Smash-and-grab burglars hit 2 stores

Smash-and-grab burglars struck an east Atlanta vision center for the third time in a month early Wednesday in a heist that police said could be connected to another retail burglary an hour later at Atlantic Station.

In the first burglary, thieves made off with an estimated $50,000 in designer eyeglass frames from Atlanta Vision Optical on Caroline Street, store owner Ghazal Sabeti Tabrizipour said.

Tabrizipour, who opened the store in Moreland Avenue’s Edgewood Retail District a year ago Wednesday, said she lost a similar amount of merchandise in each of the two previous burglaries.

She said four suspects, their heads covered and wearing gloves, smashed through the front door just before 5 a.m. Wednesday, then shattered the glass display cases — same as in the two earlier heists.

“It’s the same guys every time, in a gray van parked in front of the store,” Tabrizipour said.

“They come in and smash all the glass,” she said. “They know exactly what to go for.”

Tabrizipour said the stolen eyeglass frames retail for $200 to nearly $400 a pair.

Last May, smash-and-grab burglars hit the Pearle Vision store on Lenox Road in Buckhead, making off with about $150,000 in designer eye wear.

Atlanta police are also investigating a smash-and-grab at Dillard’s Department Store in Atlantic Station. A large display window was shattered and purses were scattered on the floor inside the store. Atlanta police spokesman James Polite said one suspect was taken into custody after that burglary, which happened about 6 a.m.

Tamarkus Thomas, 18, was charged with burglary, criminal damage to property and giving false information.

Police were also looking for a gray van in connection with the Atlantic Station incident.

Asked if the two Wednesday morning burglaries are related, Polite said, “We have strong reason to believe so.”