An armed robbery of two women early Sunday has led to an increased police presence in the North Highland corridor that runs through Inman Park.
"This has become a popular area for nightlife, so people need to be aware," said Atlanta City Councilman Michael Julian Bond.
Atlanta police spokesman John Chafee confirmed that patrols have been stepped up in the area "in response to recent crimes."
Sunday's robbery occurred just after midnight after the women left Barcelona restaurant on North Highland. One of the victims told Channel 2 Action News a "nicely dressed man" put a gun to her friend's back.
After a brief tussle, the suspect fired a shot toward the woman's head but missed, the station reports. He made off with some credit cards and charged $5,000 worth of merchandise on the cards, according to the victim.
A few weeks earlier, patrons and staff at the North Highland Pub just down the road were robbed at gunpoint, making off with $300 from the bar cash register and another $100 from customers, Atlanta police said.
Bond said the recent crimes mirror a spate of robberies last year in Virginia-Highland.
"Criminals know where the hot spots are," he said.
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