News and Notes
Support for Atlanta Police Officers
I think we are all troubled by the recent violence we have seen against police officers; reports of excessive force in Baton Rouge, Minneapolis, and even Atlanta; and the mass shootings both here and abroad. We are reminded that the world can be a dangerous place, and that it is especially so for police officers and other first responders who run toward trouble.
Many in our neighborhood have expressed their appreciation for our APD Zone 6 personnel, and our FBAC Patrol (who are also all APD patrol officers and supervisors). Our own Atkin’s Park Neighborhood Association delivered cases of water, Gatorade, and protein bars to the precinct last week. Many of you also wrote personal message of thanks and appreciation, which I shared with APD and FBAC.
I heard from Major Peek both at the NPU meeting and in writing. He wanted me to thank you and to let you know that he shared these comments with his officer. He said, “I am sure that they will find some comfort in the kind words. We are committed to serving with excellence.” Sgt. Clark wrote, “We certainly appreciate the support during these trying times.”
Please continue to keep these officers in your thoughts, and to give a wave and say thanks when you see them. It means more than you know.
VHCA and Neighborhood Watch Safety Projects
House Number Signs
We have recently completed an evaluation of visibility for house number signs in the neighborhood. Though the evaluation was not comprehensive, many streets participated. We found that a fairy high percentage of homes have visible numbers during the daytime – on the order of 75 to 80%. However, after dark, those numbers drop precipitously. On average less than 50% of homes have visible numbers and in some cases the percentage on a given street is less than 20%. In many of cases, the number would have been visible if the porch light was turned on. Please consider turning on your porch lights in the evening and leaving them on. It makes your home easier to find in an emergency, and in some cases casts enough light toward the street to make pedestrians safer as well. Additionally, there are bulbs with built in sensors that screw into your existing fixture and will automatically turn your light on at dusk and off at sunrise. There aren’t many safety initiatives around your home that are that simple!
Obscured Signs
A list of safety signs that are obscured by foliage (either overgrown shrubbery or low hanging tree limbs) is being compiled for submission to the city. It is our hope that having this foliage trimmed will make it easier for people to see stop signs, etc. and to react appropriately to protect others. If you are aware of a sign that needs attention, please snap a picture and send it along with a clear description of the location to safety@vahi.org.
Atlanta Police Department Good Works
From time to time Atlanta Police Department public affairs shares information about positive things that have happened in Atlanta and for the department. I have attached the latest version of APD Greatest Hits to this message.
[we are unable to attach this document here - please email VaHiSafety@gmail.com if you would like to view this presentation]
Know Your License Plate Number
APD asks that everyone know your vehicle license plate number. There has been more than one car-jacking in Zone 2 recently where the owner's inability to provide the license plate caused a significant delay in putting out a BOLO and tracking the stolen vehicle.
Stolen Mail – Piedmont Heights
Piedmont Heights neighborhood is seeing a rash of mail being stolen from mailboxes, presumably for identity theft purposes. Though we have had mail deliver issues, I have not heard recent complaints about theft of delivered mail. However, it never hurts to practice safety in this regard. Options include having items such as bills and bank statements delivered to your office, using online banking services so that no bills are delivered to your home, and dropping outgoing mail in a USPS box rather than leaving it in your own mailbox with the flag up.
District 6 Newsletter
The monthly newsletter from our city council representative, Alex Wan, is available on his website. You can find the July issue here.
Crime Statistics
The following information is taken from our APD Zone 6 report (http://atlantapd.org/Zone6.
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.
Homicide None reported in Beat 601 and none in Zone 6.
Rape None reported in Beat 601 and none in Zone 6.
Pedestrian/Carjacking Robbery One reported in Beat 601 and twelve reported in Zone 6
On June 16th a resident made arrangements to purchase marijuana from someone he had purchased from in the past. He met the suspect and another man on St. Charles Place and entered their vehicle. After driving a short distance one suspect showed a gun and the other a knife and took the man’s wallet with $300 cash and ID. One of the suspects, a 29-year-old black male named Rashad Cooper, was arrested. The second suspect, a black male known only as Zeke, is still being sought.
Residential Robbery None reported in Beat 601 and none reported in Zone 6.
Commercial Robbery None reported in Beat 601 and one reported in Zone 6.
Aggravated Assault None reported in Beat 601 and sixteen reported in Zone 6.
Residential Burglary One reported in Beat 601 and thirty reported in Zone 6.
On June 12 a resident on Ponce De Leon Ave. reported $150 cash missing from his apartment. The victim suspects management or staff.
Commercial Burglary One reported in Beat 601 and eleven reported in Zone 6.
On June 13th the suspect is seen on video entering through a rear basement door at Genki Noodles and Shushi. He took a book bag that he found inside and filled it with liquor bottles and left. A suspect has been identified and is being sought.
Larceny From Vehicle Six reported in Beat 601 and eighty-four reported in Zone 6.
Vehicles were entered on Highland Lane (Carlton Condos), Highland Terrace, Los Angeles Ave, N. Highland Ave., Ponce de Leon Place, and Saint Charles Ave. Entry was made via unlocked doors and broken windows. Taken were cash, an Apple MacBook, Ipad Air, DVD Player, and book bag; athletic equipment including golf clubs; and a wallet, gym bag, and another laptop. Note that the incident on Los Angeles occurred when a Park Atlanta employee left the vehicle running and walked away.
Other Larcenies Five reported in Beat 601 and seventy-three reported in Zone 6.
On June 13th a bike was stolen from a front porch on St. Charles Ave. The bike and chain were both taken with no damage to the railing.
On June 22nd a bike was stolen from a bike rack on Ponce de Leon Ave. at Urban Body Studios. Both the bike and lock were missing.
On June 25th the suspect entered through the BeltLine entrance to Paris on Ponce and stole a bag, a Leica camera, and a set of keys. Video footage shows a black male with a low cut afro wearing a white t-shirt, light blue jeans, gray and white sneakers, and a camouflage hat. The suspect was carrying a backpack.
On June 27th at Hand and Hand and employee’s handbag with contents was stolen from an employee area.
On July 1st a bicycle was stolen from a porch on N. Highland Avenue. It was not secured.
Auto Theft One reported in Beat 601 and twenty-nine reported in Zone 6.
On June 30th a vehicle was stolen from Virginia Avenue. The car was a 1997 Green Infinity I30 and was taken from the street.
If this report was forwarded to you and you would like to be added to the distribution, please send a message to me at VaHiSafety@gmail.com with your name, email address, and street address for Virginia-Highland residents, or your affiliation for others. Thanks.
Stay Safe!
Kay Stephenson
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