Boutique owners fed up with smash-and-grab burglaries

ATLANTA — Three businesses were burglarized at least a half-dozen times by criminals who used cars to smash their way in.

Atlanta police say over the past eight months, three stores have been targeted around 4 a.m.

Threadz in Atlanta's Virginia Highlands neighborhood has been hit four times.

"It's happening all around the city and it's happening to the same businesses," Threadz store owner Channell Fils said.

Exclusive Game, also in northeast Atlanta, has been burglarized four times and a Maniere on Marietta Street was also burglarized a total of four times.

Police say the burglaries are happening at least once a month.

"We have taken extra measures every single time that it has happened. We've stepped it up on our part to try and keep them out," Fils said.

Neighbor Timothy Mather saw a vehicle ram through the front door of the clothing boutique on St. Charles Avenue in Atlanta's Virginia Highlands neighborhood.

Around 4 a.m. Tuesday, Mather saw a car attempt to do the same thing.

"I saw the commotion. I saw the car so I called 911," Mather said.

Witnesses say the burglars tried to run their car through the business despite there being a concrete bench blocking the front door.

Business owners told Channel 2 Action News they'd like to see an increased police presence around their stores.

Cox Media Group