Crime & Safety

Laptop Thieves Hit Starbucks Again — And Get Arrested

Pair of juveniles robbed two coffee shops on Monday. They came back Tuesday for more laptops but got handcuffs instead.

Rob me once, shame on me.

Rob me twice in the same locations, on the very next day, using the same stolen getaway vehicle that police have been seeking — well, you're just an idiot.

Such is the case with two juveniles whom Atlanta police arrested Tuesday afternoon following a laptop robbery at the Starbucks at 506 Moreland Ave. NE.

Find out what's happening in East Atlantawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

, on June 25, the males went to that same Little Five Points Starbucks and stole a laptop, Atlanta Police Department spokesman Officer John Chafee told East Atlanta Patch. 

Moments later, they went the to San Francisco Coffee Co. on DeKalb Avenue in Candler Park and robbed again.

Find out what's happening in East Atlantawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Apparently, the two figured since it worked so well on Monday, they might as well do it all over again on Tuesday.

So they struck again: Starbucks at about 5 p.m. then they headed over to the San Francisco Coffee, where Atlanta Police were waiting.

Police were there waiting there because an APD officer working off-duty for the Inman Park Security Patrol recognized stolen car and alerted units that they might be heading for the San Francisco Coffee shop.

Sure enough, they did, but before officers could stop them, the robbers ditched the car and ran.

But they were caught, thanks to off-duty APD Detective Jason Trombley. He was working an off-duty shift for the Kirkwood Security Patrol and spotted them.

"One suspect was apprehended a short distance from the vehicle, but officers lost sight of the second suspect," Chafee said. "Officers set up a perimeter and requested a tracking dog. CSX Police responded with their dog and they were able to locate the second suspect and take him into custody."

Both were found with stolen property, he said. Police did not name the suspects because they are juveniles.

Joe Hardy, vice president of the Kirkwood Security Patrol, said the results showcase just how good neighborhood patrols are.

"I'm grateful for the residents that choose to support security patrols," Hardy told Patch.

"They're doing great work everyday. I'm glad residents are volunteering and paying their money and it's actually having positive results for everybody."

Many neighborhoods have watch groups or security patrols — off-duty officers who police communities in addition to regular police service — which residents fund by paying into it themselves.

East Atlanta Patch & Virginia-Highland Patch Neighborhood Patrol Resources:

  • East Atlanta Security Patrol: http://patrol.eaca.net/
  • Grant Park Security Patrol: http://grantpark.org/security-patrol
  • Inman Park Security Patrol: http://inmanpark.org/association/inman-park-security-patrol/
  • Kirkwood: http://www.kirkwoodsecuritypatrol.org/Home
  • Lake Claire: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lakeclaireneighborhoodwatch/
  • Morningside Security Patrol: http://mlpa.org/content/morningside-security-patrol
  • Old Fourth Ward Patrol: http://www.o4wpatrol.org/
  • Piedmont Heights Security Patrol: http://www.piedmontheights.org/Default.aspx?pageId=599948
  • Poncey-Highland Security Patrol: http://ponceyhighland.com/
  • Trolley Patrol (serves Benteen Park, Boulevard Heights, Custer/McDonough/Guice, North Ormewood Park, Ormewood Park and Woodland Hills): http://sandatlanta.org/item/87505
  • Virginia-Highland Security Patrol: http://www.fbacvahi.com/

For more crime saftey and awarness tips, see our four-day crime prevention series:

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