Early Thursday, American Legion Post 424 in Dallas was burglarized by three people. Waxahachie VFW Post 3894 told WFAA the same people hit their ATM an hour earlier.
WAXAHACHIE, Texas — Two veterans’ organizations in North Texas were burglarized within an hour of each other early Thursday morning, with thieves causing thousands of dollars in damage and stealing cash meant for community support. Security footage from both incidents shows striking similarities, raising concerns that the same suspects may be responsible.
At around 3 a.m. on Thursday, three suspects broke into American Legion Post 424 at 3940 S. Ledbetter Drive in Dallas. Post Commander Correy Fields, an Army veteran, said the thieves stole a safe containing more than $3,000, including funds for a Valentine’s Day dinner and donations intended to repave the parking lot.
“Just savages. That’s the way I feel,” Fields said. “I’ve seen them crowbar in this door right here. They came over here and kicked in the door. They destroyed about four doors — we must replace those and door jambs now.”
Surveillance footage showed the suspects moving room by room, bypassing valuables such as a laptop and a new television in the bar area. “They didn’t come in for anything else but the safe,” Fields added.
Investigators with the Dallas Police Department are reviewing the footage and trying to make leads, and another veterans’ post in Waxahachie might be able to help them.
About an hour before the Dallas break-in, security footage at VFW Post 3894 captured three suspects using a crowbar to force their way into the building around 2 a.m.
“They broke into our home. This is our home,” said Post Commander Chris Sandoval, a Navy veteran.
Once inside, the suspects went straight to the canteen and pried open the ATM, stealing the cash inside. Sandoval and other members of the VFW described feeling violated after seeing the security footage. Fortunately, the post suffered only minor physical damage.
But over the weekend, Sandoval watched WFAA’s Friday night report on the American Legion burglary and immediately recognized the suspects.
“When I clicked it on and watched the video, I said, ‘Oh, my God, that’s the same guys. Those are the guys that I just watched,'” Sandoval said. “The tools they had, the clothes they were wearing, right down to the small SUV they were driving.”
In both videos, the suspects are carrying crowbars and a sledgehammer. They’re also wearing masks and hoodies, and the shoes of one suspect match in both videos.
In Sandoval’s footage, you can tell the make and model of the getaway vehicle: a dark-colored Alfa Romeo Stelvio SUV.
Sandoval’s footage is also clearer than the American Legion’s, which could aid investigators in Dallas. Waxahachie police have already contacted the American Legion Post to compare evidence. Both commanders are urging anyone with information to come forward and warning other organizations like theirs to be on alert.
“You ought to feel bad even knowing they stole from us,” Fields said. “Give us a call and let us know.”
Sandoval echoed that sentiment. “We want to see them punished for what they did.”
