Blue jean bandits foiled in Midtown break-in

A high-end Midtown clothing boutique hit by smash-and-grab bandits twice in May was able to withstand a third assault Thursday, thanks to a reinforced metal grate installed by the owner.

This time, the burglars smashed the glass rear door of eModa on West Peachtree Street before 6 a.m., but were unable to make it past metal grating inside the door.

On May 8, thieves made off with an estimated $20,000 in expensive blue jeans and designer t-shirts from the store.

Thieves struck again on May 14, taking an estimated $50,000 in clothing, purses and jewelry, according to store owner Dan Kogan.

Later that night, Atlanta police recovered 10 pair of jeans priced at up to $341 a pair, two t-shirts and a $658 purse, all still carrying eModa tags, during a narcotics bust in southwest Atlanta.

Two adults and three juveniles were arrested during the bust, in which police also confiscated suspected cocaine, three stolen flat-screen TVs, four guns, ammunition and bolt cutters.

After the May 8 burglary, Kogan had metal grates installed over the door, but the thieves on May 14 were able to push down the grating.

The grating was reinforced after that burglary, and the stronger grate held Thursday morning.