Ahmed Safarini was fed up with break-ins at his Bartlett business. He had to do something to thwart the crime after 26 such intrusions over the last five years, desperately searching for ways to stop the crimes. 

So, Safarini installed an accordion-style security gate on his Smoker’s Shop at 6525 Memphis-Arlington Road. And that put the shop owner at odds with the city, whose leaders considered the security measures unsightly and sent the wrong message about crime in the suburb.

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On Tuesday, Oct. 24, the Bartlett Board of Mayor and Aldermen unanimously denied Safarini’s appeal to keep the gate he installed to guard against theft of vapes, cigarettes and other products. 

The board’s decision further frustrated the business owner who has continually dealt with break-ins, including six in a short period this year.

“It became very stressful after the sixth break-in within one month,” he said, pointing out that the business was hemorrhaging money.

Safarini resorted to the gate installation in July, leading to the city’s Code Enforcement Division asking the business owner to find alternative security measures. In September, the Bartlett Design Review Commission (DRC) denied the business’s request to keep the security bars behind the window frames inside the store on the front.

“We just didn’t think it added to the appearance that we wanted to project,” said Alderman Jack Young, who also sits on the DRC. “I think if you drive by there right now, they’re very visible.”

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In 2018 a similar situation occurred where the business installed security bars without the city’s permission, was cited by code enforcement and denied a request by the DRC to keep them.

The city does not want the gates on any business because they are unsightly and suggest higher crime.

“If we start putting accordion doors on our businesses, it signals to the community a problem,” Alderman David Reaves said. “But is it a problem with the broader community or just this one store?”

But the business owner and his representative say the city is ignoring the crime and wants to pretend it’s not as issue in Bartlett.

“They want to stick their heads in the sand,” Scott Turnage, who represented the Smoker’s Shop, said. “They wouldn’t even let us mount the bars on the inside with tinted windows.”

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Turnage says “smash and grabs” are a high profile thing to do for young kids, and then the stolen products are easily sold on the street for near retail price.

Board members suggested the business beef up its video security system in order to help the Bartlett Police Department possibly catch the thieves.

“It’s very unusual to have that many break-ins at one shop, period,” BPD Chief Jeff Cox said. “I’m not sure exactly why they’re targeting his business except for the fact that it is easy access on the side.”

The Smoker’s Shop location was previously a dry cleaner, and there is a drive-thru with a large sliding door on the side of the building.

Alderwoman Monique Williams noted a smoke shop in the retail center where her Biscuits & Jams restaurant is located has also been broken into several times.

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“I do feel that those types of businesses are targeted,” she said. “I don’t agree with the accordion (gates) because I do feel like it gives the neighborhood a bad look. It does make a business or a business area look a little not safe.”

Another suggestion by the board was to ask the building owner/landlord to brick up the side entrance.

Safarini estimates another security option, bullet-proof glass, would cost around $180,000, making it not financially feasible.

Safarini and Turnage repeatedly gave credit to the Bartlett Police Department for its quick response times, with the security gate slowing the robberies enough until BPD arrives.

“These gates are slowing them down,” said Safarini, who feels the store may ultimately be forced to close if the break-ins continue.

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But Turnage now believes the city will never endorse accordion gates.

“If they say ‘yes’ once, they (are) forced to say ‘yes’ from now on.”