WATCH: Burglar Crashes Through Front Window in Verizon Heist

Sign up for the Buford Patch newsletter!

-----

Gwinnett Police are looking for help in identifying the suspect or suspects in two recent Verizon Wireless store burglaries in the Buford area.

Police said more than $15,000 in cell phones, tablets and other items were stolen in the burglaries on Jan. 14 and March 16. Both crimes occurred early in the morning and involved smashing into the buildings.

Police released surveillance video from the March 16 incident at the Cumming Highway store (see YouTube video below), which shows a masked suspect using a sledgehammer to bust through a front window, then grabbing items from the shelves and displays before leaving — all in less than 90 seconds.

SEE ALSO

Phones, Tablets Looted in Wireless Store Burglary

$19K in Copper Stolen from Work Site Near Mall of GA

The incident, which was first reported by Patch, occurred at 3:43 a.m., police said. Around $5,500 in items were stolen.

The Verizon store on Buford Drive, near the Mall of Georgia, was burglarized around 2:30 a.m. on Jan. 14. Police said the burglar entered the building through the back exterior wall and made off with nearly $10,000 in goods. No description of the suspect was available.

The suspect in the March 16 case was described as 5-foot-5 to 5-foot-8 with a slim build. The suspect was wearing a hooded black jacket with blue sleeves, dark pants, black gloves, white and black shoes and a black mask.

Police said there is a possibility burglaries may be connected to similar crimes in DeKalb County, Cobb County and the city of Morrow.

If anyone has any information to share in this case, contact GCPD detectives at 770-513-5300. To remain anonymous, tipsters should contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.crimestoppersatlanta.org. Crime Stoppers tipsters can receive up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment in this case.

(Images courtesy of GCPD)