The smash-and-grab at Mayor's Jewelers on June 21 in broad daylight at 6:30 p.m. made the national evening news, but it wasn't the first luxury watch robbery in Buckhead this month and wasn't the last.
On June 6, two men stole a $23,000 watch from Omega at Phipps Plaza. This incident did not consist of a smash-and-grab method of robbery. One of the men asked to see the watch and then the duo took off with it.
On June 19, two men took out hammers and began smashing the glass at Jerry's Pawn Shop at 2409 Piedmont Ave. NE, stole four watches and threw a hammer at one of the employees.
According to the report from the Atlanta Police Department, a short African-American man came into Jerry's around 3 p.m. and asked about lawn equipment. He took a couple photos on his cell phone and then left the store.
About half an hour later, the man returned with a friend, a tall African-American man. The two men walked around the store holding a Home Depot bag.
The taller man used a hammer and smashed the glass case in the middle of the store containing jewelry. The men stole some items, later confirmed to be four watches, and threw a hammer at a store employee who got too close to them. The hammer narrowly missed the employee and smashed another glass case, containing glassware and plates, behind her.
The men then ran out of the store and headed towards Lindbergh Drive. The store manager found the Home Depot bag the men were carrying and a receipt showing they'd just bought the hammer at the home improvement store nearby.
Buckhead Patch reached out to the store manager who declined to comment.
On June 21, five men walked in Mayor's Jewelers around 6:30 p.m. on a Friday, a busy time and in broad daylight, and used hammers to steal about $900,000 worth of luxury watches before dashing out in seconds.
On June 26, two young males used hammers to smash and grab watches from the Swiss Watch Expo in Buckhead on Peachtree Road. Buckhead Patch reached out to the store, but the owners said they did not have a statement for the media.
Atlanta Police have not said why watches seem to be a new target for these types of thieves. Atlanta Police said they do not have details about the smash-and-grab incidents that can be released to the public as of yet. Stay with Buckhead Patch for updates and details.
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