Gustav evacuees busted in blue jeans thefts

Police arrested four Hurricane Gustav evacuees Thursday evening in Atlanta mimicking the Metro area’s bluejean bandits.

The crew — three women and a man — robbed two high-end Buckhead clothing stores of jeans before they were caught. They started around 5:45 p.m., at Luna at 3167 Peachtree Road, Atlanta police spokesman James Polite said.

“Four individuals went inside Luna, grabbing as much as they could grab,” Polite said. “Then they got into a vehicle and went to Brazil and did the same thing.”

Brazil, at 1923 Peachtree Road, is just three miles north of the first store, and witnesses identified the getaway car as a Pontiac G6 with Louisiana plates.

“Officers quickly spotted the car, and [the suspects] saw the officers and fled on foot,” Polite said.

Police gave chase and quickly arrested the four, all between the ages of 19 and their early 20s, Polite said.

The designer jeans, priced from $250 and up, were strewn throughout the car.

Police said the car was a rental, and the four suspects were all New Orleans residents who had fled Gustav.

Polite identified the suspects as Laurn Jones, 19; Kerry Gayle, 19; Mijea Blazo, 19; and Ivyal Lagarde, 21.