Suspect breaks into Fresno Rally's, steals $2,500

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Authorities are looking for a bold burglar who broke into a Rally's fast-food restaurant in Southeast Fresno and took $2,500 in cash.

He didn't leave his fingerprints behind, but instead left something better -- pictures of his face.

The suspect jumped and jumped around 3 a.m. last Tuesday until he was finally able to get up onto an electrical box that led to the roof.

"He cut a latch on a lock on top of the roof and he lowered himself down into the restaurant, went into the restaurant area where he found the safe and was able to take $2,500 in cash," said Fresno police Sgt. Mark Hudson.

Investigators believe he either knew someone who worked there or was somehow familiar with the layout. Surveillance video shows the suspect heading right toward the safe and carrying out a large sum of cash. You can see the wads of money in his hands as he leaves through the back door. Fresno police say the safe was either broken or unlocked.

Officers have reviewed video taken from the restaurant and believe the suspect visited that same Rally's the day before when he walked up to one of the windows. He was wearing a black T-shirt.

"It looks like they were ordering. A couple of people were with him. They were at the window talking to employees at the window, or if not ordering hamburgers," said Hudson.

During the burglary, the suspect covered his hands with the sleeves of his sweatshirt. He tried to cover his face as much as he could during the actual crime, but it was his prior visit on Labor Day that left police with good recognizable pictures. A reward is being offered for information that leads to his identification and arrest.