Crime & Safety

String of Car Break-ins Reported at O'Charley's, Texas Roadhouse, LA Fitness

A $500 Coach purse, an iPod Nano, debit cards and a checkbook were among the items taken on the same-day thefts in Snellville.

At least fourΒ car break-ins were reported on the same day this week within a mile of one anotherΒ in Snellville.Β 

The incidents all reportedly took place Sunday (Sept. 29) around Scenic Highway. The earliest reported auto theftΒ that day was inΒ the LA Fitness parking lot atΒ 2279 Pinehurst Road.Β 

According to the Snellville PoliceΒ incident report, the victim parked her Chrysler Town and Country at the gym at 2:15 p.m. At 2:30 p.m., someone told her that something had happened to her driver's side window. She called police to report the break-in and to give them a list of what was taken, which included her purple $500 Coach purse, an iPod Nano and her checkbook.Β 

Later that day her bag was found on Valley View Drive in the woods, but her iPod and checkbook were still missing.

At 8 p.m., authorities received another car break-in call atΒ Texas Roadhouse, located at 1969Β Dogwood Rd. The two victims had been at the restaurant since 6:40 p.m. after parking their Chevy Silverado under a light post in the parking lot.Β 

The woman received a text message from her bank at 7:50 p.m. saying her debit card had been used for $94.16 at a Texaco gas station in Decatur.Β Another transaction attempt was madeΒ at a RaceTrac in DeKalb.Β 

The two wentΒ out to the truck andΒ found that the driver's side door handle had been completely torn off.Β 

The inventory of what was taken is lengthy:Β a Pioneer touchscreen radio, a Rockford Fosgate amplifier, a man's Polo wallet, a woman's Vera BradleyΒ wallet, a Northface backpack, school text books, driver's licenses, debit cards, student IDs, numerous gift cards and $40 in cash. Β 

After discovering his wallet was taken, the man found outΒ that $55.16 had been charged to his debit card at RaceTrac and $3.69 at Walmart.

Another Chevy Silverado was reportedly broken into around the same time in the same parking lot. The car owner noticed someone had used a sharp object to punch a hole under the driver's side door handle. Nothing was reported taken, though.Β 

Due to these incidents, aΒ SnellvilleΒ officer decided toΒ go ahead andΒ check the cars parked in the area for similar damage and theft. The officer noticed a vehicle parked in theΒ O'Charley's restaurant on Scenic Highway had damage consistent with the other vehicles.

The car owner,Β who also works at O'Charley's told police thatΒ the damage is new, but nothing was taken.Β 

Inside the Police Reports runs regularly every week. The information is based solely on police incident reports provided on request.

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