Similar Armed Robberies Occurring Around Downtown Decatur
Decatur Metro | March 18, 2013Decatur PD Deputy Police Chief Keith Lee sends along this announcement…
During the last weeks, between February 7, 2013 and March 15, 2013, the City of Decatur has experienced four (4) armed robberies of pedestrians in and around the Downtown Business District. The incidents have occurred between 8:45 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. In all four incidents, the victim was female and a firearm was displayed, but not used. In three of the incidents the victims were alone and in one of the incidents two females were present. The suspects in all incidents have been described as black males with slender builds. The estimated ages ranged from the mid-teens to early twenties.
All four incidents are currently under investigation by the Decatur Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division. In addition, the Decatur Police Department has instituted targeted activities designed to prevent future problems and to identify and arrest those involved in this type of behavior.
If you see something that looks suspicious or out of the ordinary, immediately contact the Decatur Police Department by dialing 911 or (404) 373-6551.
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This sucks inordinately.
I think that two of them were reported to have occurred around Montgomery and Ponce de Leon Place, but where were the othere two?
Three armed robberies are shown at crimereports.com. You have to adjust the date range with the advanced search feature.
I believe two of the incidences involved Agnes Scott students.
Not good. Not only is this awful for the victims but it will have a negative impact on Downtown walkability. 8:45 to 9:15 PM is when one might be walking home from dinner or shopping at the CVS or getting home from an event via MARTA. I know one really shouldn’t be walking alone at night but if one has to coordinate walking with others, it’s sometimes easier to not go out at all. Not to mention that I’m worried about my kids who walk all over Decatur all the time.
On another note: No lines earlier this morning voting at First Baptist. Two other people voting at the same time as me. So it’s not crowded, as expected with a one position northside-only election, but there are a few folks voting! Not the worst I’ve seen.
Local elections typically are lucky to get a 20% turnout, while Presidential elections get 60% or 70%. It’s too bad that folks miss the point as to whose decisions, local or national, affect one the most on a day-to-day basis and which elected officials are the most accessible. There’s no excuse for low turnout on local elections.
I agree with you Steve.
However, I think this one has the potential of being even lower than 20% due to the fact there there is only one race on the ballet and is a special election, with a very short run up period. I’m thinking about 15% on this one.
THANK YOU for reminding me to vote today! Things are so crazy at work that sometimes more important home things get forgotten. I would’ve felt terrible not voting.
I did an adjusted search on crimereports.com as suggested. Found only 3 robberies:
2/26 at Ponce Pl and Ponce at 9 pm.
3/13 on Church at Howard at 9:03.
3/15 on Commerce at Ponce at 8:46.
What did I miss?
The armed robbery on 3/13 at 9 pm looks like it is right at the Agnes Scott tunnel, which I’m always a bit leery of. Like AHID, I worry about letting kids walk all over the place, but they aren’t out that time of night and in the afternoons I don’t think pinning them in is the answer, either.
I”m asking DPD, but I believe there were two on Ponce Place based on another report I had read.
The forth one, early in February, was on West Ponce, according to Deputy Chief Lee.
Yeah, the consistency in time of day makes me think that the perpetrators are active after they eat dinner and before they go to bed. Maybe they get up early for work or school? Any roommates or family out there notice a pattern that fits someone you know? But if there’s more police surveillance, the perpetrators could shift their routine.
The CVS area has always had a slightly shady feel to it, less in the last 5-8 years. People hanging out on the wall or outside the side door. Sometimes some panhandling or shady “fundraising”. I was successfully conned there once. (But being real gullible, that’s no testament to the scammer’s skills.)
“Maybe they get up early for work or school?”
LOL
+1
I don’t know what ticks me off more – the fact that they are out committing violent crimes, or that they weren’t working on their AP History homework.
Hey, I didn’t say what KIND of school they were attending or work they were doing! Gang work, e.g., requires a lot of prepatory work in the mornings! Even AP Graffiti requires one to get out of bed on time! The descriptions of the perps being young, tall, thin, just makes me think of late adolescents, no beer bellies yet. And you have to admit–none of the robberies have been during school hours yet.
