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VaHi Safety Team Report

December 31, 2021

Table of Contents

Significant Incidents

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY – 1000-Block Saint Charles Ave
On November 30, police were dispatched to the 1000-Block of Saint Charles Ave in response to a residential burglary.  The victim explained that she left her apartment around 8:35 AM and when she returned around 11:39 PM, she noticed her front door open.  Police observed the print of a shoe or boot on the door and checked the apartment but did not find anyone inside.  The victim checked her apartment and the only thing she noticed missing was a keyboard.  The victim mentioned an encounter the day prior with a white skinny female with a pixie haircut and a black male (mid 20's) with a small Afro haircut.  These two individuals were moving out of an apartment they had sub-let on the same floor as the victim, and the male asked the victim what she had in her briefcase.  She told him "gold-mounts."  The victim said she works in film and gold-mounts are batteries for the cameras on movie sets.  No security cameras were found in proximity to the apartment.  Investigators were notified about the incident.

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT – 1000-Block Greenwood Ave
On December 16 at 10:30 PM, police responded to a call about a person struck by a vehicle on the 1000-Block of Greenwood Ave.  When police arrived on scene, a Grady ambulance was already providing aid to the victim.  The victim said that around 10:00 PM he observed a white male with a bald head back up and hit a parked vehicle in the parking lot.  The driver then pulled forward and hit another parked vehicle.  The victim said he went over to the driver and confronted him.  They then got into an argument and the suspect began to curse at the victim.  The suspect then pulled forward at a fast speed and hit the victim where he was standing. The suspect then backed up and hit the victim a second time, before driving out of the parking lot and heading east on Greenwood Ave then north onto N Highland Ave.  The victim said his right elbow and his right knee were injured from the impact of the car, but he refused to be transported by ambulance and said he would have someone else take him to the hospital in a personal vehicle.
The victim identified the individual that hit him as the man who puts the boots on vehicles that don't pay for parking in the parking lot.  The victim described the suspect's white Jeep and provided police with a Georgia license plate number.  Police ran the tag and confirmed the identity of the suspect.  Police examined the vehicles that the victim identified as being struck by the suspect.  The first vehicle was a black 2021 Volkwagen Atlas with minor damage to the rear driver side bumper.  The second vehicle was a beige 2016 Honda Accord with minor damage to the rear passenger side door.  Police spoke to the owners of both damaged vehicles, but they had not been in their vehicles or observed the incident.  Police identified a camera in the rear of 810 N Highland Ave (Surin of Thailand), but the business was closed at that time so footage could not immediately be recovered.

Zone 6 Toy Drive a Huge Success!

Thanks to John Wolfinger for collecting toys at his home and delivering them to the precinct and to Ms. Emani Hart and Officer Stanio of Zone 6  for organizing this event to help families enjoy a happy hoiday.

COVID-19 Update 

The news lately has been confusing and concerning, however one thing is clear. Those who are fully vaccinated, including booster shots have a much better chance of surviving and avoiding a hospital stay than those who are not. Vaccinations and boosters are readily available at doctor's offices and local pharmacies.

Testing is more difficult due to high demand, but at home test kits are available at local pharmacies. Just call ahead before you go as they are selling out quickly.

The city of Atlanta is back in the red zone, which means masks are required for indoor public spaces. While we are not under a stay at home order as we experienced in 2020, please be thoughtful about safety protocols to protect yourself and your community. 

The current positivity rate in Fulton County is over 10% and we need to be below 5% for restrictions to be lifted. 

Current Statements from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Everyone ages 18 and older should get a booster shot. Boosters for younger children are expected to be approved in the next few days.
Find all CDC guidance on the virus here

Resources for more information and assistance:
State of Georgia Department of Public Health
Fulton County Board of Health COVID-19 Information Hub
Atlanta Strong - COVID-19 Dashboard

The City of Atlanta has activated a text message service for COVID-19 updates. Sign up by texting “ATLCOVID19” to 88877. We are current in Phase 2 (yellow) of our reopening plan. A face mask mandate is in place when in public places.

Quick Notes - Street Lighting

Improving Lighting - One way to deter crime is to make sure we have well lit streets. Residents can help with this in two ways.

First, If you notice a street light out, report it to Georgia Power following the instructions on the page.

Additionally consider leaving outdoor lights on all night. You can purchase special bulbs that come on at dusk and turn off with daylight. And if you have smart house technology such as Google Home and newer LEDs, you can program lights to come on at certain times, or turn on and off remotely. You can even change the colors to celebrate the holidays!

The lights outside your home are a real deterrent to criminals, make it easier for doorbell and other video cameras to capture a good picture, and make it safer for pedestrians walking on the sidewalk.

While you are at it, check to make sure that first responders can see your house numbers in the dark. Large well lit numbers with good contrast to the background make all the difference when police, fire or EMTs are trying to find you in an emergency. 

Crime Statistics

Year in Review
Larceny from Vehicles continues to be the most common crime in Virginia-Highland as well as in nearby neighborhoods and the Zone. Despite increased awareness by residents of the need to keep vehicles clear of valuables, the problem is not improving. Many of these thefts are occurring from the surface parking lots along Ponce de Leon and North Highland, which suggests that many of the victims may be visiting from outside the neighborhood. 
Looking at violent crimes we have not recorded any rapes or homicides, and only 5 robberies and 8 aggravated assaults for the year. This is an improvement over prior years and much lower than elsewhere in the zone and city. All things considered we live in a very safe neighborhood.

December 2021 Beat      
    601   602   613   614
Aggravated Assault 1 -- 1 1
Auto Theft 4 4 2 2
Burglary Non-Residential
& Residential
2 1 -- --
Larceny From Vehicle 22 42 12 11
Larceny Non-Vehicle 2 10 2 6
Homicide -- -- -- --
Rape -- -- -- --
Robbery Commercial,
Pedestrian & Residential
-- -- -- 1
Beat 601 = all of Virginia-Highland

Beat 602 = Poncey-Highland and Inman Park

Beat 613 = Morningside and parts of Piedmont Heights and Lindridge Martin Manor

Beat 614 = Part of Midtown East including the Garden District
December 2021    
  Beat 601 Zone 6
Aggravated Assault 1 24
Auto Theft 4 38
Burglary Non-Residential
& Residential
2 20
Larceny From Vehicle 22 198
Larceny Non-Vehicle 2 72
Homicide -- 1
Rape -- --
Robbery Commercial,
Pedestrian & Residential
-- 9
   

Vehicles were entered on Amsterdam (2), Crestridge, Greenwood, Highland Terrace, Highland View, Los Angeles (2), N. Highland ((7), Park, Ponce de Leon Avenue (4), St. Charles Avenue, and Virginia. 
If you are a resident and not connected with your street captain, please send a message to safety@vahi.org to be introduced.

If you are not a resident but would like to be added to the distribution for these reports, please send a message to me at VaHiSafety@gmail.com with your name, email address, and affiliation. Thanks.
 
Stay Safe!
 
Kay Stephenson
Copyright © 2021 Virginia-Highland Safety Team, All rights reserved.


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