Approximately 150 people concerned about the recent spate of crimes in the Decatur area wedged into the Oakhurst Solarium Monday night to hear police report on the cycle of city-wide crimes that, in the words of Police Chief Mike Booker, “began spiraling in the last six weeks.”
From May 30 to July 1 there have been 16 burglaries, 14 in South Decatur, and 10 of those in the Winnona Park section, his staff reported. No arrests have been made, and it’s uncertain how many perpetrators are involved. The burglaries appear related, police said. Witnesses have given descriptions of several suspects, black male teenagers living in the South DeKalb Mall area.
All burglaries have been before noon and mostly involve the theft of televisions, laptops and jewelry.
Additionally there have been five robberies from July 1 to July 6 involving four to six male teenagers from Atlanta’s Kirkwood area. Police indicated they have suspects and desciptions, but would not share facts beyond that. There are “undertones,” police said, that both burglaries and robberies are gang-related, although there’s no evidence they are part of any gang initiation.
Decatur’s 46 full-time officers including investigators and special units are working with DeKalb County and city of Atlanta police and putting in overtime on the crimes .
Another meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Decatur Recreation Center, 231 Sycamore St.
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