Police: Juveniles on scooters terrorize Buckhead shoppers

ATLANTA - It lasted only minutes, but the Atlanta Police described what happened inside a Buckhead store Tuesday afternoon as "unacceptable."

"It's a very stressful situation to have a crew come running in a store like that and intimidating everyone in there,"  said Atlanta Police Major Barry Shaw. 

According to police and witnesses, a group of juveniles rode motorized scooters into the Target on Peachtree Road at around 2:30 p.m. and began running around the store screaming obscenities. 

"[They] tossed the scooters onto the ground and started yelling, 'What the f--- are you going to do about it?" recalled Ann Walsh, who was in the checkout at the time. "It was crazy.  It was like something out of a movie.  I've never seen anything like it."

The teens disappeared before police could arrive on scene, but Major Shaw said investigators will use surveillance video to identify and arrest those involved.  They will likely be charged with disorderly conduct. 

"Even though the actual charge at the end of it all may not be that serious of a charge, just the act and the way that it all took place is the reason why for us it's very serious and it's just something we just can't tolerate," Shaw explained. 

Police believe the same teens tried to pull a similar stunt earlier in the afternoon at Saks Fifth Avenue inside Phipps Plaza. Security officers at that store were able to get the teens off the property quickly.

Major Shaw said he believes the juveniles involved are part of the same core group that has been targeting the Peachtree corridor since last summer.  

"Something has got to happen. We're going to be in a lawless society pretty soon," said Walsh.