It seems that they are only targeting women, which makes sense because if they get the purse they probably get it all ( smart phone, money, cards) and get it quickly.
You know, when I was a student I started lobbying for a second ASCPD call box at the Howard end of the tunnel. Maybe now they will put one there.
Hate this aspect of living in Decatur. It’s not very safe. Berkley meets Mayberry meets Compton.
What’s the solution? More cameras, more cops? yes.
Since we moved here in 2008, there has been a lot of violent crime.
“It’s not very safe. Berkley meets Mayberry meets Compton.” I take issue with that characterization.
Check Decatur’s crime rate compared to surrounding areas and “affluent” sections of Atlanta. You’ll find it’s generally lower. Doesn’t feel that way if you’re a victim, but it’s true.
Decatur’s sworn officers per capita exceed national standards and I think most folks would agree that they’re responsive and professional. Unfortunately, they can’t be everywhere all the time.
Decatur has a very low crime rate, particularly low when it comes to violent crime. It is a very safe community.
As a relative newbie, you may have been fooled by the Atlanta media’s annoying habit of describing anything in DeKalb County south of Chamblee and west of Lithonia as “Decatur”. As noted above, the CoD violent crime rates are quite low. Still, that’s cold comfort to the victims of these holdups. May be time for that concealed carry permit.
I’ve had a CCW for years, but very rarely carry. By all means, get one, but I highly recommend (if you haven’t already) taking a training course. Not one of those single-night three-hour jobs, but one that delves deep into the responsibility of owning, carrying and using a firearm.
One of the things you’ll learn is that in a situation like this, where the thief already had a gun displayed, you would be at a severe disadvantage. You can’t out-draw and already drawn gun.
The worst thing someone can do IMO is to start carrying with no training. I can’t think of much worse than someone trying to draw on someone and then get disarmed by the perp.
I can think of many worse things, all of which are life altering and perhaps preventable if the victim was able to protect himself/herself.
The perps already have guns in this case.
Isn’t CCW Elmer Fudd’s favorite classic rock Band? Cweedence Clearwater Wevival. heheheheh.
That was so damned silly, but I laughed out loud. Thanks for starting my morning off right, Fats.
I agree with everything you said up until the last sentence.
What’s having a gun going to do for you? Your obvious response will be “scare away the perpetrator.”
But what if that perpetrator is also packing? What if that perpetrator had no intention of using that gun, but now that you’ve pulled one on him he decides to pull one on you?
We don’t need to be carrying guns around on our hips like it’s the wild west. Especially in Decatur. It is a very safe community. Like anywhere else, though, it can become less safe if you aren’t paying attention to your surroundings.
Agreed, Bulldog. We can fix this problem without killing each other.
Agreed. But in the mean time….
For the “outdraw” problem, consider using the device Robert De Niro’s character used in Taxi Driver, “hey, you talkin to me”
I’ve got to disagree here.
“What if that perpetrator had no intention of using that gun, but now that you’ve pulled one on him he decides to pull one on you?”
If someone is armed and committing a crime, they should fully expect that when surprising someone with a weapon, that they too may be surprised with a weapon. By pointing a weapon at someone, be it firearm, blade, etc, one should fully expect that the intended target may not want to be a victim and could defend him/herself with equal or greater resistance.
(To DudeInDecatur): So…Bob is pointing a gun at Sue, and Sue reaches for her gun. What do you think Bob will do?
Probably run. Probably doesn’t have a loaded gun. Might shoot. Who knows? There will always be circumstances where a gun would not do you much good. But then there are other times…
Let me get this straight. Although the perpetrator felt the need to bring the gun to commit the crime, I am supposed to assume that he had no intention of using it? I am supposed to give the guy pointing the gun at me the benefit of the doubt? That “logic” will get you hurt.
