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AJC.com > Metro > View from the cop > Archives > 2007 > March > 20
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Protect yourself against jewelry theft ring
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Since January of this year there has been some activity directed at female victims exiting retail areas or entering or exiting cars in the parking lots of retail areas. These robberies have occurred mostly in the Buckhead area, however, an attempted robbery that fits the pattern took place in Sandy Springs February 21st at 1150 Hammond Drive, in the Publix parking lot. The time of this attempted robbery was 2 p.m. on a Wednesday.
BUCKHEAD ROBBERIES
Victims: Females ages 31-56
Incident dates, locations, times, day of the week
Jan 5th 3300 Peachtree Rd (Phipps) 9:08 p.m. Friday
Feb 11th 3535 Peachtree Rd 2:30 p.m. Thursday
Feb 14th 3500 Peachtree Rd (Phipps) 3:40 p.m. Sunday
Feb 19th 2625 Piedmont Rd (Michaelıs Art) 6:08 p.m. Friday
Feb 21st 1150 Hammond Dr (Publix) 2:00 p.m. Wednesday
Mar 6th 1250 West Paces Ferry Rd 3:30 p.m. Tuesday
Mar 14th 3489 Northside Pkwy 2:16 p.m. Wednesday
Mar 18th 3539 Piedmont Rd (Target) 6:55 p.m. Sunday
The suspects hit twice on a Sundays and Wednesdays. Both Wednesday robberies were around 2 p.m. Sunday robberies were later. With the exception of one robbery, the first, the suspects prefer the late afternoon and evening hours. Most of the activity centers in the Phipps or near Phipps area. The Hammond Drive robbery was included because it matched the time, method, and suspect lookout.
Common Threads
Look at the days and times these incidents occurred. Go against the grain and shop in the off-hours from those listed.
Be especially aware if you are in the 3300 block of Peachtree Road or any retail area, large shopping center parking lot where there are a lot of cars parked nearby.
Be vigilant when exiting your car and exiting a business and walking to your car.
Make an effort to stop, look around and take a good look at cars slowing driving up and/or down the parking lanes, pedestrian traffic, persons just hanging around the sidewalk or parking lot area. Donıt walk into trouble. If it looks the slightest bit wrong, donıt second guess yourself based on not wanting to take time to check out your situation. Go back in, call the police department on your cell, tell someone but do something to bring attention to this.
By far, the most effective way to keep a ring thief away is not wear a ring. Put them away at home or in your pocket when walking, or at least turn them under while you are in these public areas. The values of the stolen rings are between $10,000 and $60,000. The victims were either alone or with small children. The thieves are waiting until the victim is most vulnerable before they approach.
Checklist
In the car : As you approach and get ready to park, keep the doors locked. Remember, if the car is moving, you’re in control right? Are there people sitting in the adjacent cars? Standing around?
Getting out: My suggestion is have pepper spray in hand. Put the jewelry away at home or at least stashed away in the car. This means hidden. Putting jewelry in the console or glove compartment is not hidden. If someone breaks in, you’ll want them to have to search a long time to find jewelry. They don’t have much time.
Get out, look around, check it out and either move on out or get back in.
Walking in: Move out! Get off the phone, don’t look in your purse and definitely don’t use this time to admire your jewelry! Walk like you have a purpose, which you do. Look as you walk. This might be a good time to have the “crazy-face” on.
Walking out: Same thing only in reverse. First, while you’re still near the safety of the store, take a good scan and look for persons loitering or cruising in their cars. With your keys in hand, walk to the car (again, hopefully youıll have the pepper spray in hand as well) and get gone.
Attire: Many of you, as I do, wish to make a fashion statement every time you step out into public. However, given this recent trend in robberies, you may want to include tennis shoes instead of heels, for your next trip out to shop. Believe me, nothing says “I’m a trendsetter” better than a woman who can outrun an immediate threat. If you have to wear heels, though, shed them and go.
These bad guys are totally dependent on surprise. During this trend of parking lot robberies, leave your jewelry at home and scope it out before you walk into parking lots to and from stores. Atlanta Police said they do have leads on these cases but even when they catch these guys, this is good advice for short time periods that you are actually at risk.
As always, call anything suspicious, into the police at 911. Pepper spray can easily be purchased. On the web, search police-supply sites and look for pepper spray. www.galls.com is a common site that sells pepper spray. Mark IV is a popular brand and easily used. You want something that will shoot a stream. The approximate cost is about $15.
