View from the cop: Crime & punishment
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AJC.com > Metro > View from the cop > Archives > 2005 > October > 25 > Entry
The story of the afro, phone and sewing machine
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Around noon, the Roberts Drive victim noticed his wallet was gone. He called the bank and was informed that the debit card he owned had been used twice. He was told that a Nokia phone was bought in Atlanta and a sewing machine was purchased in Buckhead. The amount of the sale exceeded the balance, so the card was declined.
The victim talked with the merchants, who told him the suspect was about 5’7” with a small afro. The sewing machine clerk said the man had a Metro PCS bag with him; the same as what was purchased by whoever stole the card.
The victim remembered that his friend has a roommate who matched that description, including the small afro. The victim talked to his friend, who told him his roommate complained earlier in the week that he lost his cell phone and Metro PCS would not replace it for free.
The suspect denied the accusation at first but then asked if the victim intended to press charges on him. The officers dispatched to the call spoke with the suspect, who happened to have a sewing machine in his room. The victim’s wallet was later found in a pair of the suspect’s pants in the closet. The victim’s driver’s license was missing.
The suspect was charged with financial transaction card fraud and taken to FC jail.
Diamonds were these guys’ best friend
A diamond merchant was in town and visited several locations to do business with customers. Later that night he left a Roswell Road restaurant where he and his bodyguard had dined.
The two were approached in the parking lot by a black Toyota Camry or Corolla with four males armed with guns and knives. The men held a gun to the merchant and demanded the bag, which contained diamonds. The man attempted to throw the bag to his bodyguard, but one of the suspects grabbed it and jumped into the car.
The bodyguard tried to force the runaway car’s door open but fell to the ground. He sustained an injury to his back and was taken by ambulance to Northside Hospital. Police are seeking the suspects.
Loose ends:
— Someone stole the victim’s FSU flag from the outside of his Deerfield Point Drive home.
— Some guys got into a fight, at Allen Park, over a dog. They were all charged with simple battery as well as one count of “dog running at large” and booked into magistrate court.
— Officers arrested a man who they saw yelling at his girlfriend, all the while holding a screwdriver. The man grabbed the victim’s cell phone and shattered it on the floor. The man threatened to kill the victim, “when the police get through with me.” The suspect was taken to FC jail.
— A guy who had been involved in an accident at Ga. 400 and I-285 gave the officer a false name. He assumed that they we don’t check that stuff out. He was arrested and taken to FC jail.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Melody Covington
October 25, 2005 11:38 AM | Link to this
The editor in me caught this: The amount of the sale exceeded the balance, so the card was declined. needs to be “…exceeded the credit limit…”. Many thanks for an enjoyable and informative column!
By Steve
October 25, 2005 12:39 PM | Link to this
To Melody — Reread the article. It says debit card, not credit card.
By Ami
October 25, 2005 1:25 PM | Link to this
Just a little piece of info for Melody.. Officer Steve was correct in how he worded his column. A debit card does not have a credit limit since it is linked to a checking account. Therefore, if someone tries to use a card for more money than is in the checking account, it has exceeded the balance of the checking account. Keep up the good work Steve!
By Mark
October 25, 2005 1:28 PM | Link to this
Since it was a debit card and not a credit card I believe in this case balance is correct
By Peggy
October 25, 2005 1:29 PM | Link to this
Melody, maybe the editor in you should re-read the sentence. Since he was using a DEBIT card, then it would be the balance available in the checking account, not a credit limit assigned to a credit card. I’m sure I’m not the only one who will point this out to you.
By SheSpeaks
October 25, 2005 1:32 PM | Link to this
Melody Covington, The “editor” (used loosely) in you should have been more careful when reading this blog entry. It states that the victim’s debit card was in question…not a credit card. So in this instance exceeding the balance is correct.
By Derrick B.
October 25, 2005 1:39 PM | Link to this
It’s a DEBIT card, not a credit card. So the card is declined when balance in his checking card can’t cover the amount charged. Duh :-)
By SheSpeaks
October 25, 2005 1:41 PM | Link to this
Grrrrrrrrr…my post got lost in Cyberspace. @Melody…basically, the editor in you was wrong. If you read this blog entry carefully, you’ll notice it states the victim’s “debit” card was at issue…not a credit card. Therefore, “exceeded the credit limit” is incorrect.
I hope editing is not your day job!
Disclaimer: If my previous post shows up…just disregard this one…unless you just want to laugh twice!!!
