TENNESSEE MEMPHIS STORES AND BUSINESS ROBBED OF COMPUTERS Computers taken in smash-and-grab
Posted by: George Metaxas, 12/13/04, 5:56 p.m.
Computers taken in smash-and-grab
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Winchester Crime: Tony McNary

'Tis the season to shop for most, but for criminals it's the season to steal. The owners of a Winchester computer store lost thousands of dollars after a weekend smash-and-grab. It happened in the 7400-block of Winchester near Germantown Road. Business owners are speaking out about the rise of crime in the area. They are looking for ways to protect their investments.

Rodney Elzen is a small business owner with a big expensive problem. Someone broke into his business. The crooks didn't break just one window or kick in a door. They rammed the front of his store with a truck. Elzen said, "It's been a lot of crime in the area, the shootings, a lot of different break-ins, a lot of different establishments in this shop and the one next door, so it's getting worse. Obviously, it's getting worse look at my store front." Elzen said it will cost him more to repair his shop than it will to replace the two computer systems the thieves stole. This is the third time his store was burglarized. "We go to such expense with putting bars on the windows. I'm going to have pipes installed in front of the store so they don't drive another truck through it."

Elzen's computer store is in the Polo shopping center at Winchester and Germantown Road. Tommy Williams, Cingular Wireless said, "I think the crime is migrating out to this area. Not only are stores being broken into, but cars are being stolen also." Williams says he would feel safer with beefed up security, especially during the holidays. "Maybe 24-7 security guards wouldn't be a bad idea." Elzen wants more Memphis Police Officers around. "We gotta have more police presence. I know they're stretched thin financially and people-wise too, but something's got to change." Police say if a pattern of crime develops in that area, they will form a task force to fight it. If have information about that weekend smash-and-grab call crimestoppers at 528-CASH.