South Cobb's Precinct 2 Had 107 Burglaries in May

From Cobb Police Precinct 2 PENS:

Warm weather and the summer break from school often brings an increase in crime.

In May alone, Precinct Two had 107 reported residential and business burglaries. This is 13 more than in April, but the exact same number for May of 2011.

NOTABLE RECENT INCIDENTS :

May 23 - A woman reported her Apple I-Pad stolen from a nail salon. The next day, after going to an Apple store and inquiring about their tracking capabilities, she got a signal on her cell phone which indicated her stolen I-Pad was at a home within Precinct Two. The signal seemed to be pinpointed on a specific house and emitted a consistent signal for hours (it wasn't moving). However, after Zone Two detectives did some research, they learned that depending on the type of tracking device used on the I-Pad, the accuracy of the signal may not specific enough to obtain a search warrant. Going to "Plan B", the detectives drove by the home to obtain tag numbers of any vehicles present. There were two cars in the driveway. The information gleaned from the tag returns, coupled with the statement by the victim that she recalled a woman at the nail salon who kept staring at her I-Pad, led investigators to a likely suspect. While they were still gathering intelligence in preparation to go to the home to speak with the residents, the signal suddenly began to move. Fortunately, the victim was in the detective office at the time so investigators could view her cell phone and literally watch the tracking icon moving across the map and on certain streets. The beat officers were immediately notified to go to the area to look for the vehicles previously seen at the target home. Within moments, a Zone Two officer located both of the vehicles driving on Veteran's Memorial Highway and conducted a traffic stop on both cars. Detectives showed up moments later. In one of the two cars was the woman from the target home. She told the detectives that she found an Apple I-Pad the night before at the nail salon and she kept the device because she viewed the incident as a "lost and found" type situation. She retrieved the I-Pad from a briefcase in the back seat of her car. She further informed the detectives she was on her way out of town with it and planned on having relatives in another state teach her how to use it. She was charged with Theft by Taking. 

May 23 - Zone Two officers responded to a burglary at a home. Numerous items were stolen to include the homeowner's wallet. As the officers were speaking to the victim, his son and one of the son's friends, a male acquaintance called the friend who was standing beside the family. The caller asked why the police were present and if they were looking for fingerprints. The friend told the victims that he recalled seeing the caller near their home earlier in the day. He was accompanied by another acquaintance of the family. The officers went to both of these males' homes. No one answered at the first home. They went to the second house where one of the male's parents told them their son was with the first male (the house the officers had just visited). The officers decided to go back to the first home to see if anyone was now home. Upon their arrival, they noticed some of the curtains were in a different position than on their first visit a few minutes prior. As well, they saw a bag in the yard that matched one stolen from the burglary. A search warrant was obtained for the house. During the execution of the warrant, officers had to force entry into three locked bedrooms. Two adult males were found hiding in the bedrooms. Items stolen in the burglary were found in and outside of the home. Both males were arrested and charged with the burglary. Several hours later, information came forward regarding a third suspect and that more of the victims' property may be at the third suspect's residence. Morning watch supervision of Precinct Two called the detective Sergeant who conducted background work on the third suspect. Later that morning detectives went to the Cobb County jail and conducted follow up interviews with the pair arrested for the burglary. Through the course of the interview, they discovered a first name of the third suspect and the suspect divulged that the third suspect did have stolen property from the burglary at his home. The detectives were able to get consent from the third suspect's father to search the residence and found the victim's wallet and other items which tied back to the burglary. The third suspect was taken to the juvenile detention center and charged with burglary.

May 25 - A man was sentenced this date in Cobb County Superior Court to 40 years in prison for overseeing a housing fraud operation that spanned five counties including Cobb. He was discovered by Zone Two detectives in late August of last year. The man created a company which claimed to help citizens facing foreclosure to either stay in their homes or find a new home. He advertised on local radio stations and also used "Craigslist" to solicit persons with poor credit as tenants in homes that were actually owned by other individuals or banks. At night, he and his accomplices would find a foreclosed home, force entry into it to change the locks and sometimes even spruce it up. In the light of day, operating from a high rise office in Vinings, he would have the unsuspecting tenants sign a fraudulent lease agreement. He moved his "clients" into the foreclosed homes unbeknownst to the owners who had vacated the home (or the bank who was working the foreclosure). Months later, the scam would be revealed to the renter when either the true owner or a bank representative would show up at the home and inform them the house they've occupied, some with the intention of purchasing, was leased to them fraudulently. All told, the crooks overtook at least 14 homes in five counties and defrauded approximately 25 people. The two accomplices to the con man plead guilty and received 10 years to serve, but the leader chose not to plea, and at trial was found guilty of 34 counts, ranging from burglary, forgery, theft by taking, theft by deception and racketeering, resulting in the 40 year sentence.

May 30 - Three churches in Zone Two were burglarized between May 13 and May 22. Shortly after Zone Two investigators sent out a BOLO (Be On The Lookout) to the supervision of Precinct Two regarding the pattern of church burglaries, detectives from Precinct Five received a lead in the cases. A man arrested in zone five for burglarizing his mother's home provided information to detectives that he was involved in the burglary of more than one church in Zone Two. The man was temporarily staying in a house in Precinct Two and shared a room with a friend (and accomplice). A search warrant was drawn up for the home and detectives from both Zones Two and Five executed the warrant. Amongst the items found in the house were items taken from two of the three churches. As well, items stolen from a park in Smyrna were located. Both men were charged in the two church burglaries and information was forwarded to Smyrna police so the men could be charged in the park burglary. 

As you can see from the notable incidents in both May and June, there's a lot going on in Precinct Two. South Cobb is a great place to live, but there exist among us law breakers whose selfish ways threaten our quality of life. Make no mistake about it, fighting crime in our zone is a partnership between the citizens and police; the public relies on us as first responders, but we need the help of conscientious citizens to alert us to suspicious persons and circumstances. By taking the time to read these PENS report and putting into practice the tips shared, you show you care about your community. As the summer unfolds, let's work together to strengthen this partnership to not let the bad guys win!