Bouncer charged, others wanted in theft of $41K from car at Atlantic Beach gentleman’s club

ATLANTIC BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — A bouncer who worked at an Atlantic Beach gentleman’s club was involved in the theft of $41,000 from the trunk of a car on Friday night at Thee DollHouse, the town’s acting police chief told News12 on Tuesday.

Jonathan Gerard Laurent, 28, was captured on surveillance footage taking a black safe containing the cash out of a vehicle, and authorities say he didn’t act alone.

Laurent is charged with grand larceny of $10,000 or more and breaking into a motor vehicle. He was booked into the J. Reuben Long Detention Center early Saturday morning and released Monday after posting bond, jail records show.

According to interim Police Chief Carlos Castillo Jr., the money was stolen from the car of a person who had been in jail.

“The victim was released from jail, he came back to get his car, and he noticed the safe was missing,” he said. “That’s when he notified dispatch.”

Castillo said investigators turned to the camera, which caught the entire incident. He said the footage shows more than just Laurent taking part in the crime.

More charges are expected. Castillo said the other suspects were subcontractors.

Police said the theft was a crime of opportunity, and there’s no threat to the public.

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Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12 . See more of his work here .

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Jackie LiBrizzi is a multimedia journalist at News13. Jackie is originally from Hamilton, New Jersey, and was raised in Piedmont, South Carolina. Jackie joined the News13 team in June 2023 after she graduated as a student-athlete from the University of South Carolina in May 2023. Follow Jackie on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook , or Instagram , and read more of her work he r e .

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