An apparently thirsty burglar with an unhealthy fondness for nicotine smashed his way into a downtown convenience store before daybreak Thursday.
According to Atlanta police dispatchers, the break-in happened just before 3 a.m. at the International Peach Mart at the corner of Andrew Young International Boulevard and Peachtree Street, in the heart of downtown’s tourist district.
“Somebody threw a rock and smashed the window,” store owner Syed Hussain told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Hussain said the burglar stole 20 cartons of cigarettes and a 6-pack of beer.
“The same thing happened about a week ago,” he said, adding that police arrested a man suspected in Thursday morning’s burglary.
“They got him today,” Hussain said.
Atlanta police spokeswoman Kim Jones said that about 30 minutes after the break-in, officers responded to a fight at the intersection of Mitchell and Broad streets.
“One of the males fled the scene, but Michael Taylor was detained,” Jones said. “Mr. Taylor had a 6-pack of Bud Light beer in his possession and several cartons of cigarettes.”
She said the owner of the Peach Mart was able to identify the cigarettes by name brand and a label on each carton.
Taylor, who Jones said used cinder block to break the glass window of the store and had several small cuts on his hands, was charged with burglary, criminal trespass and theft-by-taking.
Hussain said it would probably cost about $2,500 to repair the damage done by the thief.
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