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Security report - December, 2002
See our Security Tips page too.
Unusual Burglary Trend in 2002
Generally, cars break-ins are the leading crime here. This involves smashing car windows or picking car door locks and then stealing items from inside the vehicle. This year we have experienced an unusual trend in burglaries.
Burglaries are often high between Thanksgiving and New Year's. That was true last holiday season. However, the trend extended into January and the early part of Feb. Since April, burglaries in the neighborhood have occurred at a unusually high rate for the time of year and for our neighborhood.
Groups of professionals were working the neighborhood. They struck mainly between the hours of noon and 3 PM. They seem to know the comings and goings of the victims. Electronics are taken frequently but jewelry and knickknacks have also been stolen.
The burglars have kicked down front doors, broken in through side or basement windows, and have used glass cutters on patio doors. In once instance the victim's dog was tied up but otherwise unharmed.
APD and MSP Response
The Atlanta Police Department's Zone 2 Command stepped up regular patrols in the area. Also, plainclothes officers in unmarked cars were dispatched to our area. A motorcycle patrolman was also assigned to our neighborhood and Ansley Mall full-time. This is was something of an unprecedented allocation of resources by a Zone Commander for nonviolent crimes. We thank Major Joseph Spillane and his officers for their efforts.
MSP modified some of its shifts to cover some of these prime burglary hours. An additional shift was temporarily added to patrol during these times.
From all reports, the burglars posed as contractors or servicemen. APD and MSP randomly checked construction sites and servicemen for I. D. s and authorization.
Reports included a white cargo van with a ladder or ladder rack on top of it. A white male driving a Ford van or truck was also been reported. Another report was of a black man posing alternately as a contractor and then a phone worker, possibly casing an area. Also a light blue van with the tag number was reported cruising Johnson Estates.
In February, Officer Ken Stapler, while on duty for MSP, assisted the regular APD in arresting a group that was working our neighborhood. The burglars were unloading their ill-gotten gains at a pawn shop on Piedmont. Still the crime wave continued in our area.
In September a person was arrested who confessed to several of the burglaries in our neighborhood. In fact, it allowed the APD to clear over 100 cases in our area and Virginia Highlands and Buckhead. Unfortunately, this arrest reflected only a slight decrease in our burglary rate.
In late October a third arrest was made in Dekalb County. The suspect admitted to a number of burglaries in our area. He claimed to have been doing two to three burglaries a day in Dekalb and northeast Atlanta. The November crime statistics finally reflect a radical drop in our burglary rate.
Hopefully this trend will continue but we cannot drop our guard, especially during the holidays. See our Security Tips Page for more information.
Another alarming trend during all this was the number of people in our neighborhood who did not call 911 when they saw something suspicious, were victimized, or witnessed a crime. One person actually witnessed someone kicking down his neighbor's door and did not call the police. This is unacceptable.
If criminal activities are not reported, then it is not reflected in our neighborhood's crime rate. This in turn affects the amount of APD resources that allocated to our area.
Flasher Apprehended
In early September, while on duty for MSP, Officer Ken Stapler apprehended a man for public urination and indecent exposure. The man, who was walking through the neighborhood stopped to urinate near Lanier Blvd. The man remained exposed as a female jogger approached. It was discovered that the man was deaf and mute. He did appear in court and was fined.
You Can Help by reporting all crimes and suspicious activities to 911.
Other Public Safety Links
Atlanta Police Department:
http://atlantapd.org/
http://atlantapd.org/fod/z2/z2.html
http://www.atlantapd.org/cpdocs/bwindows.html
http://www.atlantapd.org/cpdocs/mns.html
Fire Department and EMT
http://www.ci.atlanta.ga.us/citydir/fire/splash_redirect.html
Public Health:
http://www.geocities.com/epifulton/
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/
http://www.co.fulton.ga.us/AnimalControl/
2002 Crime Statistics
The following table is a running total of this year's crimes in the Morningside-Lenox Park- Johnson Estates neighborhood. The monthly statistics will be added as soon as they become available. That is usually in the early part of the following month.
2002 Morningside Crime Statistics
| |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jly |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
YTD |
| Car Break-ins |
1 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
6 |
4 |
30 |
| Burglary |
6 |
3 |
3 |
6 |
5 |
6 |
9 |
6 |
4 |
6 |
1 |
2 |
57 |
| Auto theft |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
13 |
| Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
| Totals |
8 |
7 |
6 |
8 |
10 |
9 |
16 |
8 |
9 |
7 |
8 |
8 |
96 |
2002 End of Year Summary
For most months during 2002, the total number of crimes was not unusually high. What was unusual was the number of burglaries during the year.
January and early February were the beginning of this trend. An arrest in early February did decrease the rate of burglaries in February and March.
The rate increased in again in April and remained high until November. More burglaries occurred in July than at any other time. An arrest made in early September put a dent in this crime wave and a third arrest in late October seems to have capped the rash of burglaries.
In fact, we usually expect to see a rise in burglary but the number of these incidents remained low throughout November and December. However we must remain vigilant.
Again, call 911 to report a crime or any suspicious activity. Then let us know. Also if you are experiencing difficulties with the 911 system or your police response, let us know. Sometimes we can help to improve the service by working through the Zone and MSP.
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