Five suspects charged in burglary of Rabbitman’s in east Albany

ALBANY — The Albany Police Department has arrested and charged five suspects with the burglary of Rabbitman’s Footwear on the corner of College Drive and East Oglethorpe Boulevard.

“A total of five juveniles ranging from 13-14 years of age were charged for the burglaries,” APD spokeswoman Phyllis Banks said. “Each night, they entered the building through the northside window or door near the skate park and took some sodas and cash/coins from the register.”

Over a period of three different nights, Oct. 29 and 30 and Nov. 3, the suspects shot out windows and a glass door of the Albany business with BB guns to gain entry.

“We still haven’t got our windows fixed yet; we are waiting on the insurance,” said Elija Williams, co-owner of Rabbitman’s Footwear. “I heard they stole the BB guns from Walmart and were going all over town destructing stuff. They admitted to doing it here all three times.”

According to reports, the suspects entered the store by damaging the door on Oct. 29 and took some sodas and change from the register. On Oct. 30, the suspects damaged a window next to the door to gain entry and stole sodas. Finally, on Nov. 3, the suspects shot out all of the windows on the north side of the building, gained entry and again took sodas.

In total, eight double-pane windows and a double-pane glass door were destroyed.

“They tried to get my iPad off of the register, but couldn’t get that because it was locked up,” said Williams. “It was too difficult for them to get that out, but other than that, all they took was some change and some sodas.”

According to Williams, the estimated cost of damage was more than $2,800.