ATLANTA — Investigators are trying to determine if thieves are using pressurized air cans or nitrogen tanks to break into cars.
According to police records, there were two similar break-ins inside the parking deck at the Post Gardens Apartments in Buckhead.
The driver-side door locks appeared to have been punched out, and one victim said police are investigating whether a can of compressed air was used in the crime.
"Maybe a pressurized Co2 can, or a pressurized nitrous can," she repeated to Channel 2's Carl Willis. "We're not really sure. But it's just, wow!"
Concentrated and extended blasts from the can could freeze and weaken the metal, making it more susceptible to a hit.
The victim said she found her door locks punched out and her SUV rifled through. The woman, who did not want to be identified, said she just moved to Buckhead from Virginia two weeks ago.
"That's one of the reasons that we chose this area, so this wouldn't happen," she said.
She said the information she's been told about the investigation is a new one to her.
"Based on the markings, and based on the way the lock was broken, that was a nitrous can," she said.
She said that information came from investigators looking into the break-in of her Ford SUV and a Dodge Challenger that was parked in the same parking deck.
Both vehicles were ransacked but police said it wasn't clear if anything was taken.
According to the police report, a security guard scared off the thieves after responding to a car alarm. At that time, two suspects were seen leaving the area. One jumped a fence and the other hopped into a black Ford pickup where a third suspect was waiting for him, police said. An officer dusted for prints but was unable to find any.
WSBTV
