Another Night In Atlanta. Another Car Driven Through The Front Door Of A Business. Don't Worry Black Folks Rand Paul Didn't Do It. Carry On

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AJC: Two smash-and-grabs in southwest Fulton

As a business owner in certain parts of the metro area you already are at a disadvantage as you have to invest more money into security systems and physical deterrents that your competitors have to do in less crime prone areas.

In the warm weather months of 2010 there has been a continuation of the mass anarchy that we saw last year.  The daily occurrence of the "Smash and Grab" robbery done by people who "Don't Give A Damn" about the destruction of private property that must be executed in order to gain physical access to the loot that they desire.

The problem got so bad last year that even the SCLC took a break from its in-fighting and held an "Anti-Street Pirate Rally".  To be honest though, more Democratic candidate campaign signs were held by the parade participants than were "Anti-Street Piracy" placards.

I can only conclude that the lack of community outrage over seeing yet another stolen car driven through the front doors of a business in their community is only because the "rank and file" in these communities don't believe that it was an assault against them.  Many dismiss it, saying that the company has insurance that will pay for the damage.

What they fail to realize is that the insurance company has a geographic survey system that can plot out where these crimes are happening and make an actuarial estimation about the risk that other businesses have in being robbed as such.  Thus the premiums paid by all businesses in the area go up.  This cost is reflected in the prices they charge the consumers.

How much longer is the Black community going to incubate these Street Pirates?   It is time to more directly engage these young people at a far earlier age, instilling them with the appropriate consciousness about themselves and MANAGING their educational experiences so that they won't be the ones who hotwire a car and drive it through the front door of a business in the area.

AJC Story

Atlanta police are investigating two early morning smash-and-grabs in southwest Fulton County

The first happened at an Aaron Rents store on 2973 Headland Drive around 4 a.m., police said.

A silver Ford Taurus destroyed the front of the store for thieves to then enter and take several flat screen TVs, Atlanta police spokesman James Polite said. A white mini van waiting nearby was used to transport the TVs, Polite said.

A security camera recorded the incident.

The second smash-and-grab happened at about 45 minutes later at a package store on Cleveland Avenue.

This time a maroon-colored van was used to smash into the store front, Polite said. It's unclear what was taken from the store.

Investigators are looking at both incidents to see whether they are connected, Polite said.

Earlier this week, thieves smashed a vehicle through the front doors of the Tower Package Store in the 3100 block of Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway, just off I-285, taking about $2,000 of liquor.

Dispatchers told the AJC that police are looking for a Dodge Caravan as a "possible vehicle of interest."

Also on Monday, burglars backed a blue Dodge Caravan through the front door of the Wolf Camera store on West Paces Ferry Road near I-75 and took a flat-screen television and a couple of cameras, police said.

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