Cops: Thief blew up ATM, stole $4,500

Jakieren Laquawn Hughes

Credit: Cobb County Sheriff's Office

Credit: Cobb County Sheriff's Office

Jakieren Laquawn Hughes

Courtney Brimanson and her husband were sound asleep when they heard an explosion miles away from their Mableton home.

“It just woke me up, out of a dead sleep,” she told Channel 2 Action News, “and I was trying to figure out what had happened.”

That explosion was caused by 22-year-old Jakieren Laquawn Hughes, who used gas cylinders, flammable liquids and other tools to blow up a Bank of America ATM on Veterans Memorial Parkway, according to a Cobb County arrest warrant.

Cobb County authorities say a thief blew up an  ATM and took more than $4,500. (Credit: Channel 2 Action News)

Credit: Channel 2 Action News

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Credit: Channel 2 Action News

Authorities were called to the scene about 3:20 a.m. Friday regarding a suspicious person tampering with an ATM, Cobb police Sgt. Wayne Delk told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Surveillance video captured Hughes pouring a liquid onto the ATM, setting it on fire and stealing more than $4,500 in cash, according to arrest warrants.

Officers eventually spotted Hughes, who ran from them, warrants alleged. He was arrested shortly after the chase, Delk said.

Hughes faces arson, obstruction, reckless conduct, criminal damage, theft and possessing tools charges.

“I was really thankful everybody was OK,” Brimanson said. “I was worried somebody got hurt.”

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