Three Atlanta Shops Hit in 48 Hours

ATLANTA - Early Tuesday morning, two store managers received the dreaded 3 a.m. phone call. It came from their alarm companies, letting them know about the smash-and-grab burglaries.

In fact, in 48 hours, there were a total of three break-ins. In each one of them, thieves succeeded in snatching thousands of dollars in goods. 

When they just had a window to go through, a large rock did the trick. When the merchant paid for an expensive theft deterrent shield, thieves used a vehicle, almost always stolen, to break down the front entrance. 

The outdoor-themed North Face store was struck in Buckhead, as well as a high-fashion denim shop in Virginia Highland. Those two overnight crimes followed a hit on the Dillard's Department store two days ago. 

The thieves were selective, heading straight for the Polo gear. Investigators said they have already collected some evidence suggesting the smash-and-grabs may be linked to gangs.