A gas station employee on Fairburn Road SW was verbally threatened during the early morning hours of September 18 as suspects ransacked the store, smashing a glass case of vapes and electronic cigarettes and walking off with armfuls of merchandise, according to police. The incident, which happened at the store located at 510 Fairburn Road SW, remains unsolved nearly two weeks later, and investigators are now turning to the public for help identifying those responsible.
What Surveillance Video Allegedly Shows
According to 11Alive, Atlanta police are seeking suspects wanted in connection with the robbery at the southwest Atlanta gas station. Officers say the suspects stole multiple items from the store, with one suspect reportedly leaving with candy while another broke the glass case holding vapes and electronic cigarettes. Police say the group also verbally threatened the store employee during the encounter.
Investigators requested information about the suspects seen in the surveillance footage from that night, though the station's report does not include descriptions of the individuals, their clothing, or how many people were involved beyond the actions attributed to “one suspect” and “suspects” generally. It also is not clear from the available reporting whether a weapon was displayed during the confrontation, how much merchandise was taken in total, or whether anyone has since been arrested.
Reward Money and How to Submit a Tip
Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest in the case, per the same account. Tipsters do not need to provide their names or any identifying information when reporting what they know.
Anonymous tips can be submitted through StopCrimeATL.org, via the P3 Tips app, by texting CSGA to 738477, or by calling the Crime Stoppers tip line at 404-577-8477.
A Similar Case From Earlier This Year
The Fairburn Road case echoes another unsolved Atlanta robbery from earlier this year that also relied on public tips to track down suspects. In that incident, Atlanta police said two men robbed a pedestrian at gunpoint on Lakewood Terrace SE on March 26, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. Officers responded to that robbery report around 5:36 p.m., and surveillance footage showed the suspects striking the victim in the head with a firearm, stealing a bookbag containing clothing and shoes, then fleeing the scene in a white sedan.
Both cases underscore how heavily Atlanta police continue to lean on surveillance footage and crowd-sourced tips to identify suspects when physical descriptions are limited. For now, the identities of those involved in the Fairburn Road break-in remain unknown, and police are counting on someone who recognizes the suspects in the video to come forward.
