Henry County police are on the hunt for a nimble-fingered shoplifter who swooped on a local smoke shop, making off with an armful of vapes and a pair of torch guns, officials detailed. The caper, as described by the authorities, unfolded Monday afternoon at Xhale City on Fairview Road in Ellenwood, when the suspect allegedly seized the moment to snatch the goods while the clerk searched for keys to a display case. The thief was fleet of foot, bolting from the establishment with the stolen items before the employee could react, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.

The law enforcement's plea for public assistance was broadcasted via their Facebook page, accompanied by surveillance snaps of the man believed to be the thief, in hopes that someone will come forward to ID the suspect. If anyone holds knowledge that could further the investigation, they are urged to contact Henry County detectives at (770) 288-8278, the Henry County Non-Emergency Dispatch at 770-957-9121, or tip anonymously by texting (770) 220-7009.

Meanwhile, in Marion County, a similar crime took a heavier toll on a local business owner. Alex Morales, a 19-year-old, has been pinched by the fuzz on charges including burglary, grand theft, and criminal mischief after a smash-and-grab at Smoky Monkey Smoke Shop in Belleview. Officers happened upon Morales while investigating an unrelated case and identified him as matching the description of a suspect caught on camera wielding a baseball bat to break into the shop in the early hours of April 9.

Morales, upon his encounter with the police, initially claimed innocence, suggesting his involvement was merely dumpster diving due to his age-restricted access to legitimate purchases. However, his story crumbled, and according to an arrest report obtained by WCJB, he eventually confessed to the break-in. The owner of the smoke shop estimates a hair-raising $13,854 in stolen merchandise including vapes, tobacco, THC products, sex toys, and other accessories while claiming repair costs will run a couple thousand dollars.

The two incidents, happening within the span of weeks, underscore a concerning pattern targeting such specialty stores, with thieves growing bolder, and owners left bearing the brunt of both loss and damages. Law enforcement across counties are urging vigilance and appealing to anyone with information about these crimes to step forward and help them snuff out this spree of burglaries.