Smash and Grab at Sweet Auburn Market

The historic Sweet Auburn Curb Market near downtown Atlanta was the latest victim in a recent trend of smash and grab robberies.

Police say suspects crashed a stolen van through the market’s glass entrance and stole an ATM early Tuesday morning.

Gerald Boyd, the security manager of the market, said he got a call from the alarm company at 5 a.m. Monday morning and rushed to the market. He says police were already on the scene. 

“I am willing to wager that there is more property damage than there was money in that ATM. You know, it’s just an unfortunate thing,” Boyd says.

He says the market will now work on more security measures.

Dionne Gant owns Miss D’s New Orleans Pralines, a popcorn and candy shop right near the entrance where the ATM used to be.

“It’s just a place where we want our customers to come in and feel welcome, feel at home, feel relaxed so they can come, enjoy lunch, be able to shop — and to have this to have happened, it’s terrible.” 

The thieves may have stolen the ATM, but they didn’t steal the appetites of those in search of lunch. 

Gwen Weddington works nearby and frequently grabs lunch with her co-workers.

“It didn’t concern me about safety and coming to get my lunch because it happened during the early morning hours,” she says.

Weddington adds the market is a vital part of the area. 

“We’ve been over here for a while when it wasn’t as populated and didn’t have as many restaurants and  options, so it’s very needed in the community.”

Jennifer was in line for barbeque and didn’t even know that the crime had occurred.

“I don’t live with the illusion that there’s no crime in the area. I just try to be cautious of my surroundings,” she says.

Early Monday morning, police say suspects stole an ATM from a Midtown BP gas station. Police did not say whether the incidents were related.  

The Sweet Auburn Curb Market first opened in 1924.