By SheSpeaks
October 25, 2005 1:45 PM | Link to this
Oh my…I see I’m not the only jumping down the throat of the “editor” in Melody! LOL!!!
By anonymousella
October 25, 2005 1:49 PM | Link to this
and to the 6 people who posted an hour after steve: did you not read his correction the first time around?
By NoName
October 25, 2005 1:59 PM | Link to this
All of you are right, including Melody. According to the bank your balance, is a credit balance in bank terms.
By CatWoman
October 25, 2005 2:03 PM | Link to this
OK, enough even!!!! Melody obviously edits for the AJC …. LOL
By nobodyimportant
October 25, 2005 3:15 PM | Link to this
Ya’ got that right….this is sort of like “You might be a Red Neck” if you’ve been on television more than 5 times telling how the tornado sounded…”You might be a Red Neck” if ya’ don’t know a debit card from a credit card….and don’t know when to just plain leave it alone…even!!!!!
By Cindy
October 25, 2005 4:09 PM | Link to this
Everyone is so concerned about Melody’s misuse of credit and debit that we all forgot that the DIAMONDS are still missing. Oh no!
By Cindy
October 25, 2005 4:10 PM | Link to this
Everybody is so concerned about Melody’s misuse of cerdit and debit they forgot that the DIAMONDS are still missing. Oh no!
By Dave
October 25, 2005 4:55 PM | Link to this
Do you think it will rain on Friday?
By Steve
October 25, 2005 7:26 PM | Link to this
Actually, Noname, Melody was not right as a “credit” is not a “credit limit” is not a “balance available.” A checking account has a balance, made up of credits and debits. Obviously, she simply misread, making it pretty funny given her comment about being en editor. Thus, the sporting fun pointing it out.
Moreover, if we were all correct, logic dictates that Melody would still be wrong by trying to correct the author (thus implying he was wrong).
By L.D.L
October 25, 2005 7:36 PM | Link to this
At least Melody got some mileage out of her faux pau. I guess she doesn’t have a DEBIT card..
By She Speaks
October 25, 2005 10:32 PM | Link to this
AnonaMOOSE-ella,
There was a glitch on this site that didn’t allow for Steve’s comments to be shown. When I posted, there was only one comment showing…Melody’s.
Obviously.
By Melody Covington
October 26, 2005 7:41 AM | Link to this
Mea culpa!
By M2C
October 26, 2005 8:10 AM | Link to this
If his Debit card was declined why did he still get the sewing machine? Should that not have prevented the purchase? And why are we so focused on Melody and the Credit or Debit issue? There are criminals among us, Oh My!!
By mike G-From Decatur!
October 26, 2005 9:17 AM | Link to this
Will you people just shut up! I didn’t realize there were so many “perfect” people in Atlanta. Get off your high horses and stop beating the girl over the head for a simple mistake. Get over it morons!
By Tiffanie
October 26, 2005 10:04 AM | Link to this
Let’s let AJC be the editors. They do a great job. Now… proceed with your daily reading.
By j
October 26, 2005 12:48 PM | Link to this
Lunch is over, get back to work!!
By Timfany
October 26, 2005 7:08 PM | Link to this
He was able to get the sewing machine because some stores have a floor limit if it does not exceed that limit the sale is allowed to go through. Which is why banks came up with overdraft fees, they cover it for you. But profit when you deposit money.
By honeybrown
October 27, 2005 3:25 AM | Link to this
MY GOODNESS YOU PEOPLE ARE HARSH!! LEAVE POOR MELODY ALONE WHO CARES ABOUT THE DIFF.BETWEEN A DEBIT CARD AND A CREDIT CARD THERE ARE WAY MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES AT HAND LIKE THE RERUNS OF PRISON BREAK….LOL
By Jackson
October 28, 2005 9:58 AM | Link to this
OK, who does not live in a glass house,cast the first stone.
By K Virden
October 28, 2005 10:25 AM | Link to this
Melody, its okay honey, let them say whatever. Have a good weekend.
By e
October 28, 2005 3:43 PM | Link to this
Officer Steve I appreciate the articles, I live off of Roswell rd and never realized how many “I wish I had a camera” moments occurred around here. Keep up the good work and be safe out there.
By e
October 28, 2005 4:41 PM | Link to this
I agree with the majority, Can’t we move on from the debit issue. How about the fact the Apartments in Sandy springs don’t screen for Sex offenders. I know because I lived in the horrible Cliffs of Dunwoody until today and they have one across from the playground. Lets talk about the fact that the apartments don’t see that as an issue.