Robbers take ATM from ship

By BILL VARIAN

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 18, 2000

INGLIS -- Two armed robbers held up a security guard who was watching over the SunCruz gambling ship as it sat docked and empty at the Cross Florida Barge Canal early Monday, authorities said.

The robbers took a portable ATM from inside the boat after searching the vessel for a half-hour and carted it off in the trunk of the guard's Cadillac Fleetwood.

Security guard Francis Horwath, 61, of Lecanto was left $33 poorer but otherwise unharmed, authorities said. His 1989 Cadillac was found beneath the U.S. 19 bridge over the barge canal after an air and ground search by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office. The cash machine was not there.

Citrus County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Ronda Hemminger Evan said no one else was around during the 3:30 a.m. holdup. She did not know whether the boat had sailed that evening.

Authorities had made no arrests in the case as of Monday evening.

A man who answered the phone at SunCruz in Inglis on Monday afternoon referred calls the company's corporate parent, Paradise of Port Richey. Calls to that office were not returned.

Investigators were still trying to determine how much money was in the cash machine.

Horwath told sheriff's officials that two men entered an office next to the casino ship where he was working. They carried rifles, and wore camouflage clothing, ski masks and gloves, according to a Sheriff's Office news release. They took his car keys and the cash from his wallet.

The men reportedly then entered the ship and at least 30 minutes later removed an ATM owned by a private company separate from SunCruz, authorities said.

According to the release, the men hauled the cash machine to the trunk of the Cadillac with the help of a wheelbarrow found at the scene.

One of the men was described as about 5 feet 6, weighing 140 pounds. The other man was about 5 feet 8 and weighed 160 to 165 pounds.

Anyone with information may call (888) 269-8477.

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