VaHi Safety Team Report Weeks 41 and 42 (10/4/15 – 10/17/15)

News and Notes

2015 Halloween Stars & Stripes Snackdown!

Once again Worthmore Jewelers is collecting leftover Halloween candy for delivery to soldiers through Operation Stars & Stripes. Drop off candy at either location: 500 L-3 Amsterdam Ave, Atlanta or 117 East Court Square, Decatur between November 4^th and 8^th. One donor from each location will receive a $50 gift card.

APD Zone 6 Annual Toy Drive & Giveaway

The Atlanta Police Department, Zone 6 is collecting toys for children. Please donate a new unwrapped toy between now and December 14^th. John Wolfinger has generously volunteered to collect toys and deliver them to the zone headquarters. John is located at 1054 Vance Avenue and you can leave gifts on his screen porch. No need to call ahead. All gifts will be distributed at a party on December 17^th.

Safety Tip: Getting Home Safely

Recently we have had reports of people who have been victims at or near their home when returning from an outing. Please consider a few simple steps we all can take to reduce the risk of such crimes. First, if you have guests visiting, make sure when they are leaving that outdoor lights are on, and watch from a doorway to make sure they get safely to their car. If you expect to return home after dark, make sure you leave outside lights on, and keep shrubbery trimmed to eliminate hiding spots for criminals. If you are dropping someone off, wait in your car until they are safely inside and have had time to lock their doors. Likewise, if you are using a service such as a cab or Uber, ask that the drive wait until you are inside. This can’t prevent all incidents, but good lighting and the elimination of hiding spots will go a long way to deter criminals. Knowing they are being watched is the best deterrent. Finally, if you are a member of FBAC, (our Virginia-Highland Security Patrol), and find that you have to make your way home alone, check to see if an FBAC officer is on duty. They will be happy to see you safely to your door. If you are not an FBAC member, please consider joining. The more members we have the more shifts we can cover and the higher the likelihood that an officer can assist you. The schedule for FBAC patrols varies but is published monthly to all members.

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 and none in Zone 6.

Rape None reported in Beat 601 and one reported in Zone 6.

Pedestrian/Carjacking Robbery Two reported in Beat 601 and twelve reported in Zone 6

A man was walking home from his work in the early morning hours of October 7^th when a man stopped him on N. Highland near Rosedale Drive and asked if he knew where to buy weed. At this point another man joined them with a gun and forced him to lay on the ground while the suspects went through his pockets. They took his phone, wallet and backpack and then ordered him to walk north toward Virginia Ave. He followed instructions and called police from the gas station at the intersection of N. Highland and Virginia Ave.

On October 11^th a woman met some men and invited them back to her home. One of the men then threatened her with a gun, assaulted her, and stole her car and some cash. The car was recovered on the west side of the city being driven by two young women who were arrested. A pellet gun matching the description from the victim was found under the driver’s seat. The women described the man who let them take the vehicle.

Residential Robbery None reported in Beat 601 and one reported in Zone 6

Commercial Robbery None reported in Beat 601 and two reported in Zone 6

Aggravated Assault One reported in Beat 601 and five reported in Zone 6

On October 17^th a domestic incident on St. Charles resulted in a woman receiving a bump on her head from a thrown object.

Residential Burglary None reported in Beat 601 and twenty-three reported in Zone 6

Commercial Burglary None reported in Beat 601 and two reported in Zone 6

Larceny From Vehicle Five reported in Beat 601 and fifty reported in Zone 6

During the period vehicles were entered on Barnett, Maryland, N. Highland, Ponce de Leon and Virginia. Items taken included a diaper bag, bags of clothing, two laptops, and identification cards and papers. Please remember that even if the bag doesn’t have anything of value inside, a criminal does not know that and will break the window to find out. In this case the doors were left unlocked on one vehicle and the others all had windows broken to gain entry.

Other Larcenies None reported in Beat 601 and forty-three reported in Zone 6

Auto Theft One reported in Beat 601 and twenty-one reported in Zone 6

On October 13^th a motor scooter was stolen from the resident’s driveway on St. Charles.

Stay Safe!

Kay Stephenson