News and Notes
Street Captain’s Meeting
The Virginia Highland Public Safety Team will hold our
annual meeting for street captains on Saturday morning September 19th
from 10:00 am until 12:00 noon at Church of Our Savior church on N. Highland.
Entrance to the hall is from Los Angeles. We will meet and greet from 9:40 and
begin the meeting at 10:00.
This is an excellent opportunity for new street captains to
learn from those who have been doing the job for many years, or for anyone
interested in public safety to learn about our neighborhood watch program. All
residents are welcome to attend. This year speakers will include Danielle
Simpson to speak about Citizen’s CourtWatch, and Chad Gurley, APD detective to
answer questions about his perspective on crime as a resident of the
neighborhood.
APD Launches Smartphone Application
The Atlanta Police Department has launched an app for iPhone
and Android that provides users with customized alerts, access to crime
stoppers, crime maps, and more. Download it from the appropriate app store, and
find more information here
or cut and paste this link http://www.ajc.com/news/news/crime-law/atlanta-police-department-launches-new-smartphone-/nmm7W/.
APD Greatest Hits
Every month the Atlanta Police Department publishes a report
highlighting success stories and important changes in the department. See the
July report here or cut and paste this link http://www.atlantapd.org/files/greatesthits/July_2015_Greatest_Hits.pdf
Be On the Lookout (BOLO)
Michael Hawkins (aka Michael Norberg) has once again
been seen in the neighborhood and of all people for him to approach, he stopped
John Wolfinger asking first to do some yard work and later for a ride. John, of
course, remembered this individual who was very aggressive with residents of
VaHi and Morningside back in 2012. John indicated that he looks somewhat better
today than in this old mugshot from 2013.
Hawkins has a long sheet
including charges for theft, weapons, drugs, aggravated assault and criminal
trespass. He was arrested at Ansley Mall in September 2012 and upon learning
that he had an outstanding warrant in Michigan, he was returned to that
jurisdiction. A check through Atlanta Police Department last week indicated
that the Michigan Department of Corrections is currently looking for him for a parole
violation.
If you encounter this
individual in the neighborhood, please call 911 and let the call taker know
that there is an outstanding warrant for this individual in Michigan. Under no
circumstance should you engage with him, give him work, or allow him into your
home or vehicle.
If you are unable to view the photo in this message find it
at this link
or cut and paste http://www.fbacvahi.com/2015/09/be-on-lookout-bolo.html.
Crime Statistics
The following information is taken from our
APD Zone 6 report (http://atlantapd.org/Zone6.aspx).
It includes information
from the Virginia-Highland Beat 601 reported incidents along
with relevant reports from other nearby beats. Keep in mind that not all
incidents are reported. A map showing the location of beats 601 – 612
within Zone 6 can be found at this link http://boundaries.atlantapd.org/Map-Zone6-Beats.aspx.
This information is not shared to scare
anyone, but to let you know what happens around us every day so you can be
alert and aware.
Homicide None
reported in beat 601. One in Zone 6 and two citywide. The Zone 6 shooting was
in beat 607 near the Driftwood Bar far south on Moreland. Two additional
individuals were shot in this incident and both survived.
Rape None
reported in beat 601 or in Zone 6. Three were reported citywide.
Residential Robbery None reported in beat 601, or in
Zone 6.
Pedestrian Robbery None reported in beat 601, but eight
were reported in the zone and six of these involved the use of a gun. We can’t
stress enough the need to secure legal firearms against theft.
Commercial Robbery None reported in beat 601.
Aggravated Assault None reported in beat 601.
Commercial Burglary None
reported in beat 601. Five commercial properties were burglarized around the
zone including a construction trailer and two instances where food was taken (a
casserole and two cupcakes).
Residential Burglary One reported in beat 601. From the
arresting officer’s narrative
On August 5, 2015, an officer was dispatched to a burglary
call at 933 Ponce De Leon Place NE. The victims said that around 7:45pm they
heard a loud noise and their dog began barking loudly. When they came out of
the back room to see what was going on, they saw a white male who appeared to
be homeless standing in their hallway. They asked him why he was inside their
home, and told him to leave. He did as asked, and walked north on Ponce De Leon
Pl towards Virginia Cir where they lost sight of him.
Fifteen minutes later the victim said he could not find his
white apple iPhone 5s. When he could not locate the iPhone he called for police
help. The intruder was described as a white male 5'10 in height with brown
shoulder length hair. He was said to be dressed in a grey shirt and khaki
shorts. The suspect smelled of alcohol and was possibly intoxicated. There was
no damage to any of the doors or windows in the residence.
The officer then made the decision to run a check on the victim.
He came back with a warrant out of Fulton County. The victim was detained at
8:40pm and taken to Fulton County Jail. The bench warrant related to charges
for DUI, speeding, and driving on a suspended license in early 2013.
Larceny from Vehicle Six were reported in beat 601 and
seventy-nine around zone 6
Vehicles were entered
on Rosedale Road, Ponce de Leon Ave, Cresthill Ave, and Greenwood.
On Rosedale Road they
made off with landscapers tools. In this case tools were inside a locked van,
but the lock was broken by the thief. Even if your landscaper has secured their
equipment, suggest that they try to park where they can see their vehicle while
working.
Vehicles entered on
Cresthill and Greenwood were unlocked. All around Zone 6 three more handguns
were taken from vehicles. Please, if you must leave a legal handgun in your
vehicle make sure that it is secured in a gun safe where it can not be stolen
and used against another citizen. See note under Pedestrian Robbery.
Other Larcenies Two reported in Beat 601 and
forty-two reported in Zone 6.
Several unsecured
bicycles have been stolen recently. If possible please bring bicycles inside
your residence rather than leaving it on the porch. If you must leave it
outside, then buy a good lock that makes it difficult to steal.
Be aware that the
manager at Best Buy on Edgewood has reported multiple complaints from people
scammed on Craigslist. Apparently the criminal indicates that he is an employee
of Best Buy and can purchase iPhones at a discount. Victims meet the individual
who is wearing a Best Buy shirt in the parking lot. Once victims hand over the
cash so he can go inside and make the purchase, they never see him again. Never
give cash to someone you have met through Craigslist.
Auto Theft One reported in beat 601 and
thirty-seven reported in Zone 6. Citywide there were 217 vehicles stolen in the
two week period. The vehicle stolen here was taken from the parking lot at
Amsterdam Walk on a Sunday evening.
VHCA Statistics for July
As noted in the August 15th issue of VOICE, the
e-newsletter of the Virginia Highland Civic Association, Holly Lybeer and
Shannon Mehl are now providing a revamped look at monthly crime statistics for
the neighborhood. This visual snapshot will be available every month to see how
crime is trending. Check out their analysis for the month of July here,
or if that link doesn’t work, cut and paste http://vahi.org/wp-content/uploads/43b5df84c99a635144f69bfa42e418f0.pdf.
Note that the historical data may be slightly skewed because during 2010 and
most of 2011 Virginia Highland was actually in beat 603 rather than 601. Holly
and Shannon are working to update the historical data for next month’s report.
Stay Safe!
Kay
Stephenson
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