Campbell, 31, of the 6200 block of Ridge Road, was charged with theft by shoplifting and released from the Columbia County Detention Center on Friday after posting a $1,600 bond, according to jail records.
The loss prevention officer at the store at 4469 Washington Road told police that between 9 and 9:20 p.m. Thursday, Campbell concealed several items, including three CDs, three pairs of shorts, two neckties, four rings, a necklace and a pair of gloves.
The officer said he detained Campbell as he was trying to leave with the merchandise, which totaled $145.67. All the merchandise was recovered.