ABC 33/40 - Birmingham News, Weather, SportsCrime Stoppers Jan. 10: Truck torched; Bold robbery

Crime Stoppers Jan. 10: Truck torched; Bold robbery

*Surveillance video from these cases will be seen Tuesday night on ABC 33/40 News at 10:00 and again Wednesday on Good Morning Alabama.  The video will be uploaded to our main site Wednesday morning.*

Crime Stoppers is asking for anonymous tips to help detectives identify and locate suspects in two new cases.

Cash rewards are offered in both cases, and callers will never have to provide their names.  Details on both cases are below.

TRUCK TORCHED:  Who did it, and why, remain a mystery.

Surveillance video from late on the night of Wednesday, December 14, shows an arsonist getting into a fenced-in lot outside Sherrill Automotive.  The man is carrying a gallon-sized jug.  He gets into a red, 1992 Chevy pickup truck, and after emptying the jug, he sets a fire.

"You see him light a rag or some other item, toss it in the cab of the vehicle, and just a huge fireball erupts," Sergeant Brian Allison said.

Crime Stoppers is working to identify who the arsonist is so he can be found and arrested.  Detectives need an anonymous tip from anyone who sees the video and might be able to help.

While the video does not show many identifying features of the arsonist, the arsonist himself might have already provided some clues.

"We're going to rely on this guy talking," Allison said.  "Someone who's going to be this bold, to come out into a lighted parking lot to light a vehicle on fire is the kind of person who's going to talk about it.  He's going to tell a friend.  He's going to tell somebody that this has happened."

The truck that was burned had been parked on the lot for more than a year.  Its owner is ill and was seeking help from the automotive company getting the vehicle sold.

There is no evidence to suggest the arsonist had any connection to the truck's owner.  And detectives said the motive for burning the truck could likely have nothing to do with the truck itself.

"It looks like it's probably going to be somebody who has a personal vendetta against the business rather than the individual, but at this point, we just don't know," Allison said.

If you have heard or seen anything that could help in this case, call Crime Stoppers at the contact information listed below.  Remember, all calls are anonymous.  And if your tip leads to an arrest, detectives will give you a cash reward.

BOLD ROBBERY:  Some robbers cover their faces.  But a man seen in a Kangaroo store on Robert Jemison Road in Birmingham made no such effort.

"Some of these suspects come in, and maybe they have on a hoodie or something -- or try to conceal themselves in some form, some fashion," Detective Pat Green said.  "But he came in talking on a cell phone.  No mask.  No anything."

It happened around 9:15 p.m. on Monday, December 5.

The suspect posed as a customer and waited to buy a Mountain Dew and a Butterfinger.  But as soon as the clerk opened the cash drawer, the man pulled out a gun and took money from the store.

"He takes the money and turns to leave.  Once he gets to the door, he decides to come back and told the cashier, 'Give me the safe,'" Green said.  "She, in turn, stated she couldn't give him the safe, so he got upset with her and stormed out of the business."

After leaving the store, the man walked westbound along Robert Jemison Road toward some nearby apartments.

Anyone who recognizes the man is urged to give an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers.

"If he's not caught, I believe 100% that he will do it again," Green said.  "We want to get him off the street before he hurts someone in one of these crimes."

TO OFFER A TIP ON EITHER CASE: Call Crime Stoppers at (205) 254-7777.

Also, you can text 7777, along with your tip, to the word "CRIMES."  Or if you prefer to send an encrypted tip online, go to www.birminghamcrimestoppers.org and click on the "submit an online tip" link.

No matter which method you choose, you will remain anonymous.  Each tipster receives a private code number.  If an arrest is made based on an individual's tip, the tipster can use the code number to claim a cash reward.

Crime Stoppers cannot call tipsters to testify in court.

Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama is a partnership between local law enforcement, the Birmingham Business Alliance and ABC 33/40.  Together, our goal is to make our community a safer place to live and work.