Virginia-Highland Safety Report

The VaHi Safety Team Report, compiled by Virginia-Highland resident John Wolfinger, is intended to update residents on recent crimes. The information on reported crimes is provided by the Atlanta Police department.

The following report was sent to residents via e-mail on Monday, July 11.

Upcoming Festivals

Our next-door neighbor, Piedmont Park, will be hosting two major festival events that have just been recently announced - these are Peachtree Latino Festival on 8/28and Music Midtown on 9/24.These are in addition to the regularly scheduled Atlanta Pride Festival on 10/8 and 9. The Atlanta Pride Festival has a pretty good track record as to the impact on our neighborhood, but the two other festivals are new and have no track record here.  They are telling their patrons, via their websites, to take MARTA to Piedmont Park, but we all know that only a certain percentage will follow that suggestion. Depending on your musical tastes - you may either be thrilled and want to attend these events or you may want to make plans to be out of town for these announced dates. Your choice. 

Bicycle Safety 

I just earned of this service to you bicycle owners via a letter to the editor in the AJC.  I know that a lot of you bike owners have a lot of money invested in your two-wheelers, and the following website offers a way to register your bike in the event that it is stolen. Also - remember to hide your bikes inside somehow when you are not out riding.  As per earlier crime reports, just hiding it in your backyard, front or back porch is not good enough any more. Also, on the subject of bicycles, in the last report I asked about how to better secure roof-top bike racks in light of the several that have been stolen off vehicles here in the past few weeks.  To begin with, I had no idea as to how expensive these racks are - no wonder they are a hot theft item.  Several of you who responded to me told me that all 4 corners can be locked down - but if the thief is really hell-bent on getting your rack, they may wreak a lot of damage to your cartop in wresting all 4 bolts off.  So - I guess it is up to you as to how you choose to secure the rack to your rooftop, and as to where you leave your car when the rack is installed. 

APD Arrest Records 

I just recently learned of a fascinating website  http://arrestcentral.com/category/atlanta-arrest/ . If you have ever wondered as to how many folks are arrested EVERY DAY by APD, this is a real eye-opener.  This can give you an idea as to what APD has to face on a daily basis to protect us.  I now have this site bookmarked to check every morning to see if I recognize any faces. 

The following reports are gleaned from our Zone 6 crime stats for the weeks of 26 and 27 of 2011 - with emphasis on our Beat 603, but with reports from around the Zone as they apply to us.  Again, I state, these reports are not meant to scare anyone, but to make you aware of what happens around us every day and to raise your level of alertness. 

Aggravated Assault  -  No reports from Beat 603 

Auto Theft  -  Vehicles were taken from Adair Avenue, Rupley Drive, Cooledge Avenue, and a botched attempt on Stillwood Drive (they did rip out the radio though, and damaged the steering column). 

Auto Theft Recovery  -  No reports from Beat 603 

Commercial Burglary  -  The art gallery on Monroe Drive was entered via a smashed rear glass door with a purse being taken.  According to the report, a witness saw the suspect as a suspicious person before the break-in, but did not call 911.  See something - say something!!! 

Commercial Robbery  -  No reports from Beat 603 

Residential Burglary  -  Residences were entered on Virginia Avenue via a pried open front door, on Monroe Drive via an unlocked back door at 8 a.m with the residents still at home, Park Drive via an unlocked side door, on Hudson Drive via a pried-open front door lock, on Cooledge Avenue via keys accidentally left in the door, on Drewry Street via an unlocked back door at midnite when the dog-sitter had been outside. These thieves were chased by APD and one was caught hiding in someone's Greenwood Avenue bushes.  On St. Charles Place at 11 a.m., the resident spied the perp crawling out of his back window, and the responding officer saw a person matching the description he had been given, stopped and gave chase - capturing him.  Good job Officer Ramirez.Investigator Gurley tells me that the suspect captured on Greenwood Avenue may have clues as to some of the recent break-ins.  Stay tuned for further details. 

Residential Robbery  -  No reports from Beat 603. 

Larceny From Auto  -  Vehicles were broken into on St. Augustine Place, Briarcliff Place, Bonaventure Avenue, Virginia Avenue, Barnett Street, and 3 on PDL Avenue, including one vehicle in the Briarcliff Summit garage. 

Larceny Other  -  A Chihuahua dog was taken on Briarcliff Road, a herbie curbie was taken from the Colonnade condo building on North Highland Avenue, 2 shoplifters stole $1800 worth of razors from the CVS on North Highland Avenue, a freshly tattooed patron of the Southern Star Tattoo store on PDL Avenue fled before paying, and $37 in cash was stolen off a table in a Briarcliff Summit apartment by an unknown visitor.All around the Zone, A/C units continue to be stolen for the copper parts at a rapid rate - with 8 cases being reported in this time period.  Our PDL Avenue Kroger and Publix supermarkets caught 5 shoplifters,  At the Target store in Edgewood an unwatched backpack in a shopping cart was emptied of a wallet and checkbook.  Stay alert when shopping!! 

Pedestrian Robbery  -  A lone male at the PDL Avenue Bank of America branch using the ATM at the back of the building between 1:30 and 2:30 a.m was robbed at gunpoint of his debit card and pin number.  Think long and hard before visiting an ATM in the middle of the nite - whatever the need for cash is, can't it wait til daylite? 

Keep your parked cars cleaned out at ALL times - if you don't do this, chances are that someone else will clean out your car for you and leave you with a broken window to repair also!!! 

Be sure to let your trusted neighbors know when you are going away on vacation and who has a key to your house.  Neighbors are still our best first-line of defense.

Stay alert, stay safe and enjoy the summertime,

John