MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WSMV)—Murfreesboro police are searching for a man caught on camera breaking into a bowling alley.

Police said the suspect cut a hole in the ceiling and jumped a rope to enter the business. Loyal customers at the bowling alley said they couldn’t believe what they were hearing.

The break-in occurred at the Lanes Trains and Automobiles entertainment center and bowling alley on Butler Drive. Customers said they were not only shocked by the surveillance video, but days later they could still see the hole used to break in and steal hundreds of dollars.

Surveillance video showed a man walking through an empty bowling alley in Murfreesboro. The bowling alley’s cameras caught him breaking into the building at 3 a.m., but what shocked patrons like Sam Powers was how the man entered.

Powers said his mouth dropped when he heard the man had cut a hole in the ceiling to gain entry.

“Come on, it’s a movie, I’ve seen it in movies,” Powers said.

Murfreesboro police said after the man punched a hole in the bowling alley’s ceiling, he then used a rope to rappel down.

“I grew up coming here, bowling, when I was in middle school,” Powers said. “I was on the bowling team and I’ve never heard of anything like that happening here, especially knowing how long it’s been going on here.”

Detectives said after walking around, the man then broke into an ATM and gaming card loading machine, winning $1,500.

Two days later, a woman at the bowling alley said she couldn’t believe what happened.

“What went through their minds to say, ‘I’m going to punch a hole in a ceiling,'” she said.

A handful of loyal customers said they were sad to hear this had happened to such a large company.

“I honestly hate it, just because it’s such a family business,” one customer said. “We bring our kids here all the time, so it really broke my heart for the staff I met here as well.”

While detectives worked to track down the man on camera, Powers said he hoped the break-in would lead to changes in security at the business.

“I hope they get better security and are able to protect that ATM,” Powers said.

Murfreesboro police continue to search for the suspect and believe he is 6 feet tall and weighs approximately 170 pounds. The images show him wearing a green camouflage balaclava, a black jacket and blue jeans.

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact Murfreesboro Police at 629-201-5638.

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