Police Warn Residents of Scooter Thefts

The Atlanta Police Department is warning Atlanta residents about a recent uptick in scooter thefts around the city, including a recent theft in Virginia-Highland.

In an e-mail sent to residents Thursday morning, the department notified residents about multiple scooter thefts in the month of July, including one on Virginia Avenue on July 23.

According to a spokesman for the department, police are also investigating an incident on LaFrance Street in Edgewood on July 19, a robbery on Parkway Drive in Old Fourth Ward on July 27 and three separate incidents in Southeast Atlanta.

The victim of the scooter robbery on Wednesday arrived home around 10 p.m. and told police that five black men between the ages of 17 and 21 forced them off the scooter.

Police spokesman Carlos Campos said some of the scooters were chained when stolen. He recommends keeping the scooters inside to prevent theft and recording the serial number of the scooter in the event it is stolen.

Anyone with any information about the thefts is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS or call 911.