Police Search for Suspects in Robbery—Stolen Truck Owner Upset

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Chattanooga police are asking for the public’s help in identifying two suspects who held up a local cash and check advance business.

It happened yesterday morning in the 3500 block of Cummings Highway.

That crime dragged another victim of those two thieves into the investigation.

Just after 9 Monday morning, two men rolled-up to the American Trust Cash Advance store near the Wal-Mart shopping center on Cummings highway.

“Two black males came inside, one was armed with a pistol. They were both masked and they ordered the female..an employee there to go to the back and show them where the cash was,” CPD Investigator Wilbert McLean said.

One suspect duct-taped an employee’s hands and locked her in a bathroom.

Another employee was also forced into the bathroom while the robbers took a large amount of money.

“They did seem to be prepared. If it was my guess they may done this before but like I said before, we haven’t had any incidents where this exact thing has occurred lately.”

Part of the news release issued by police included photos of the distinctive black truck the men used—which turned out to be stolen.

It was found a few blocks away later in the morning, and it was quickly returned to the owner, Andre Cimo.

But the description of the vehicle was still being aired Tuesday, and he’s concerned .

“Got home, and a few hours later I start getting reports of my truck’s all over the news connected to an armed robbery off Cummings Highway. So that was quite a surprise,” Andre Cimo said.

Now Andre has his truck back, but he hopes he won’t be pulled over at gunpoint for what the thieves did with it.

“I found out today that it was uh..the public information officer did not relay ..has not relayed yet that the vehicle was not ..no longer reported stolen,” said Cimo.

“He’s not a target right now,” McLean said.

There was no report on how much cash was taken in the robbery.

No arrests have been made.