Buckhead smash-and-grabs believed to be related

Police believe a pair of smash-and-grab robberies committed early Monday morning in Buckhead are related.

Thieves used a piece of asphalt to break the front window of the Blue Genes store near Lenox Mall around 4:20 a.m. and made off with two van loads of merchandise. Later, a similar break-in was reported at a Ritz Camera store on West Paces Ferry Road.

The bandits stole more than $100,000 in merchandise from Blue Genes, where a pair of premium denim jeans can cost up to $400.

“We lost everything,” said Jennifer Arrendale, who owns the store along with her two sisters. “They literally took every jean off every rack.”

It was the seventh break-in at Blue Genes, which opened about eight years ago. The last one came about a year ago.

Monday’s was by far the worst. According to the store owners, a security guard witnessed the crime but didn’t try to stop it.

“He drove up and sees two vans and six guys,” said Derek Sims, the husband of one of the owners. “But he said he was afraid to get out of the car.”

Arrendale said she and her sisters have insurance, but it will take a couple weeks to replace the inventory.

They plan on staying in that location despite all the break-ins.

“Our shopping center is being sold and the people who are buying it, they came in this morning and said they want to help us out,” Arrendale said. “They were like, ‘Please don’t leave. We’re going to get better security. We’re going to make it.’”