Last Saturday, a Springfield man's alleged quest for quick cash came to a crashing halt when local police nabbed him during a break-in at the Racing Mart convenience store on Carew Street. Curtis Combs III, 47, faced his downfall thanks to the watchful eyes of patrolling officers and a hammer that spelled both the means to an end and an instrument of vandalism.

Around 4:30 a.m., Springfield Police officers were on routine patrol when they stumbled upon the store with its window brutally shattered. Approaching the scene, they witnessed a chaotic struggle between Combs and two store employees. Combs attempted to escape as the law showed up, but his freedom was short-lived. He dropped cigarette cartons and was promptly detained by officers who also confiscated his hammer, according to the Springfield Police Department.

Surveillance footage reviewed later by authorities depicted Combs using the hammer to break into the store after initially smashing a window and scouting the back of the building. Upon his forceful re-entry, Combs gathered items rapidly until confronted by the employees, culminating in the encounter that ended with his arrest.

The cost of Combs' alleged early morning escapade totaled a steep $4,000 in property damage, with the value of stolen goods surpassing $2,600. His charges include, Breaking and Entering into a Building – Nighttime for a Felony, Vandalize Property, Possession of a Burglarious Instrument, Larceny over $1200, and Assault & Battery, Springfield Police detailed in their report. The store remains boarded up, awaiting repairs as it tries to recover from the induced monetary blows.