Cops find suspected getaway car of latest ‘blue-jean bandits'

By Larry Hartstein

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Police believe they've found the getaway car used by the thieves who swiped more than $17,000 worth of jeans from Perimeter Mall.

Acting on a tip, police found the maroon Ford Taurus station wagon at an Atlanta apartment complex Wednesday morning. Atlanta police impounded the car and are processing it for evidence.

Dunwoody Sgt. Mike Carlson said his department is working closely with Atlanta police "because it was the same method of operation [as previous Atlanta robberies]." Carlson was referring to the so-called Blue Jean Bandits, a gang that committed a slew  of similar robberies last year.

"We're working with them to find out what suspects they have, what leads they have, and working off that," Carlson added.

About 5:40 p.m. Friday, five men approached the True Religion jeans display at the Bloomingdale's at Perimeter Mall. They grabbed 30 to 35 pairs of jeans and ran out to a maroon station wagon with a "drive-out" tag, police said.

The jeans were valued at $17,150.