A Dallas man has been charged in connection with a series of ATM thefts in Mississippi, including a November 2024 incident at Community Bank in Tupelo.
On November 11, 2024, Tupelo Police officers responded to a report of property damage at the bank at 1317 North Gloster Street. Upon their arrival, they found a violent break-in at an ATM, resulting in the theft of a substantial amount of money. During the inquiry, officials discovered that several banks across the state had been similarly targeted.
The inquiry took a significant turn the next day, November 12, when officers in Duncanville, Texas, performed a traffic stop that resulted in the arrest of 24-year-old Winder Alex Canelon-Tiapa of Dallas. Tupelo and Madison Police Department officers flew to Texas, where they discovered evidence linking Canelon-Tiapa to the Mississippi crimes. They then issued warrants for his arrest in Mississippi.
Canelon-Tiapa was transferred to Tupelo on March 22, 2025, and came before Tupelo Municipal Court Judge Weir on March 24, who ruled that he be kept without bond. He is charged with grand larceny and conspiracy to commit grand larceny. The case will be brought before the Lee County Grand Jury.
The Tupelo Police Department is continuing its investigation and thanks the Duncanville Police Department, the US Secret Service Cyber Fraud Task Force, Madison Police Department, Amory Police Department, and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office for their cooperation.