BTW, whether or not the perp pulls the trigger, he is “using” it in the commission of a crime.
There is a difference in using a weapon for intimidation and using a weapon for killing. Most of the time an armed robber uses a weapon for the former.
Uh, the threat is “give me your sh!t or I will kill you.” I would much rather take the perp out if possible than take the risk that he is not going to kill me.
What? See Mango’s response. So perp walks up on you, displays firearm and says “give me all your money.”
You reach for your sidepiece.
What do you think perp is going to do with that weapon?
It is likely not the same thing he would have done had you not reached for a weapon.
What’s your point? I acknowledged that it would not be advisable to pull a gun in every scenario. But if an opportunity arose where I believed it possible to defend myself with my gun, I would damn hope I had one with me. Are you suggesting that one should never shoot someone that is robbing them at gunpoint because they likely aren’t there to kill?
My 38 sits in my front pocket in a pocket holster. When told to hand over my money, I’m reaching for exactly where he expects me to reach. I hand him two or three bullets instead of my wallet, possibly saving my life and even more proably saving some other future life. If they didn’t shoot me, eventually those carrying guns to commit crimes will escalate to taking a life. Why should I pass on what has become my problem (getting held up) to someone else when I had a chance to make a differenc? I consider it a fool’s errand to assume that someone won’t use the gun they’ve just pointed at you.
So I can assume that that is indeed a gun in your pocket, and you’re not just glad to see me.
Lol!
I don’t think the media referring to unincorporated Decatur as “Decatur” is any more misleading than comparing crime rates within a metro area. Obviously, parts of DeKalb are going to have higher crime rates because that’s where the criminals live–so there are higher rates of domestic crimes, arguments turned violent, drug deals gone bad, etc. One reason NYC’s crime rate has dropped over the years is simply because fewer criminals live there.
But the question is, how does the rate of random street crime compare? To say Decatur proper has a lower crime rate relative to other places tells us little if the comparison isn’t based on instances of the exact same type of crimes, and those numbers are harder to come by and the method of tabulation varies quite a lot from one department to another.
Safe compared to what? The rest of Atlanta? I guess it’s all relative.
I just grew up in an area that had very low crime, so this is new to me. Since we moved in, the Kroger I shop at was held up with an Uzi, the Fellins Pizza was robbed at gun point 30 minutes after my wife and kids left it, a high school kid was robbed at knive point at the end of my street on his way home from school, a young couple was shot outside the courthouse while dining in downtown Decatur, etc. That’s just a very short snap shot of what goes on around here.
I love Decatur and wouldn’t live anywhere else in Atlanta, but let’s start thinking of new ways to combat crime and make it known to perps that they are not welcome here. Decatur is not a walk-able city if people are getting held up all the time. What would deter these folks? Guns are not the answer.
What would deter these folks? Guns are not the answer.
______________________
So knowing that the populace may be armed would not dissuade a potential robber? I think you may want to check out some stats on that and read interviews with those that have committed such crimes. Now, you may not think it a good idea to have people walking around carrying guns, but to dismiss it as ineffective in dissuading these types of crime is off base.
Cosmic Charlie, “a young couple was shot outside the courthouse while dining in downtown Decatur”? I don’t recall what you’re talking about. You got a newspaper link or something for that one?
I remember that- I think the couple was on N McDonough, a few years back.
I remember it too….weren’t they leaving Eddie’s Attic after a show? I remember this happening within the last 2-3 years.
Uzi? at the Baby Kroger? Or which one? When? I missed that and did a quick search with no luck.
And yes, this is not the Shire as much as we wish it was. The orcs get in.
I think something like that happened at the Disco Kroger 5 to 10 years ago.
Over what period of time did those crimes occur? A Week? A Month? A Year?. I remember the Fellini’s robbery; it was 4 or 5 years ago.
Seems like yesterday, but you’re right. December 4, 2008. http://www.decaturmetro.com/2008/12/05/something-went-down-at-fellinis-last-night/
Thanks for that link. I either had missed that story or blocked it from memory. Very scary.
