Dunwoody North Neighborhood Watch quoted in AJC no holiday from crime article

By Marcus K. Garner

Some leave their purses open on the front seat of their cars. Others may leave a laptop sitting in plain sight in the SUV's cargo bay. Then there's the new GPS system attached to the windshield, just above the dashboard ... in an unlocked car. These are just a few examples of the easy pickings some criminals come across on the Northside. Law enforcement officials say people tend to get careless during the holidays, when crime typically is on the rise. And thieves reap the benefits.

"It's one of those things where it's a crime of opportunity," said Roswell Police Lt. James McGee. "You leave a door cracked or unlocked at home. People are leaving cars unlocked or leaving expensive things in their cars." A ride-along Monday with Alpharetta police Officer John Robinson proved this, as the officer found the garage door open and nobody home in one neighborhood, and an open purse in an area shopping center.

Common sense can protect your property, Sandy Springs police Lt. Steve Rose said. "Many thieves are taking whatever they can find and fencing them out or selling them on the street for whatever cash they can get," Lt. Rose said. "This is their cash plus-up for holiday shopping." Such was the case during Thanksgiving weekend when six teenagers entered more than 150 cars over a three-day period. They found only 50 of the cars locked, and took a huge haul of valuable items.

Last week, Rose reported several break-ins where thieves had apparently stolen garage door openers from cars. "The thieves later returned to the house when the victim was gone," he wrote in his weekly column. "They opened the garage door, drove inside, and then closed the door to hide the car while going through the house." Other Sandy Springs reports offered warnings to GPS device owners. "In one case the victim's GPS was in the car that was stolen," Rose said. "The GPS was programmed to "home" and it gave directions to the victim's home." It's important to stay alert while shopping, as well.

Alpharetta police spokesman George Gordon said that although the department has stepped up patrols around the North Point Mall area to deter crime, some shoppers still make theft all too easy. "We've had people go to Best Buy and get a $1,400 plasma TV, and leave it in their car when they go to eat ... with the door unlocked," Gordon said. "Of course, it's gone when they get back."

Roswell's McGee said people have called to report being followed after they leave a shopping area with a car full of gifts. "Watch your surroundings when you leave a store," he said.

Lisa Unkefer, neighborhood watch coordinator for the Dunwoody North Civic Association, said the best deterrent for home break-ins is neighborly vigilance. "Having neighbors watch over is a big deterrent," she said.

But Rose warns that the smartest tactic is not to make theft easy for criminals. "The risk vs. opportunity is the most important thing to remember, because it affects every crime that's committed," he said. "Crooks take the path of least resistance. Victims are often the lazy ones or the procrastinators who think that it won't happen to them."

Staying safe at home

• Vary the times you leave home and come back.
• Leave your lights on a timer.
• Leave a radio or TV turned up loud when you leave the house.
• Keep your garage door closed.
• If you are traveling, stop your mail delivery or have a trusted person retrieve your mail.
• Trim shrubs and any landscaping that obstructs your entry and exit areas
• Join a neighborhood watch group. Become active in your homeowners association.

Here are some suggestions from law enforcement agencies for protecting your property while shopping:

• Lock your vehicle at all times.
• Watch your surroundings when you leave a store.
• Call police and don't go home if you see a car you think is following you.
• Don't program the GPS for 'home' unless you need to.
• Remove GPS units or garage door openers each time you exit your car.
• If there is a theft, reprogram the garage door opener.
• Do not leave any item(s) of value in your vehicle unattended.
• If you purchase an expensive item please take it home prior to stopping at another business or restaurant.
• Always park your vehicle in a lighted area at night.
• Be aware of your surroundings and try to shop when other patrons are present.
• Do not display large amounts of cash.
• Carry your credit cards and cash in your front pockets.
• Do not leave a purse unattended.