Police: Armed thief tries to target patrol car

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Police call a crew of thieves armed and dangerous after they were seen on video wielding a gun and attempting to break into a patrol car.

Covington Police released four surveillance videos of two crews of thieves targeting Covington neighborhoods. Investigators are working to see if the crews were working together.

The crime sprees were spread out over the timespan of Saturday at 9:30 p.m. through the early hours of Sunday morning. Police said one crew targeted cars on Pinecrest Drive. The crew was possibly driving a Toyota 4Runner.

Later that night and into Sunday morning, surveillance captured video of another crew, including the armed thief, breaking into cars and that Conyers Police patrol car sitting in a driveway.

Surveillance shows the armed thief holding a gun while approaching the patrol car, then stick it in his waistband as he approaches the officer's vehicle. The car was locked.

"For them to walk up, gun in hand, we absolutely consider them armed and dangerous," said Officer Justin Stott.

That crew did steal a blue 2012 Cadillac CTS from a Covington Place neighbor.

Police also released surveillance of a Conyers Racetrac, where investigators said the stolen credit cards were used by the thieves. The getaway vehicle is described as possibly a Mazda CX5. 

Investigators are working to tie the crews to other thefts in Newton County over the weekend.

Anyone with information is asked to call Covington Police Detective Mark Joyner at 770-385-2196 or at mark.joyner@covingtonpolice.com. Tipsters can also contact Crime Stoppers, where people can remain anonymous and receive up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest.