ROSWELL, Ga. — George Rhodes and his family have been operating a bakery on Holcomb Bridge Road since 1997. His great-grandmother started the original Rhodes Bakery in Atlanta in 1930. The Roswell location recently reopened a little more than a week after burglars broke in and tried to get away with cash.
"They smashed in our door and went straight for the register," Rhodes said. "But I leave it open all night so they can see we don't have any money. Plus, everything is cashless nowadays."
Roswell Police Officer Tim Lupo said a group of at least four suspects is behind a string of burglaries this month that included Rhodes Bakery, a nearby massage parlor, a nail shop and a CBD store. Lupo said the stops don't take long, and the break-ins typically happen early in the morning. Lupo said the suspects are linked to other burglaries in Alpharetta, Sandy Springs and Gwinnett County.
Roswell Police is working closely with other law enforcement partners who've seen similar incidents, Lupo said. The department is also working with resources from the Roswell Crime Center, which includes a number of technology tools like license plate readers, traffic cameras and security cameras.
"If you see something, say something," Lupo said. "Our public is a force multiplier for us, and it's just another set of eyes and ears for us."
Scott Ellison runs Delta Farmacy, which is one of the targeted businesses just a few doors down from Rhodes Bakery. While Ellison had to replace the front door to the shop, call the alarm company and deal with the hassle, he said business owners and customers in the area should not live in fear. He mentioned how much the surrounding businesses rallied around one another.
“We speak with them daily, we keep up with neighborhood news, what’s going on in the area," Ellison said. "For that type of effort for what they got just seemed really stupid to say the least. As rough as it is to think about, we'd recuperate, but at the same time, that would be devastating. It's kind of hard to think about. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy."
Meantime, Rhodes is just trying to keep his family business running while the search for the burglars continues.
"There are video cameras inside and outside, so they’ve got all the security they need here," Rhodes said. "It’s just people are going to do dumb things. This shop is everything to me. My great-grandmother and grandfather started it. I still work with my dad and uncle. It’s what I live for.”
Anyone who can identify the burglars or has information about the case should call Roswell Police.