Brent sends in this surveillance cam video of a suspect who stole a laptop from a neighboring office on Decatur Square this morning around 10:20am.

If you see or recognize the guy at the beginning of this video, please contact Decatur Police immediately.

All residents, especially those that live in and around Sycamore Heights and Glenwood Estates, be on the look out for suspicious activity that is similar to either the aforementioned Glenlake assault and robbery or the Ridgeland assault and robbery described by Chris below.

I don’t know if this is related, but this afternoon between 5:30 and 6:00 an elderly man on Ridgeland Avenue (which is fairly close to Glendale) reported that two men broke into his house, assaulted him, and stole his money. I spoke with him briefly and saw that he’d been pretty severely beaten-he was bleeding fairly profusely from his face and had a large bruise forming on his eye. I told the police that as I was walking home on Sycamore Ave, I saw two young black males (18-22) running from the scene-one wearing a white tank top and, I think jeans. The other was wearing blue or purple shorts and no shirt, but may have been carrying a dark shirt in his hand.

The two crimes do appear to be very similar – including the time of day (around 6p) – and could indeed be related, but we’ll await final word from DPD on that.

Please be safe and a bit more cautious than usual out there.

Anne forwards this bulletin from Decatur PD…

NEWS ALERT

On Thursday April 9, 2009 the Decatur Police Department responded to a report of an armed robbery at the Oakview Grocery store. No one was injured in the incident, but the store employee stated he was threatened by the suspects who brandished firearms. The victim stated the suspects were two African-american males and a white female. The suspects fled the area in a black Jeep Cherokee with New York license plate. The suspects are described as: Read the rest of this entry »

Another recent robbery. But this one doesn’t seem to involve a weapon.  Plus the perpetrators were arrested within 5 minutes.

An avid reader pulled this off the Winnona Park message board…

From a Winnona Park neighbor:

Another head’s up…we got a note in our mailbox today that this morning [Nov. 11] at 3 am, our neighbor on Derrydown was robbed at her doorstep. The offender got away with nothing but her empty purse and was captured 5 minutes after she contacted the police. He was arrested with 2 other people, a woman and a man at the Chevron at the intersection of Columbia and Memorial Dr.

And follow-up from another Winnona Park neighbor:

The robbery of our neighbor on Derrydown on Tuesday 3 am, Nov 11, was a crime of opportunity and totally unrelated to Winnona Park itself.  The perps live in Atlanta, had run out of drugs & money, saw a woman driving alone, followed her home and parked their car down the street from her house. One got out of the car and confronted her at her door. Thankfully she was not harmed and was able to quickly telephone the police and they were able to arrest the culprits.

The Decatur Police say they see more incidents in a weak economy and during the holiday shopping season. They will have more patrols out in downtown Decatur along with our citizen CAPS volunteer to put more eyes on the streets.

Some suggestions from the police to ward off such attacks – be aware of your surroundings and whether someone is following you, to call the police from your cell phone or drive to a police station. Shopping center parking lots are a prime location for crime. Unfortunately too, women out alone appear more vulnerable, though, as we see from the armed robbery in downtown Decatur, either sex can be victims.

Chief Lee asked that if residents have concerns or questions, to call his work phone 678-553-6620.

RustyDiamond (and a whole lot of other people) forwarded me this note yesterday.  I held onto it until I received confirmation from Decatur PD that it was in fact valid.  This morning I got confirmation, so here it is…

Last night approximately 11 pm my brother-in-law was robbed at gunpoint in downtown Decatur by two teenagers. This occurred at the corner of Ponce and N. Candler street by the J. Christopher’s restaurant and Decatur Methodist. He had parallel parked on N. Candler and was walking back to his car alone from meeting friends downtown.

The perps were a “crew” of two African American males with medium skin tone. The older teen was obviously experienced and directed the younger teen holding the gun what to do. Both wore dark hoodies and one hoodie had gold lettering. They told him to throw his keys on the ground (I assume to avoid him hitting the panic button or using any pepper spray on his key chain as they did not try to take his car). They then sprayed him with pepper spray and demanded his wallet and his phone. They fled on foot toward Kroger.

I know many of us park in this area all the time so please be vigilant and if you are aware of any similar crimes with this same MO or you happen to have any idea who these guys are please let Decatur PD know.

Here’s Decatur PD’s response… “Yes, it did occur but it is an active and ongoing investigation. Inv. Karolyi was assigned the case.”

Seems like all of our leads and details were right on the money. Nice job Carl and everyone else that contributed pieces to this story.

Here’s the full story from the AJC…

The rash of “blue jean bandit” thefts in Atlanta has apparently spread to Decatur, where a clothing store was struck by thieves within an hour of a similar robbery in Buckhead.

Kaleidoscope, a clothing store on West Ponce de Leon in downtown Decatur, was robbed Wednesday afternoon, Decatur police Capt. David Hipple said. A group of young males pepper-sprayed employees before fleeing with high-end blue jeans and other apparel.

The same thing happened about an hour earlier, shortly before 4 p.m., at Brazil Fine Italian Menswear on Peachtree Road near Piedmont Hospital, Atlanta police spokesman Eric Schwartz said.

Two men came into the store and stayed about 10 minutes before leaving, only to return with about five or six other men. A female employee was pepper-sprayed and punched in the face by the suspects.

Police suspect the incidents are related. The suspects in the Decatur robbery fled the scene in a stolen gold minivan police say they think was used in the earlier Atlanta theft.

Atlanta and Decatur police plan to hold a joint news conference later this afternoon in Atlanta to discuss the incidents, Hipple said.

Police for months have been looking for a band of thieves who have been preying on high-end boutiques. Until now, the blue jean bandits have struck late at night, breaking glass windows and doors to gain entry.

Hipple said video footage taken from surveillance cameras at the Decatur boutique shows the suspects’ faces. Decatur police chased the minivan after the incident but lost the vehicle in Atlanta, he said.  [A comment in the previous post said the chase took place on DeKalb Ave and was halted after the van hit three cars]

The daylight robberies are brazen, Hipple said.

“It happens quick, and I guess that’s their advantage,” he said.

So no one has EVER been arrested in connection with these “blue jean” robberies? It seems like a crime ring.

Also, if these are the “blue jean bandits” known for their quick in-and-out, its pretty impressive that the Decatur PD was able to catch up with them. I’ve yet to hear about another jean robbery where police pursued suspects. I would like to know more detail about how they were alerted.

h/t: InDecatur

Carl is reporting that a couple of smash-and-grab bandits walked into Kaleidescope Boutique yesterday, “hit and pepper-sprayed” employees and took off with two racks of clothes.

Unfortunately, we have yet to find any news sources covering the story so all of these details can’t be confirmed. Note that this info is at least second-hand, but Carl did receive confirmation that the robbery did in fact occur.

If you have heard any other details or just want to show your support, please comment.

A really odd and disconcerting occurrence in our normally tranquil downtown. I really hope everyone involved is doing all right today.

Another way to show your support to this 7-year Decatur staple is to stop by their anniversary party this evening (which is still on despite yesterday’s events)

From Daily Candy…

PARTY (and SHOP)
Kaleidoscope Boutique Anniversary Party
What: They’re celebrating seven years in the fashion biz with Badda Bing cupcakes, a Sawicki’s spread, a DJ, and 30 percent off.
Why: Better find something to wear.
When: Thurs., 6-10 p.m.
Where: 252 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur (404-378-1214).