Overall Crime Down in Virginia-Highland, Morningside, Piedmont Heights

Although some residents say they don’t feel safe in their neighborhood, statistics show that crime is down in most of northeast Atlanta.

Atlanta Police department zone six commander John Dalton told a packed crowd at the Tuesday night that crime in Virginia-Highland is down almost 25-percent from this time last year.

“We are putting a significant amount of resources here,” Dalton said.

Crime in the Morningside-Lenox Park beat is down 11-percent, but there seems to be an uptick in robberies and stolen property compared to this time last year.

In the Lindridge-Martin Manor and Piedmont Heights beat, crime is down 20-percent, but residents in the neighborhoods are seeing a slight increase in auto thefts and aggravated assaults.

The meeting Tuesday night was to give residents the opportunity to discuss public safety issues in light of recent incidents that have “shaken the neighborhood,” he said.

Residents raised an array of questions from when to call 911 to how to keep violent criminals out of the neighborhoods.

“People don’t want to call 911. They feel like they’re bothering you,” Virginia-Highland resident Kay Stephenson said.

She said some residents are getting mixed messages when calling 911 in an emergency. The dispatcher sometimes tells the caller to contact the police precinct if they are not reporting a crime, she said.

Dalton said the police department never wants residents to hesitate when calling 911.

“We want you to call the police,” Dalton said. “Don’t be afraid to call 911.”

Many residents wanted to know how to prevent violent crimes and suggested installing security cameras around the neighborhoods and increasing visible foot patrol.

Deputy Chief Renee Propes said the department hopes to have cameras across the city eventually. Until then, she said residents can install cameras outside their homes and businesses and link them to the department’s video integration center.

“If the neighborhood can buy one, it would be a lot quicker than waiting for the government to make those purchases and start putting them up,” Propes said.

She said she has seen residents and business owners install web-based cameras outside their home or business for around $1,000.

Propes said that every camera cannot be monitored by a person all day and night, but the video center is staffed with police officers and the cameras, and recorded video can be useful when investigating a crime or responding to a 911 call.

Dalton, Propes and zone two commander Robert Browning all said the most effective way residents can fight crime to is to report suspicious activity.

“[It’s] a combination of our efforts and your efforts,” Dalton said. “Visibility of foot beat officers is great... blue lights are also good.”