My first thread: Car Break-ins (Atlanta, Clayton: high crime, credit, wedding)

[DeaconJ]

My response about Downtown was to this statement from mmenomen:

Crime downtown is very rampant and quite high.

[mmenomen]

DeaconJ

..Downtown crime is not "rampant".

I disagree with you. Have you checked out the crime rates for 30303 vs. other zip codes in this area? Not many other zip codes will be higher than 30303. I think my statement is bolstered by comparisons of crime rates. Higher crime rates = rampant.

In areas downtown, broken chards of glass are mostly found for street parking, but thieves do break into cars in parking lots too, especially unattended ones.

Wow, I've lived in the city for 18 years and never had my car broken into...so I guess I wouldn't think it's much of a problem

Were you in 30303 specifically? I have lived and worked in zip code 30303 for over a dozen years. I know what I am talking about. I still like downtown despite all of that and dealing with bums on a regular basis. I think the area is a bit more cleaned up, but the crime rates are still abysmally high.

Where do cars park on the street Downtown? I can't even think of any on-street parking...

On weekends, cars can park more on some streets without putting money in the meters, but the ones that come to mind are Nassau, Cone, Mitchell, and few in and around those. Most parking is short term. The meter readers give out the yellow tickets ALL the time. Do you see any of this?

[LahdeeDahdee]

When I lived in NY I would leave my car doors unlocked, my glove compartment wide open and window down enough to unlock the door. I'd leave nothing of value. The concept was to provide easy access to my vehicle so that they wouldn't have to bust my window or break the locks of the door, glove compartment or trunk. This saves them time and energy and saves me from spending money that I didn't have for repairs. Why go through the trouble of breaking the trunk lock if you can just open the car door and pull the lever? Did I worry about them actually stealing the car? It had a great anti-theft device and it was just a car not my soul. I could always purchase another vehicle.

[coolyfett]

Originally Posted by Willdoit

Hey all,

I'd just like to say hey to everyone here in Atlanta. This is my first time on this board, and I really like the idea of a site like this. I am posting because of the ridiculous amount of car break-ins that have been occurring in and around my neighborhood, Va Highlands. Last night my car finally got broken into, along with at least four others on my block. While I was talking to the cop he told me that last week there were fifteen on the same street in Candler Park in one night!! Last month it was my neighbor's car, and others on my street. A few months before that it was my other neighbor as well others. I mean, this is obviously problem, the people doing this are having a free for all!

I'd like to y'all to give me your thoughts and suggestions as to dealing with this ongoing problem.......thanks

Random multiple break ins?? The area has been targeted by thieves that don't live there. The thieves think that you all have money and safe, VA HI is not exactly the ghetto.

[coolyfett]

Originally Posted by DeaconJ

Wow, I've lived in the city for 18 years and never had my car broken into...so I guess I wouldn't think it's much of a problem. It all depends on persepective. Maybe I've just been lucky or you've been unlucky, but I have always tried to park where I felt it was relatively safe to leave my vehicle. I used to park in some shady places and go to clubs a lot...one time I even left my window down accidentally and thought the window was gone/broken out when I came back. Some people have good experiences with such things, some people have bad experiences. If there were 8 cars broken into on your street that night, there were 50 that weren't? That's one way to look it.

I would say try to arrange something so that you aren't parking on the street...I know it's not always possible, but parking in a driveway or behind your house or apartment makes a BIG difference, and parking in a garage makes a HUGE difference. As far as police protection, you can't really blame them...there is no way for police to be on every street at all times - and there are much more serious crimes than car break-ins.

yea I also want to add that sometimes where and how you park your car can prevent break ins. Sometimes you have to put on your criminal cap to protect yourself from criminals.

[coolyfett]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

This is arguably the most common type of petty crime in Atlanta. After getting broken into at a condo community where I lived (which was gated; so much for that as a deterrent), I asked for additional lighting in the parking lots (they complied) and always tried to park under one. I figure that thieves prefer to work in the dark.

Yea we do.....I mean yea they do.

[atlantagreg30127]

The fact is, crime happens anywhere and everywhere, and you simply have to not leave carrots dangling out and about for people to want to take the time and risk to get something.

Just TODAY at 5pm, on a Sunny Saturday afternoon, someone pulled into my neighbor's carport and stole their riding lawnmower. They only have one car and it was gone as the husband was at work. The thieves knocked on the door, but the wife was napping. By the time she woke up and dragged herself to the door, they were leaving her driveway with their mower in tow. So far - no one has been caught.

They had their riding mower in full view in the front carport. Carrot.

Crime can happen to anyone, and some crooks are more brazen and will break into a car or home even if they AREN'T sure there's something of value there. But you greatly increase your risks if through the car (or home) window they can see anything to entice them to try it.

[DeaconJ]

Originally Posted by mmenomen

DeaconJ I disagree with you. Have you checked out the crime rates for 30303 vs. other zip codes in this area? Not many other zip codes will be higher than 30303. I think my statement is bolstered by comparisons of crime rates. Higher crime rates = rampant.

In areas downtown, broken chards of glass are mostly found for street parking, but thieves do break into cars in parking lots too, especially unattended ones.

Were you in 30303 specifically? I have lived and worked in zip code 30303 for over a dozen years. I know what I am talking about. I still like downtown despite all of that and dealing with bums on a regular basis. I think the area is a bit more cleaned up, but the crime rates are still abysmally high.

On weekends, cars can park more on some streets without putting money in the meters, but the ones that come to mind are Nassau, Cone, Mitchell, and few in and around those. Most parking is short term. The meter readers give out the yellow tickets ALL the time. Do you see any of this?

I don't doubt for a second that you know what you're talking about - as it pertains to you and your experiences. The point is, there is no need to act like crime is "rampant" anywhere because of your bad luck. I'm another person that has had a completely different experience with crime (or lack of it) in Atlanta. Our two experiences are on oppopsite ends of the spectrum, but I don't tell people Atlanta is crime-free because of my good luck...just as you may not want to describe Atlanta as 3rd world. It's somewhere in the middle.

It's just not adviseable to scare newcomers or visitors with such stories.

[Buckhead Betty]

My neighborhood association gets weekly Zone 2 crime reports. The majority of reported crimes are car break-ins, and I wouldn't be surprised if there are many going unreported. What's the point, unless the damage far exceeds the insurance deductible? I've seen broken safety glass in my neighborhood several times, and yet nothing showed up on the police report.

Many break-ins occur in office building parking decks. Besides not leaving anything like a GPS or iPod in a visible place, don't leave change for the tollroad in the cupholder or anywhere else it can be spotted. An Atlanta Police Officer told us that a rock of crack costs $10, and a crackhead will break a car window to obtain $2-3.

If you drive somewhere to go jogging or biking, put your purse, etc., in the trunk before driving to the area, so you will not be observed hiding anything under the seat. It defeats the purpose if you literally show the thieves where you're putting valuables.

[DeaconJ]

Maybe we'll see a new fashion trend...Jogging Purses.