Clayton Co. police arrest suspect in string of cellphone store robberies

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — Clayton County police arrested a man they believe is responsible for a string of cellphone store robberies.

Police say Paul Anthony Smith held up a Metro PCS store on Tara Boulevard in Jonesboro Saturday night.

The clerk, Kymberley Hines, said he pointed a gun at her and stole money from the cash register.

"Very terrifying, especially know that I was there alone," Hines said.

She helped police identify Smith and that's when deputies with the sheriff's office went looking for him.

"The sheriff's department had some information and were actually sitting up on a location and were able to spot him and detained him at that point," said Major Johnny Robinson of the Clayton County Police Department.

To add insult to injury, Hines said her boss fired her after the incident. She said it was because she had too much money in the register.

"She handed me a paper stating that I was terminated due to not following company policy," Hines said.
The owner of the store said she had no comment on Hines' termination.

Police said Smith, 27, is responsible for a string of robberies. Detectives said last Tuesday, surveillance cameras recorded Smith robbing another Metro PCS store in Henry County and he's also a suspect in a robber in McDonough.

WSBTV