ICYMI: Buckhead Councilwoman Seeks More Neighborhood Security

An Atlanta city councilwoman wants to see security measures stepped up in Buckhead after a rash of home invasions and other crimes has struck the area.

In the last month, crooks operating in Buckhead have driven a car through the door of a high-end men’s boutique and pilfered merchandise, stolen a GBI agent’s body armor and shotgun, broken into a sporting goods store, pulled off a home invasion while dressed as Georgia Power workers, and broken into dozens of parked cars.

In response to the crime wave, Councilwoman Yolanda Adrean has proposed a $2.5 to $3 million dollar plan that calls for the installation of hundreds of new surveillance cameras and dashboard-mounted license plate readers in Buckhead, WSB-TV reports. The plan would require private and public funding, according to the station. Adrean tells WSB-TV that she’d like to see some of the new security devices operating as soon as next month.

In mid-September, Atlanta police were given access to over 200 security cameras in private operation at Phipps Plaza and Lenox Square malls.

Businesses which operate inside the malls are now directly tied in to the city’s 911 center now that the cameras are being monitored by police, WABE radio reports. Police have access to around 5,700 privately-operated security cameras and are looking to get access to 10,000 such cameras by 2017.

Privacy advocates are concerned about the move, saying that since security cameras are usually installed in high-crime and poverty areas, those with a lower socioeconomic status will be constantly monitored by authorities. Businesses could also cross-reference facial recognition software with police databases to refuse entry to criminals despite them not committing any offenses at the business, advocates tell WABE.