Inside Job Suspected in Captain D's Burglary After Thief Disables Power and Empties Safe

ATHENS, GA — Athens-Clarke County police are investigating a highly calculated burglary at the Captain D's restaurant on Prince Avenue, where a thief managed to bypass security systems and open a safe without forcing entry.

According to police reports, employees arriving at the restaurant on Wednesday morning, January 26, 2026, discovered that the back door was unlocked and the office safe had been emptied of its contents. Investigators noted that there were no signs of forced entry on either the exterior doors or the safe itself.

A review of the restaurant's security system revealed that the power to the cameras had been intentionally shut off for a three-hour window during the early morning hours when the theft took place. Because the perpetrator knew how to disable the camera power supply and possessed the combination code required to open the safe, authorities suspect the burglary may have been an inside job.

Detectives are questioning current and former employees who had access to the safe codes and building keys. They are also reviewing surveillance footage from adjacent businesses on Prince Avenue to see if any suspicious vehicles or individuals were captured in the area during the time the restaurant's power was cut.

The Athens-Clarke County Police Department is requesting that anyone with information regarding the incident contact their property crimes division.