Decatur is on high alert as a series of commercial burglaries rattle local businesses, with eight establishments hit over the course of this past week. Decatur Police Department is poring over evidence and seeking assistance from the public to quickly bring the culprits to book. In the early hours of January 23, thieves shattered the peace along North Arcadia Avenue by breaking into Jersey Mike’s Subs, Planet Smoothie, Jeremiah’s Italian Ice, and RC’s Salon, according to a statement obtained by Atlanta News First’s Decaturish. Sgt. John Bender detailed how "unknown suspects forced entry through the locations' windows" and went straight for the cash register drawers before fleeing in their getaway vehicle.
Two days following, the crime spree seemed to boldly continue as more businesses were targeted on East College Avenue and East Howard Avenue. Responding to a call at 3:40 and a.m., Decatur Police found Bleu Hanger, Joe May Valet Cleaners, Vivid Hair Salon, and Opo Coffee had all similarly been burglarized, with the perpetrators once again invading through windows and ransacking the registers. Sgt. Bender, in a statement, outlined the method of entry and the fact that the suspects fled the scene in an unknown vehicle.
With the increasing sense of urgency, Decatur police are kicking their investigation into high gear. "The Decatur Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division is actively working on these cases and reviewing numerous surveillance cameras of the incidents," Sgt. Bender said, in a bid to piece together these brazen acts of thievery that have left the business community on edge. Additionally, there's a push to identify a man connected to one of the lucrative burglaries, as reported by WHNT News. Relatedly, over $3,000 was swiped during one of the incidents, ramping up the stakes for local law enforcement's manhunt.
The DPD is also reaching out publicly to reel in assistance, asking anyone with information about the rash of burglaries or the suspected man to come forward. In a collaborative plea, Detective J. Heflin emphasized the need for community engagement: "Anyone with any information about the man or the incident is asked to call." Witness accounts and tips, even anonymous ones, could prove pivotal in their race to close in on the perpetrators and restore a sense of security to the shaken business owners and residents of Decatur.
