Home > Holiday Blog > Archives > 2008 > December > 10 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USPrevent crime during the holidays
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Christmas time means robberies are up and thefts from cars are up.
Right now we have a trio of bad guys doing street-level robberies mostly in the southern area. Victims are usually caught off guard getting in or out of a car and it’s normally at night.
Some of the robberies were for money and one was a carjacking. At night, be very careful and look around before getting out of the car. These are quick hits and if you get caught in the worst-case scenario and are approached for money, don’t fight. Give up the money and get a good description of the perps.
Other things:
You know those “Secret Shopper” offers? Be aware, some are phony. Check them out. Most legit Secret Shopper deals don’t involve you putting money up front. Look into these offers closely and ask questions.
Thefts from gym lockers are expected to rise slightly. The most common scenario is a popped locker and either a credit card removed from a wallet or, if the wallet isn’t in the locker, thieves will sometimes take the keys, walk outside and hit the buttons until they find the car. Most of the time they ransack the car then leave.
Thefts from cars are up a bit. Just quit leaving all that stuff in them.
I’ve gotten some e-mails telling of stories of people who slash the victim’s tires then approach them offering to fix them, then robbing them. I hear about it but haven’t seen any of it here.
Apartment burglaries are quick. Kick the door, grab what they can from the front room and scoot. Most common item taken: PS3 and Xbox game systems. Aside from the door kickers, the second most common entry point is the sliding door. You can’t do much about the front door frame unless your apartment complex is very accommodating but you can buy or even make a door stop for the sliding door. You can buy a wooden dowel at the hardware store. Cap the ends with rubber stoppers and place it on the sliding door thus restricting it from opening. Most crooks won’t take the chance of shattering the big sliding door.
It’s a good idea to write down serial and model numbers of your valuables, especially electronics. Make the rounds with your digital camera and create a visual inventory of your items.
Believe me, it will pay off if you are a victim of a burglary.
Comments
By Defense
December 10, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this
The best way to drop the National crime rate is to lock up Obama and his Chicago cronies. Wait til he gets to DC. How long can the simpletons who voted for him continue to believe every time something or someone new pops up, He knew nothing. Who does he think he is, Sgt. Schultz?
By Anita
December 10, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this
Defense, Shut the H@ll up!
By JL Atlanta
December 10, 2008 5:11 PM | Link to this
best way to prevent crime in Atlanta is to install a bubble around places like Hollywood Courts. Or any other ghetto we can find.
By JL Atlanta
December 10, 2008 5:11 PM | Link to this
best way to prevent crime in Atlanta is to install a bubble around places like Hollywood Courts. Or any other ghetto we can find.
Best way to prevent them? Start fighting back with bullets.
By rubadub
December 10, 2008 5:57 PM | Link to this
Yeah !…the ghetto is responsible for the trillions of dollars this country owe in debt. The fat cats and banksters charge us honest,low prices and insurance care e v e r y d a y and e v e r y m i n u t e ! Homes,cars and exports,thanks to our friends the corporate thieves,our lives has been blessed.They don’t rip-off !Not the Halliburtons and Bechtel,s,and Enrons and Exxons. May the police continue to protect them, and gun down,on suspicion the ghetto crumb snatchers.
Right, JL Atlanta…(sic)
By Taylor
December 10, 2008 6:12 PM | Link to this
rubadub, I think you might have meant “psyche!” as in, making painfully obvious your sarcasm. (sic) means “spelling is correct,” and is used when quoting someone who has spelled a word incorrectly and the author wants to preserve the original’s work. You sound angry, by the way; your opinions might carry more weight if you spelled correctly and used proper grammar.
By sokak6
December 10, 2008 6:22 PM | Link to this
RUBADUB, They won’t get it.
By rubadub
December 10, 2008 6:33 PM | Link to this
Taylor, Correct spelling don’t mean a thing if the truth is revealed. Not angry,just sick of yours and others small-talk. Even if perfect grammar was used,I don’t expect to convince the trifling thinkers. :)
By BC
December 11, 2008 6:43 AM | Link to this
The best way to stop crime is punish the perps. Sentence them to long prison terms of hard time and no early release. No TV, etc. put them on work detail and have them work 7 days a week. That will stop them! If a weapon is used in carjacking or robery, make it a mandatory 20 year sentence of hard time. They wil think twice if they know the consequences! This slap on the wrist, early release, etc. is BS! Make them pay dearly for the crime they commit!
By MICHELLE
December 19, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this
Blame the lousy economy for the increase in crime, thieves have families too, which is why they’re stealing in the first place. Doesn’t make it right, but most of them aren’t violent offenders.