The Vicksburg Police Department (VPD) now has a suspect in custody for the burglary of an ATM machine early Sunday morning inside a gas station on Wisconsin Ave.

VPD Chief of Police Penny Jones said 31-year-old Debarrea Malone-Smith was taken into custody at a private residence early Thursday morning after VPD secured a search warrant for the home belonging to his mother. VPD officials said Malone-Smith is from Vicksburg and currently lives outside the city limits in Warren County.

Jones said VPD was notified of the burglary after an employee at the Waleed’s Gas Station arrived to open the store and found the ATM machine had been broken into. Jones said the machine had just been replenished with approximately $12,000 and authorities believe Malone-Smith made out with approximately $9,000. She said only a small amount of the cash has been recovered so far. Malone-Smith also allegedly stole several cartons of cigarettes and a bag containing approximately $4,000 in additional cash.

In the days following the burglary, the owners of the business released footage of the suspect and offered a $1,500 reward for information leading to his arrest. 

Malone-Smith was charged with burglary and made his initial appearance in Vicksburg Municipal Court Thursday, where Judge Angela Carpenter set bail at $50,000.