Man Arrested in $1.7 Million Armored Car Burglary in Atlantic City
A brazen, middle of the day burglary of an armored car on an Atlantic City street apparently took place earlier this month. Now, authorities say they've made an arrest.
Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner says the incident took place just outside Bally's Casino on November 5th. Total take was $1.7 Million.
According to Tyner, Dante J. McCluney of Newark has been charged with the Burglary, Theft by Unlawful Taking or Disposition, and Conspiracy to Commit Theft.
Tyner provides these details of the burglary:
On Nov. 5, 2020 at 12:40 p.m., the Atlantic City Police Department responded to Bally’s Casino for the reported theft of $1,760,000 from an armored vehicle owned by Rapid Armored Corporation (RAC). Video surveillance from Bally’s revealed three male suspects accessed the armored vehicle and removed suspected bags of U.S. currency. The suspects then entered a gray Hyundai sedan and departed the area at approximately 12:15 p.m.
McCluney was previously employed by RAC as an armed guard where he worked the “AC ATM” run that serviced Bally’s and become familiar with the run’s timing and procedures.
Two employees of RAC also identified McCluney from surveillance footage obtained from the Atlantic City Boardwalk just prior to the theft. McCluney and the two other males are observed on surveillance arriving near Bally’s in a gray Hyundai, parking near the armored vehicle then exiting on foot. The three males remained on foot in the area of the armored vehicle until approximately 12:10 p.m., when they approached the vehicle and committed the theft.
Tyner says the investigation continues as authorities look to identify and arrest the others involved.
Tyner commented on the crime:
This was a brazen burglary of an armored car on a public street in broad daylight. Out of all the crimes I’ve seen committed in Atlantic County during my tenure, this incident harkened back to something out of the 1930’s. Thankfully, we have a talented, hard working group of detectives who used old fashioned detective work to track down Dante McCluney, and then identify the other suspects. It should be noted that a substantial amount of the stolen cash has been recovered.