Blue jean bandits hit Virginia-Highland boutique twice in two days

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By Mike Morris and John Spink

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The owner of an upscale Virginia-Highland clothing boutique that was targeted by blue jean bandits early Tuesday said he would not be deterred by the second smash-and-grab burglary in as many days.

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John Spink, jspink@ajc.com Store owner Winter Hodges cleans up broken glass.

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Store owner Winter Hodges cleans up before dawn after crooks struck his Virginia-Highland clothing boutique early Tuesday, making off with thousands of dollars in clothing.

John Spink, jspink@ajc.com Store owner Winter Hodges cleans up before dawn after crooks struck his Virginia-Highland clothing boutique early Tuesday, making off with thousands of dollars in clothing.

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The first burglary happened about 3:30 a.m. Monday at the 310 Rosemont boutique on North Highland Avenue just north of Virginia Avenue. Twenty-four hours later, burglars hit again.

Both times, the front glass was smashed out by intruders who made off with high-dollar "True Religion" men’s and women’s jeans as well as women’s accessories.

While he was still tallying up his losses from Tuesday’s break-in, owner Winter Hodges estimated that the thieves stole around $25,000 in merchandise in the two burglaries.

“When I left last night, after a day of exhaustion,” the last thing on my mind was would the people who did this be brave enough to do it again,” Hodges told the AJC.

“I’ve had a home in Morningside for 16 years,” said Hodges, who also owns three stores in Tennessee and Virginia, all named 310 Rosemont after his childhood address. “Having a store in Virginia-Highland has been a dream.”

That dream came true three months ago when he opened his store on North Highland.

“It’s a lifestyle, not just a shopping center, and to be a part of it is an honor,” he said. “There’s not a day that goes by that someone doesn’t stick their head in the door and say, ‘welcome to the neighborhood.’”

Hodges said that while he doesn’t want to "bring a bad element into the community” because of the brands of clothing that he carries, “I’m not going to let two nights' worth of glass breaking and some denim stealing shatter my dreams to be a part of the community.”