Report for January 2016 - Virginia Highland Security Patrol (FBAC)

The activity report is a summary of what our FBAC Patrol Officers do on their shifts

Directed Patrols:  21	Drop ins/Park and Walks:  24	Suspicious person:  4
Alarm Response:  5	Suspicious Vehicle:  2	Parking Complaints:  3
Noise Complaints:  0	Out of town Checks:  9	Abandoned Auto:  2
FBAC member Contact:  5	Lost Person:  0	Street Obstruction:  0
Wanted Persons:  1	Intoxicated Persons:  0	Found Property:  0
Criminal Trespass:  0	Info for Officers:  4	Shots Fired:  0
Calls for service (cell Phone):  5

News and Notes

FBAC Arrest

FBAC Officers arrested an individual this reporting period.  The subject was arrested by Sgt. Skeens after responding to a suspicious person call where a man was yelling and being verbally abusive to passersby.  Sgt. Skeens discovered the individual was wanted out of Fulton County on a probation violation.  The subject was arrested and transported to jail. 

Replacing and Removing FBAC Signs

This month John Wolfinger and Nancy Safay are continuing to tour the neighborhood to replace old style VH Patrol signs with the newer FBAC red and black signs. Please do not be alarmed if you see someone in your yard changing signs. John and Nancy are also installing signs in each member’s yard where there is not one, and making sure that signs are visible from the street.

Other Significant Incidents

Robbery Near 852 Arlington Place from Officers Narrative:

On January 17, 2016, I Officer C. Cooper was dispatched to Arlington Pl. NE in response to a pedestrian robbery. Upon arrival, he spoke to four victims. All of the victims stated that they had just left the Dark Horse Bar on N. Highland Ave walking down Arlington Pl. when they were approached and robbed at gunpoint by three black males wearing dark clothing. Victims stated that the black males placed guns to their heads and ordered them all to the ground saying "Give me what you have!"

Victims gave the suspects wallets with credit cards, ID, and cell phones. One victim also gave up home and car keys. All victims stated that when the males had all of their belongings in their possession, they told the victims "Turn around and walk back to where yawl came from." The victims stated that from that point they all ran back down Arlington Pl. onto Briarcliff Pl. and back onto N. Highland Ave. for help.

The suspects walked in the opposite direction. The victims stated that two or three of the suspects were armed with black handguns and were between the heights of 5'2- 6'3 and between the ages of 20-30 yrs. old. The victims also stated the suspects "were not dressed for the weather”, because they weren't wearing any jackets or coats. The victims can recall that one of suspects was wearing a beanie hat and all of them appeared to be clean shaven. The cell phones were unable to be tracked because they appeared to be off. However, credit cards were attempted to be used shortly after the incident occurred. Charges were declined on a card used at Bankhead Petroleum. Another victim was able to determine through online banking that suspects attempted to use her card, but the location was not known.

Robbery from Individual from Officers Narrative:

On January 19, 2016 I, Ofc. J. Palazzolo, responded to an address on Ponce De Leon Ave NE to an information call. Upon arrival the victim advised that he had $700.00 taken from him on January 13, 2016. He stated that he met a female, at Dreams Gentlemen's club a couple months ago and they became "friendly" and had been seeing each other. He stated he has been giving the female money for a couple months now to help her pay her bills. He stated that on Wednesday January 13 they were driving around looking at furniture for her apartment. He stated that she then asked him for $400.00 to which he said he did not want to give it to her this time. She then proceeded to call a couple of males who Victim stated sounded like "thugs" and they threated to harm him if he did not give her the money. He then drove to the Bank of America located at 956 Ponce De Leon Ave Ne and withdrew the $400. When he gave it to her she then stated that her friends needed "tip" money so he went and withdrew another $300. He gave her the money and she got out of the vehicle and took the keys to his house, (he lives in North Carolina), and she said she was going to go to his house this week and get more money from him. He also stated that she said if he didn't give her any more money that she would bring her friends to North Carolina and hurt him. Suspect drives an older model BMW sedan and lives in an apartment on Piedmont Ave Ne. He stated he does not know the address but it is close to I-85 and Peachtree St Ne. He has not heard from her since this incident. CID Inv.

Reminders: 

All members call 911 first if you see a crime in progress or a suspicious person or activity, and then call the FBAC Phone. The phone number is (770) 310-0871 and is also on the schedule that is emailed to you monthly.

If you see someone or something suspicious, please report it to the police.  When driving or out walking, keep an eye out in the neighborhood, what you see and report just might prevent a crime.

Note: Part one crime statistics from the Atlanta Police Department are available online and will be included in the VaHi Safety Team Reports which are distributed by Neighborhood Watch approximately twice per month. These statistics will no longer be duplicated here. If you have questions about this change, please send a message to vahisafety@gmail.com. If you do not know who your street captain is, please send a message to ebarrsafety@gmail.com with your name and street address, and Eleanor Barrineau will connect you.