A rash of carjackings in recent days has prompted Atlanta police to launch a major enforcement effort, with special patrols making safety checks on two southside streets overnight, Channel 2 Action News reported.
Suspects armed with a gun stole a vehicle from a woman who was accosted as she was texting on Memorial Drive Tuesday night, while other heists occurred recently on Glen Iris Drive and Bill Kennedy Way, police said. The thefts are believed to be connected, and the thieves are presumed to be using the vehicles to commit other crimes.
Officers set up checkpoints Wednesday evening on Memorial and Bill Kennedy. Undercover units also were working the area.
Detectives told Channel 2 that clues are pointing them toward a gang from outside the city, with one member as young as 14 years old. They said they are close to making arrests.
“There have been some positive leads,” Atlanta police Lt. Neil Klotzer said. In the meantime, he said, residents need to stay alert and “be aware of their surroundings … paying attention to what’s going on. They have to be the first line of defense along with us.”
Local residents said they were happy to see the police presence.
“For sure always a good thing to have them around,” Chris Fogg told Channel 2 at the Bill Kennedy Way checkpoint.
“This is a good area, but in the neighboring areas there has been a little bit of crime,” Fogg said. “When we first moved here there was a lot of crime, but it’s gotten a lot better, but we hear from time to time [about] random crazy things.”
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