Smash-and-grab thieves target mothers' cars

CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. — Police are investigating a string of car break-ins in Cherokee County.

Thieves smashed the windows of cars parked at a day care, a karate school and Hobgood Park, according to police.

Mothers were targeted at Bells Ferry Learning Center in Woodstock.

“In all the years I’ve been here, 16 years, I’ve never had an incident like that happen,” owner Sharon Foster said.

Cherokee County investigators said in five incidents, thieves stole purses, looking specifically for IDs and checkbooks.

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“They must be sitting down with these IDs and checkbooks, and they’re going to multiple locations with checks from many different victims, and they’re thinking about what they’re doing. Plotting this out—pretty diabolical,” Lt. Jay Baker said.

Investigators believe the thieves may have done the same thing in Kennesaw and Alpharetta.

“Checks taken from other jurisdictions, other victims, deposited into our victims’ accounts. Then they come back three days later, and draw money from our victims’ accounts,” Baker said.

“It’s a pity to take that kind of brilliance and waste it on doing bad things that are hurtful to other people,” Foster said.

One victim’s check was cashed in Missouri. The sheriff’s office is waiting on video from the drive-up windows of those banks for more information.

Cox Media Group