Man stole over $30K in antiques from Chamblee store, police say

CHAMBLEE, Ga. - Chamblee police are asking the public for help finding a man accused of stealing more than $30,000 in antiques from a local shop.

Officials say on July 2 at 1:15 p.m. the man entered the Chamblee Antiques and Interiors store on the 3500 block of Broad Street.

"You hear this loud heavy snap, and then he walks away, and it looks like he’s carrying something in the front of his pocket of the hoodie," said Chamblee Police Detective Nathan Wolf. 

While there, investigators say the man stole a Chinese jade brush pot valued at $32,000, a rosewood stand for the pot, and a copy of the book "Masterworks of Chinese Jade in the National Palace Museum."

"It was just, kind of, it was a very bold, and brazen thing to do at 1 p.m. in the afternoon," said Det. Wolf. 

(Chamblee Police Department)

Detectives described the suspected thief as a heavy-set white man who was wearing a gray Carhartt hoodie, khaki pants, black shoes, a surgical face mask, black glasses and a hat.

Det. Wolf says, after reviewing surveillance video, that the same guy was seen in the store just days earlier, possibly casing the place. 

"He was in the store about the Saturday before, wearing different clothing, but the same hat though," the detective said.

The owner of the store has plastered the man's photo next to the register, but police are hoping someone out there will recognize him.

"The general appearance, even though he’s wearing a mask, he does have a unique look to him, especially the hat he’s wearing," said Det. Wolf. 

The man was seen wearing the same hat both times, the detective revealed. He believes the distinctive look will help lead to the man.

(Chamblee Police Department)

He adds that he believes this was more of a crime of opportunity. 

"I don’t think this is some great Ocean’s 11’s style art heist or anything like that, I just think this was someone who was browsing through the store, so an item that looked valuable but was way out of their price ranged, maybe they said oh well maybe I’ll just take the five finger discount and snap the lock and walk out the front door," Det. Wolf said. 

If you have any information that could help with the investigators, call the Chamblee Police Department at (770) 986-5005.