Burglars Driving Police Through The Roof

MARIETTA, GA -- Police in East Cobb County are ripping their hair out trying to figure out why so many businesses have been burglarized this month. Since November first 19-businesses in the busy Roswell Road/Johnson Ferry Road corridor have been broken into. They believe six of them were by the same person or persons.

Lt. Mark Chenoweth at Cobb County's East Police Precinct says in those six burglaries sports bars and convenience stores have been targeted. "They're either going through the roof accessing the vents or if they can't do that they're breaking through the back walls," he said.

A burglar went through the back wall of a Shell station on Johnson Ferry Road to avoid motion sensors. Once inside he pried open an ATM and safe stealing cash inside. "They're disarming or trying to disarm the alarm systems," Lt. Chenoweth said.

At Montana's Bar and Grill on Johnson Ferry Road, burglars went through the roof vent to get into the bar to break into the ATM. At Wild Wing Cafe on Roswell Road the burglar first tried the roof, but then broke through a glass door in the back of the sports bar. Manager Sarah White said the burglar broke into the office by prying open the door. "Then he went after the safe and all he was able to do is break the handle off," she said.

The damage he caused to the business was painful enough. White estimates it cost at least two thousand dollars to replace the door, the alarm system and safe.

At Rick's Farmers Market on Roswell Road burglars broke in through a front window after cutting phone lines in the back. "He tried to pry the safe open which he didn't get into," said owner Rick Champion.

Police believe the same suspect or suspects hit six businesses the same way. But there's more. Thirteen other businesses around the same area have been burglarized in the first three weeks of November.

Lt. Chenoweth says they investigate less than ten burglaries every month. "We have enhanced our uniform patrols and we've adjusted the hours some of our detectives work to be out there during the hours the businesses are being robbed.

He says they are also asking businesses for help. "If you're a sports bar or a convenience store that's not open all night we're asking them to leave interior lights on so that when our officer patrol they can see inside the business," Lt. Chenoweth said.

"I guess maybe it's a sign of the times but I sure wish they'd catch this guy," Champion said. He says he is installing an elaborate security system in his business. "If he tries us again we're going to be ready for him," he said. "If he's listening he needs to take note we'll be ready for him."