A teenager is accused of using a rock to break into a Family Dollar in Hapeville last week so he could steal snacks, authorities said.
The 13-year-old faces smash-and-grab burglary charges in the break-in at the store at 3310 Dogwood Drive, according to a Hapeville police incident report obtained by AJC.com. When he was arrested, the teen allegedly had multiple soda bottles, packages of miniature candy and blocks of cheddar cheese.
Officers responded to the store about 1:15 a.m. Thursday to find the front door had been shattered with a piece of asphalt, the report said. The left side of the door had been completely shattered, while the right door was severely cracked, the officer noted.
The suspect ran away from the scene before the responding officer arrived, but police located the teen soon afterward, the report said. When confronted, the teen said he was 13 and that he was just picking up drinks from the Family Dollar. Before officers could reply, the teen blurted out, “I broke in the Family Dollar,” according to the report.
Officers reviewed surveillance footage and spoke to a manager, who told them she had thrown the teen out of the store the day before.
The video, which was not released, showed the teen walk up to the door and throw the piece of asphalt at the right side of the door, the report said. The door cracked but did not break, despite the rock being thrown three times, police said. The teen gave up on that side of the door and tossed it at the left side, completely shattering the glass before going inside, the report said.
According to police, the 13-year-old only spent about about 40 seconds inside stealing the snacks before running away.
When asked if he had anything else to say to his arresting officer before being turned over to Department of Juvenile Justice staff, the teen reportedly said, “Nah, everything has done been said.”
AJC.com only identifies juveniles who are being charged as adults.
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