More Crime in Alto

ALTO — Vandals struck four Alto businesses late Thursday night, as the small community continues to deal with law and order issues after the entire Alto Police Department was shuttered on June 15 due to budget cuts. The latest events all happened within a three-block radius. A lock was cut off of a gate at a local construction company with one of the firm’s pickup trucks being stolen, according to Cherokee County sheriff James Campbell. The suspect then appeared to have tried to fill the vehicle with gasoline, but was not successful. Nearby, cold drinks were reported stolen from an Alto restaurant. Meanwhile, vandalism was reported at the Alto Public Library and at a feed store close by.

In both instances, doors to the respective buildings were kicked in, but nothing was reported missing at either location. Campbell indicated that due to the close proximity of the break-ins and of the vandalism, that it is his belief that the suspects could possibly be teenagers. He further indicated that it is not know if the truck theft is related to the other incidents. Within a 24-hour period around the aforementioned events in Alto, Cherokee County law enforcement officials were summoned to the community on seven different occasions.

Last Wednesday three men and one woman attempted to rob a bank located on North Marcus St. in downtown Alto.