Couple accused of stealing coins from car washes may be part of a multi-state ring

Couple accused of stealing coins from car washes may be part of a multi-state ring
Updated: Aug. 13, 2018 at 2:55 PM EDT
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Pannu Catalano (source: Dorchester County Sheriff's Office)
Pannu Catalano (source: Dorchester County Sheriff's Office)
Authorities say the couple used a blowtorch to steal quarters from coin boxes (source:...
Authorities say the couple used a blowtorch to steal quarters from coin boxes (source: Dorchester County Sheriff's Office)
Authorities found over $200 worth of coins when they made the arrests. (source: Dorchester...
Authorities found over $200 worth of coins when they made the arrests. (source: Dorchester County Sheriff's Office)

ST. GEORGE, SC (WCSC) - A couple accused of stealing coins from a car wash in St. George might be part of a multi-state theft ring, police said Monday.

Ralph Cangelois III, 48, and Pannu Catalano, 45, were arrested Saturday night at a motel in St. George.

Police say Cangelois and Catalano were caught on surveillance cameras using a blowtorch to steal quarters from coin boxes at the 'U Wash It' Carwash on Memorial Boulevard.

Investigators say the couple stole coins on two occasions, July 23 and August 2.

They were arrested last Saturday night at the Peachtree Inn in St. George.

A detective on patrol saw a truck in the parking lot that matched the vehicle seen on surveillance video at the car wash.

Inside the truck were blowtorches, oxygen tanks and $285 in quarters.

Cangelois and Catalano are charged with safecracking and malicious injury to property.

Cangelois' bond was set at $80,000 and Catalano's bond was set at $40,000.

We have learned the couple is being investigated for similar crimes in Holly Hill, Dorchester County, and in Charleston County. The Richmond County Sheriff's Office has also had crimes of a similar nature.

St. George Police Chief Brett Camp says he's gotten calls from police agencies from other states who also are investigating similar crimes.

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