Burglar Strikes Convenience Store Near Midtown

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Credit: Fulton County Sheriff’s Office

One person is behind bars at the Fulton County jail after Atlanta police say he broke into a downtown convenience store early Thursday morning.

Michael Taylor is accused of smashing out a window of the International Peach Mart at 3 a.m. The owner of the store told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the burglar stole a six pack of beer and 20 cartons of cigarettes, and said that a similar theft had occurred just last week.

An Atlanta police report says that the owner told police the value of the stolen cigarettes was somewhere between $1,000 and $1,500, and that the smashed out window would cost $500 to replace.

According to the report, two officers encountered Taylor fighting another person on Mitchell and Broad streets at approximately 3:30 a.m. Taylor was found to be in possession of a six pack and several cigarette cartons; the owner of the store was brought to the scene and positively identified the stolen merchandise as his.

Taylor told the officers that he had not personally broken into the store, but officers observed cuts and shards of glass on his hands and took him into custody.

Fulton County jail records indicate that Taylor has been charged with smash-and-grab burglary and theft by taking and is being held without bond.