Liberty police, FBI probe heist

Police will not release an exact dollar amount.

By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

LIBERTY — Township police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are looking for an individual who made off with a large amount of money after burglarizing a township business Monday.

Two employees at AT Systems on Tibbetts Wick Road told police they locked up the business before leaving for a money transport to Cleveland. When they returned the business was still secure — but a lot lighter on cash.

Township Police Chief Anthony Slifka would not say exactly how much cash had been taken from the business, but categorized it as “a very, very, very, very, very large sum of money.”

The employees said someone had disabled the alarm system, taken surveillance tapes, then opened two large safes using codes known only to employees. The safes were cleaned out of cash and checks.

According to police, the thief locked up the business and reset the alarms before leaving the building.

A Web site for AT Systems shows that the business has locations across the country, including the Youngstown-area business.

The site touts AT Systems as one of America’s largest cash logistics companies, with customers who are predominantly multi-unit retailers operating cash-intensive businesses and financial institutions. The company securely and efficiently moves and manages information, cash and other valuables.

A phone call to AT Systems seeking comment had not been returned by late Tuesday.

Slifka said there is a person of interest and a description of the car that person may be driving.

“The FBI is working the case. We turned it over to them because we think the suspect may have left the area,” he said.

Andy Hayden, an agent at the FBI’s Boardman office, said his office cannot say much about the missing money or details of the case at this point.

“It’s fairly sensitive at this point and I want to nail down some things before releasing anything to the public,” he said. “It’s just too early in the investigation to release details.”

jgoodwin@vindy.com