VaHi Safety Team Report: June 17, 2013

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By: John Wolfinger

APD and AFR News

AFR just announced recently that 29 new firefighters were graduated from the training academy on 6/4/2013 – but no word as to whether this number of graduates is enough to keep up with retirement and resignation replacements.  I hope that it is.

APD has released an informative LGBT YouTube video that can be viewed at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05DHphO2ccY

An Urban Coyote Posse?

I have been asked to act as a go-between for the recruitment of folks interested in forming a group for neighborhood coyote control. Send me an e-mail if you are interested in joining up and I will pass on your name and contact info to the core group. [email protected]  No – I do not know of what plans they are making, so don’t ask me.

Platinum Price Increases and Your Catalytic Converter

According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, platinum prices are on the increase, which leads me to believe that stolen catalytic converters will be worth even more on the scrap metal black market. Not good news.  http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20130513-707238.html This is a very difficult crime to prevent, other than watching where you park (especially at night) keeping under strong light and if possible, parking against a wall or street-side tree that will make it difficult to crawl under your high-bodied SUV or pickup truck. There are locks and other such welded-on security devices available – but from the reviews I have read on the Internet they are not completely worth the money. If you know otherwise, let me know and I’ll pass your info on to our neighbors.

The following reports are taken from our APD Zone 6 (http://atlantapd.org/Zone6.aspx) crime stats for the 2013 weeks of 21 and 22 (5/19 to 6/1) for our VaHi Beat 601, along with news from around the Zone as it applies to us. Again, these reports are not meant to scare anyone, but to make you aware of what happens around us everyday and to raise your alertness.

Aggravated Assault – No reported incidents from Beat 601.

Auto Theft – No reported incidents from Beat 601.

Commercial Burglary – No reported incidents from Beat 601.

Residential Burglary – A residence on Stillwood Drive had an intrusion on 5/25 via a broken guest room window.  A burglary was reported on Brookridge Drive on 5/27 with entry being made via an unlocked window with the homeowner asleep elsewhere in the home.

Commercial Robbery – The cashier at the Chinese restaurant on PDL Avenue @ Bonaventure was robbed at gunpoint of cash – entry was made via the unlocked back door while the business was open.  Let this be a warning to business owners to keep the back door locked when not in use.  Most all businesses watch the front door, but completely forget that the unlocked back door is an easy entry for thieves and robbers.  This is especially true at closing time when trash is being taken out – remember the Taco Mac robbery a few years ago when entry was made after closing and during clean-up time.

Residential Robbery – No reported incidents from Beat 601.

Pedestrian Robbery – No reported incidents from Beat 601. Nearby though on Parkway Drive in the Old 4th Ward – a pedestrian was robbed of his gambling earnings after one of his fellow gamblers held him up at gunpoint a short distance from where the victim had taken his winnings. The suspect was unknown to the victim – so – know who you are gambling with.

Larceny From Vehicle – Vehicles were entered on St. Augustine Place, PDL Avenue (3), Virginia Avenue (2), and North Highland Avenue (3).

Larceny Other – A locked bicycle was taken from a Virginia Avenue apartment porch.  Keep those bicycles hidden from view when not in use at home.  Bolt cutters render a chain and lock completely useless.

Remember – “See Something – Say Something.” Don’t assume that someone else will call 911 to report suspicious activity or persons. We are the extra eyes and ears of APD.

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