Monkey Mask Used In Liquor Store Burglary Helps Find Thief

FORSYTH COUNTY, GA — The very disguise used to hide a burglar's identity is what got the man caught by the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office recently.

During the early morning hours around 2 a.m. on Aug. 6, deputies were dispatched to the Beverage World of Cumming, 745 Lanier 400 Parkway, in response to a burglary. The owner said he had a video of a person disguised in a sock monkey hat entering the store. The video showed the man breaking in, pull out cash register drawers and leave. Nothing was taken from the store, the owners said in a police report.

Another deputy conducted a traffic stop around the same time on Atlanta Highway, and Sgt. Hamilton found one of the occupants matched the description of the suspect in the video.

Deputies searched the car, and saw the red handled crowbar and monkey hat in the backseat of the car.

The two men also attempted to break into Chevron, 3715 Browns Bridge Road, in northern Forsyth County, the Sheriff's Office reported.

Melvin Telford Harris, 35, of Atlanta, was arrested for burglary, conspiracy to commit a burglary, driving with a suspended driver's license, Violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act, and obscured or missing license plate.

Damon Jermone Moss, 30, of Atlanta, was arrested for burglary and conspiracy to commit a burglary.

Both suspects were arrested on a traffic stop at 6025 Atlanta Highway at 02:42 a.m. Neither has bond at the Forsyth County Jail.