Here's the Latest Virginia Highland Safety Report

John Wolfinger, ublic safety chair of the Virginia Highland Civic Association, provided this information.

FBAC (Fight Back Against Crime) News   Our local VaHi off-duty subscription patrol system has been busy supplementing our Beat 601 officers as they reported arresting two individuals in June.  One arrest was for criminal trespass and the other for being in a city park after hours.  The arrestee in the park attempted to hide from the officer after being sighted earlier in the evening looking into parked vehicle windows.  The latest FBAC report states they investigated 15 suspicious persons and 5 suspicious vehicles.  To learn how you can be a part of this patrol service - go to http://www.fbacvahi.com

Apple Pickings   This crime involving the thefts of cell phones of all types continues around the Zone, and for that matter, everywhere in the country.  Will this attempt help stem this crime tide?  http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2013/06/13/191226129/Will-A-Kill-Switch-Stop-Cellphones-From-Being-Stolen  Whether you are walking or jogging on our VaHi streets or on the BeltLine - keep those phones hidden from view, and lower your chances of being an apple picking incident.   There was a particular 6/4 such incident at the Fritti restaurant on North Highland Avenue that I would loved to have seen.  The victim was using his I-Pad when it was grabbed from his hand and the thief attempted to flee - as he was running, a concerned citizen pinned her vehicle in front of the accomplice's car and blocked him in.  The thief attempted to flee on foot, but returned to the vehicle after being chased by other citizens.  Both were arrested!!  

The following reports are from our APD Zone 6 (http://atlantapd.org/Zone6.aspx) crime stats for the 2013 weeks of 23 and 24 (6/2 - 6/15 ) for our VaHi Beat 601, along with news from around the Zone as it affects us.  Again - I state that these reports are not meant to scare anyone, but to make you aware of what happens around us everyday and to raise your awareness.

Aggravated Assault  -  No reported incidents from Beat 601  

Auto Theft  -  The following vehicles were stolen - PDL Avenue (2010 VW Bug), Briarcliff Place (1998 Grand Cherokee Jeep), Virginia Avenue ( 2002 Dodge Caravan), and Elmwood Drive (1999 Honda Civic). 

 Commercial Burglary  -  No reported incidents from Beat 601 

 Residential Burglary  -  No reported incidents from Beat 601 

 Commercial Robbery  -  No reported incidents from Beat 601

  Residential Robbery  -  No reported incidents from Beat 601 

 Pedestrian Robbery  -  No reported incidents from Beat 601 However as I stated above - Apple picking robberies continue around the Zone, and I am still amazed there are not such incidents here in VaHi with the amount of folks I see on our streets everyday walking and talking or texting.  These folks just represent crimes of opportunity waiting to happen.  PLEASE warn folks you know who engage in this risky and thoughtless practice to stop, and potentially save them from being another crime stastic.  

Larceny From Vehicle  -  Vehicles were entered on PDL Avenue (3), North Highland Avenue as well as a license plate sticker taken on Lanier Boulevard. 

 Larceny Other  -  A bicycle was taken from a 2nd floor North Highland Avenue apartment balcony.  These thieves can climb and leaving a bike on a porch or balcony is not wise.  Keep those bikes well HIDDEN when not in use. 

Our PDL Avenue Kroger and Publix stores caught 4 shoplifters.  Another Craigslist related crime reported - this time on Stovall Street, SE where the advertiser selling a cell phone had it stolen when they let the "buyer" examine it and they fled to a waiting car.