A stakeout Tuesday morning for a couple caught on video robbing a vending

machine has opened a wide-ranging investigation into a crime ring involving

multiple burglaries and more than 70 thefts in the area along with several

crystal meth labs, police said.

The suspects, identified as Anthony Kirby, 20, and Kimberly Thompson,

28, are also implicated in other crimes in Fayetteville and Tyrone along

with Fayette, Coweta, south Fulton, Henry and Spalding counties, said

Peachtree City Police Chief James Murray.

"This is the mother lode," Murray said of the case, which has

also led police to a fencing operation where stolen goods were sold at

an area pawn shop. None of the crystal meth labs identified in the investigation

are located in Fayette County, the chief added.

The suspects, who live in Fairburn, were arrested in Peachtree City at

the Best Western Motel after they opened a vending machine and removed

money from it, Murray said. A subsequent search of their residence turned

up information leading police to other illegal activities, Murray said.

"It was not uncommon for them to come back with about $4,000 in cash

from vending machines," Murray said, adding that some members of

the "group" Kirby and Thompson associated with had keys to the

vending machines.

Police on the stakeout were armed with photos of the two suspects from

a digital surveillance video taken at the Best Western Oct. 6. They also

had a description of the car they were looking for.

But they were playing a hunch that the crooks would be back five to seven

days after the first incident at the Best Western, Murray said.

"We knew which machines in the city were vulnerable," Murray

said. "There are specific models and makes that make it a lot easier

because of the way they are designed."

The video, Murray added. "was crystal clear and they looked right

at it (the camera)."

In fact, just before Kirby and Thompson were arrested, police decided

to distribute the digital video of the first Best Western incident to

Atlanta TV stations in hopes of locating the suspects. But 10 minutes

later, Kirby and Thompson were in custody, Murray said.

"These are extremely significant arrests," Murray said.

The pair have been connected to at least six crimes in Peachtree City

alone, police said.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has been called in to help with the

investigation, particularly because the leads on drug activity are for

locations outside of Peachtree City and Fayette County, Murray said.

Kirby and Thompson belonged to a group that committed the crimes "from

here all the way to Florida," Murray said, adding that more arrests

are forthcoming.

"Both of them have extensive criminal arrest backgrounds," Murray

added.

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