View from the cop: Crime & punishment
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AJC.com > Metro > View from the cop > Archives > 2007 > May > 01
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Skepticism, info & dead bolts required
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here is an e-mail I received Monday:
“One of our neighbors has been ripped off by a man driving a blue Ford F150 pickup truck probably 2000 or older. He saw her car in her driveway with a dent along the door and said he could fix it for her for $. He was there last evening and this morning. Did a crappy (sorry) job, bumps where he drilled holes to pull dents out, paint did not match and she said she wouldn’t pay him for the job, as it was shoddy. He had an Italian accent with Brooklyn accent thrown in, named Geno, or so he said. He started yelling at her. Fortunately her painters showed up to work Monday morning and told him to calm down. She paid him only half the money, but is obviously scared that he might come back.”
We had a complaint recently that several persons were going around dinging in doors and then offering to fix them. Several of the complaints pointed the finger at gypsies who have been reported as the perps in this scam in other areas. As with anything else, don’t have professional work done by anyone other than reputable businesses via Yellow Pages, Internet or other means of verification.
Be skeptical of walk-up business opportunities
REWARD OFFERED
Many of you are aware of the deceased newborn child found on Applegate Lane off of Long Beach Circle earlier this year. Unfortunately we still have no information as to the mother or the child or anyone who may know some information about it. Sandy Springs Police are offering a $5,000 reward for information.
HARDWARE SECURITY
For those of you with basements, here is something to think about. We have had several burglaries where the point of entry was a basement window or door. The bad guys never got into the main part of the home because the door leading from the basement to the main area was a solid wood door with a DEADBOLT. This is a great idea partially because the angle of the stairs makes it hard to put anything behind a good kick.
Your back basement door should be a metal door with a deadbolt of two inches. Metal doors look like wood doors and it’s in the back of the house so it should lessen the shock of those cosmetically sensitive of such things.
AND….
Thefts from cars can only happen if there is something in the car to steal. Thieves are not breaking into empty cars.
