Deputies: Man with 27 prior arrests wanted for burglarizing Penny Bar in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - A man who has been arrested 27 times in the past is now wanted after deputies said he burglarized the Penny Bar in Springfield.

On December 10 at 4:30 a.m., the Sangamon County Sheriff's Office responded to an alarm at the Penny Bar in the 2800 block of South Price St.

Deputies found the front door had been forced open, and two gaming machines had been damaged.

They said the suspect, 61-year-old Ethan Atwood, was trying to steal money from the machines but was unable to do so. They said he caused over $3,000 in damage.

Video footage provided by the gaming machine operator, J&J Ventures, showed a man forcing his way inside and damaging the machines.

A detective recognized the suspect as Atwood from previous gaming machine burglary cases.

An arrest warrant was issued for Atwood on December 11, charging him with felony burglary and felony criminal damage to property.

Atwood has not been found. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's office at (217) 753-6666.

Atwood's prior arrests include offenses related to assault, theft, burglary, drugs, weapons, criminal damage, and traffic violations.