Surveillance video shows men dropping in from the roof at a spot off Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. The latest robbery on Saturday ended with an arrest.
ATLANTA — A business on Atlanta’s west side is warning others to stay vigilant after enduring four robberies in November. Employees say the crimes are escalating, and they fear the threat isn’t over.
11Alive is keeping the business located along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and it’s employees anonymous for safety reasons. One employee says thieves cut the surveillance system cords and stole $5,000 to $6,000 during the first robbery.
“It’s just crazy. They could kill me. I don’t know who does this,” he said.
While each break-in appears to involve different suspects, the staff believes they could all be connected and involved in the same group. Each time, the suspects gained entry through the roof.
The latest robbery on Saturday captured on surveillance. The footage shows the suspect dropping into the store from the ceiling, just hours after the business closed.
“Police came with a helicopter and fire services,” the employee said. The man avoided capture for 40 minutes, even retreating into the ceiling when Atlanta police officers arrived.
Employees say police used gas to force the suspect down, leading to his arrest on the spot.
“He can’t stay a long time, then he just falls,” the employee explained.
Other suspects have not been apprehended and are accused by the employees of stealing thousands of dollars, including attempts to access the ATM by crawling on the ground.
Despite repairs being made after each incident, frustration is mounting. “We fixed it a fourth time.”
The owner believes the suspects have been exploiting the building’s ventilation system to gain access. Employees are urging other businesses to check their security systems to make sure they’re working, especially during the holiday season when they say property crimes tend to rise in the area.
Crime data supports their concerns. The neighborhood has already recorded 243 property crimes this year, compared to 252 in all of 2023.
“Don’t do it because you can work,” the employee said, addressing the thieves. “You can earn money, like me.”
If you think you know who these men are, Atlanta police would like to hear from you. As officers continue to investigate the string of robberies, the business and its employees hope for more safety and work to increase security.
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