Police fear violence in pawn shop thefts may escalate

A gang wanted for robbing seven metro area pawn shops and attacking six employees could get even more violent if not captured, investigators said.

Suspected gang members have already shot two pawn shop employees and tased four others, Georgia Bureau of Investigation spokesman John Bankhead said Thursday.

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Courtesy of the GBI

Police are searching for this man, who may be tied to a gang that robbed seven pawn shops.

The gang is linked to robberies at the following Pawn Mart stores:

Oct. 14, 2008: Winder
Nov. 5, 2008: Stockbridge
Dec. 9, 2008: Cheshire Bridge Road, Atlanta
Feb. 1: Lilburn
Feb. 4: Riverdale
March 19: Snellville
April 1: Forest Park
Source: GBI

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“Our concern is if this continues, the violence might escalate,” he said. “We’re asking the public if they recognize any of these suspects, to call the GBI or their local police.”

Police have made two arrests, but are still searching for five suspects.

The gang of seven has been linked to seven robberies at Pawn Mart stores from Forest Park to Winder, Bankhead said. The robberies started in October 2008 and the last one occurred April 1.

Police are now investigating to see if the gang is linked to a March 4 robbery at Big Chicken Pawn in Marietta.

“The subjects captured on video, as well as the M.O. of the robbery looks the same as the Pawn Mart robberies,” Bankhead said.

The gang seeks cash and always goes for the safe, but sometimes takes jewelry, Bankhead said.

Security guards for the stores linked the robberies after seeing the same suspects on the stores’ surveillance videos. The security guards took the case to the Forest Park Police, who asked the GBI for help, Bankhead said.