Ga. Tech neighbors fearful as muggings continue

Two years ago, Brooke Baker and her husband purchased a condo just outside of Atlantic Station, near Georgia Tech.

The area was about to boom as construction of new homes and shops spread, while people flocked to the area for shopping and nightlife. It was perfect.

“I would walk to the gym at night without being concerned at all,” said Baker, 32. “Now, I would never walk in daylight by myself. We have become prisoners.”

The Bakers are on a growing list of concerned residents of the Home Park section of Midtown who have become frightened by the recent rash of armed robberies in the area.

Since February, there have been 12 attacks on 13 people, most against Georgia Tech students who rent in the neighborhood. Two people have been shot, while others have been kidnapped or car jacked.

At 1:15 a.m. Monday, a Tech student was robbed trying to make his way home from campus. According to police, the student was approached by a group of two to four black males in a dark-color SUV. The student was struck in the back of the head with a gun and the suspects took his wallet and backpack, said Atlanta Police spokesman Otis Redmond.

Last week, the APD increased its presence in the area with patrols and checkpoints, while Tech has sent several e-mail advisories to students warning them of potential dangers off campus.

“We’ll be judged most on how we respond to this situation,” said James Fetig, Georgia Tech’s associate vice president for communications and marketing. “From the beginning we’ve communicated openly, honestly and often with our entire campus community, including students and parents.”

Last week, Atlanta Police announced three arrests in the May 4 robbery and shooting of Georgia Tech student Patrick Whaley. On June 10, police arrested Deangelo Love, 17, and Maurice Brown, 19. They are being held without bond in the Fulton County jail on charges of aggravated assault, armed robbery and kidnapping. A third person, who has not been identified, is being held on unrelated charges and has a warrant for the student’s shooting pending, said Atlanta Police spokesman Officer Eric Schwartz.

But since those arrests, there have been three more attacks.

“One concern is the age of the criminals. Police tell us they are between 16 and 19,” Fetig said. “This is not a time when young men tend to consider consequences. We are very concerned that one of these robberies could go terribly wrong and have terrible consequences.”

About “three dozen parents,” have contacted Tech voicing concerns about safety, Fetig said. Last Thursday, university President G.P. “Bud” Peterson met with a small group of parents.

Fetig said there have been no threats from students to transfer or not come to Tech as freshmen. He said Tech would not know until the fall whether students will try to move back on campus. It is estimated that more than 70 percent of the renters in the Home Park area are Tech students.

Baker said Monday’s robbery happened around the corner from where she lives — in an upscale set of condos that sell anywhere from a quarter of a million to a half million dollars. She said she doesn’t even walk her dog around the neighborhood anymore for fear.

“We can’t enjoy this place. One of the reasons we bought it was that we can walk to Atlantic Station,” Baker said. “Now, we don’t go out. This is no way to live.”

David Baker, who is a member of the homeowners association, said folks are growing increasing frustrated with the APD.

“There is a constant state of tension here,” he said. “On top of that, the city council just voted to raise my property taxes. I am not getting what I am paying for. I have no faith in Atlanta to provide for the welfare of our citizens.”

Redmond acknowledged that criminals appear to be concentrating on Home Park.

“They’re like a dark cloud,” he said, adding that investigators are working to determine if it’s gang-related.

“It’s a challenge for us to get to the meat and potatoes of it.”

— Katie Leslie contributed to this article.