Atlanta police beef up security for busy sports weekend, holiday season

As Atlanta braces for a weekend full of sports events and the hectic holiday season, police are beefing up security to ensure visitors and residents remain safe.

Accounting for the extra visitors traveling into Atlanta for the Hawks game Friday night, SEC Championship on Saturday and Falcons game Sunday, Deputy Chief Timothy Peek reminded people during a Friday afternoon news conference to remain vigilant and not leave items inside their cars in an effort to decrease car thefts and other crimes.

“We have mobilized all of our divisions within the Atlanta Police Department to support the field operations and patrol and visibility throughout the city ... you’ll notice there will be a lot of police officers out,” Peek said. “We’ll be working closely with all of our jurisdictions to ensure that we create a safe atmosphere for our citizens of Atlanta.”

With the streets expected to be extra crowded with cars, Peek reminded city dwellers that MARTA is available and should be utilized to get around.

The Atlanta Hawks will play the Philadelphia 76ers at 7:30 p.m. Friday at State Farm Arena. Taking the train to the GWCC/CNN MARTA station will get fans to the arena efficiently and save time wasted in traffic.

SEC FanFare events and Saturday’s SEC Championship Game between Georgia and Alabama at Mercedes-Benz Stadium can also be accessed by taking the train to the GWCC/CNN station. The game is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. Events have already begun and will last until 7 p.m. Friday at the Georgia World Congress Center. Pep rallies will take place Saturday starting at 1:15 p.m.

Peek said the game will be treated like any other sports event that Atlanta police have handled.

“We’ve hosted these events time and time again, so we have a robust plan that we constantly work with all of our partners ... to ensure that we really and truly integrate our security protocols inside and outside so we all know exactly what’s going on and we’re able to respond appropriately,” he said.

To wrap up the sports weekend, the Atlanta Falcons will play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 1 p.m. Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Remember to wear your mask while riding with MARTA, as its mask requirement has been extended through January in transit stations, buses, trains and streetcars. Free masks are available at rail stations and on buses.

Moving into the holiday season and preparing for the swarms of shoppers, Peek said additional patrol will be placed at shopping plazas around the city. Atlanta police are working closely with Lenox Square to ensure adequate safety measures are in place, and Peek said additional on-duty patrols will be at the mall.

Nevertheless, he reminded people to not leave items inside vehicles while shopping, making it easier for thieves to break in and take those items.

“Be thoughtful about when you’re shopping, when you’re making sure that you’re aware of your surroundings, when you’re taking things from your store and placing them into your vehicle that you don’t just go back into the mall,” Peek said, advising shoppers to either take all their items inside stores or drop them off at home to prevent car break-ins.

Not everyone will hit the stores, with some shoppers opting for online shopping. Peek advised shoppers to be home when packages arrive or send them to a location where they will not be left outside unattended and have the possibility of being stolen.

Peek emphasized that people out and about should be constantly aware of their surroundings, but said that police do not suggest people taking matters into their own hands if they see something suspicious. Calling 911 or flagging down a police officer are safer options during certain circumstances, he said.

“We want to welcome all of our citizens, we want to welcome all of our visitors that are coming and we just want everyone to have a safe, happy weekend and have a safe holiday season,” Peek said.