Police are looking for a group of men who are holding up RaceTrac gas stations for cigarettes.
Investigators say they've hit two stores in Cobb County so far and have stolen nearly $10,000 worth of cigarettes, nearly 200 cartons.
Police told Channel 2’s Liz Artz that the suspects backed into a parking spot right in front of the door, rushed in, took the cigarettes and, within five minutes, were at another RaceTrac committing the same theft.
Artz obtained a photograph of at least four men who police say backed a black Infinity Q50 up to the front door of a RaceTrac gas station on Austell Road, and rushed the employee inside, stealing 120 cartons of Marlboro Gold cigarettes.
“That's really hard to believe that was right here. I live right around the corner. It’s pretty unsettling," said customer Tyler Jefferson.
It happened at 6:27 a.m.
Cobb County detectives say the men then drove three miles to the RaceTrac on Floyd Toad and, within minutes, had made their way inside, stealing 73 more cartons.
According to a police report, the men, wearing hoodies, knew exactly where the cartons of cigarettes were stored, making the employees think at least one suspect may have been a former worker.
Police say the thieves were driving with a stolen license plate, and witnesses reported one suspect has a cross tattooed on his face above his nose like Charles Manson.
"Stealing cigarettes and then selling them on the side, that’s crazy. I've never heard of that before," one customer told Artz.
Detectives told Artz that cigarettes are a hot item on the black market.
“I would hope they’re not selling them to kids," Jefferson said.
A RaceTrac representative released a statement to Artz, saying: "RaceTrac is fully cooperating with local authorities in their investigation, as our primary concern is for the safety of our guests and team members in the area."
