Authorities have released surveillance camera images in hopes of collaring a suspect in a rash of late-night smash-and-grab burglaries.

The photos, taken Feb. 13 at the BP Station on Golden Parkway near Interstate 985, depict a burglar who smashed the store’s front door with an ax, took rolls of lottery scratch-off tickets and cartons of cigarettes and left in a dark colored Toyota Pathfinder.

Hall County sheriff’s Col. Jeff Strickland said the burglar’s mode of operation falls in line with six other convenience store burglaries that have been committed in Hall County since early November. All happened between midnight and 5 a.m. and involved smashing glass doors, taking lottery tickets and cigarettes, and leaving in two minutes or less.

The stores were all located within a short drive of the interstate. They included Marathon on Ga. 129 at Roy Parks Road, Texaco on McEver Road at Friendship Road, Shell at Ga. 365 and Tribble Gap, Golden Pantry at Winder Highway and Ga. 211 and Shell on Friendship Road.

Surveillance video taken from some of the earlier burglaries has led investigators to believe they are dealing with the same burglar, Strickland said. In one burglary, the getaway is made in a dark-colored Mitsubishi Gallant, Strickland said.

Strickland said investigators also think the same burglar may be responsible for similar crimes in Gwinnett and Barrow Counties.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Hall County Sheriff’s Office at 770-531-6879.