Anyone know if the DPD solved that one?
Well, there’s always this technique: http://m.upi.com/story/UPI-66881359392201/
I’m always a little mystified at how safe people seem to feel in the city. Start on s. candler cross memorial, and go for less than 5 miles, or so, or Swing a left on Memorial. Mayberry? Not hardly. It only makes sense that if higher crime neighborhoods are surrounding the area, it’s going to start filtering over.
True. But if we don’t call those neighboring areas “Decatur”, and we make sure to call or email any newspaper or radio/tv station who does, we will all feel safer!
Since most of these petty robbers are after smart phones, they are going to go where people are more likely to have them rather than cheap burner phones. And if you are walking around staring at one, you’re an obvious target. Perhaps one solution is to make all smartphones unusable if stolen. I know there are such apps already, but if the crooks knew everyone used them this sort of crime might decline.
They have this feature in Australia – if phone is stolen, you call your carrier and the phone is automatically disabled. So far, the phone lobbyists here in the states have successfully squashed anything like that being implemented here, all in the name of selling more phones (and selling us all short on our safety from crimes like this). I think it was a Slate article about 6-12 months ago where I read about this.
Not surprising, since the US probably has the worst cell phone market in the developed world from a customer service standpoint.
Talk about your first world problems.
Actually, it’s one of several area’s where the US is far less than first world.
Wrong. U.S. carriers will immediately “hotline,” or temporarily deactivate your service, when you call them to report the phone lost or stolen. No calls can be made or received when it is hotlined.
can someone else sign up for new service using a phone that has been “hotlined”?
No. The unique serial number (IMEI) is registered in the billing system and cannot be reassigned.
that is great news- thanks for clearing up my misinformation.
True, except the area you describe IS Decatur, just not in the city limits. I live down that way and my mailing address is Decatur.
I remember when Downtown Decatur felt deserted and dangerous at night. I think it’s the fault of the fun boutiques, yummy restaurants, and cute elementary schools that we’ve all got a false sense of safety and security. After years and years of going to morning celebrations and assemblies with happy, singing children and wonderful teachers in warm, cozy schools with expeditionary and international design principles like respect, sharing, and acceptance of all learning profiles, you get a distorted view of the world!
Maybe we’re coming full circle. Downtown Decatur used to be kind of down and out. Then we became more professional/middle class and family-oriented, with more folks walking around, more folks shopping and eating Downtown, and we all felt the safety in numbers. I wonder if now we’ve gotten so affluent and well-known that we’re attracting crime. The trick is to have a successful downtown area without going past our prime like happened in Virginia Highlands and Buckhead.
The trick, as the esteemed Jane Jacobs taught us, is to get more eyes on the street. We can fix this problem without guns and without installing a police state downtown. We need more people living downtown. And we are in luck . . . we have many proposals for more residential units just where we need them. So not only will these new residents support our downtown economy and elevate property taxes, they will help patrol the neighborhood – THEIR neighborhood. Help is on the way!
And more “eyes on the street” also means taking a walk without staring at a smartphone or using earphones. People need to be more aware of their surroundings. Fiddling with a phone or listening to music are two great ways for someone to sneak up on you.
+1
Seriously, blame the victim much?
Doesn’t sound like blame to me. Sounds like practical advice. A few years ago some jogger on the beach was killed when a plane landed on him. Gee, you wouldn’t think you’d have to worry about something like that on the beach, but the plane had engine trouble which resulted in an oil-covered windshield so the pilot couldn’t see where he was landing. Guy wearing the ipod never heard the sputtering plane approaching and literally never knew what hit him.
Being aware of your surroundings is good advice anywhere, especially in the city.
Yes, because NYC with its incredibly large, dense population has no crime.
I encourage you to read The Death and Life of the Great American City. Jane Jacobs was not a fan of modernist incredibly large skyscrapers – some have recently called them vertical suburbs. It’s not the density of buildings, it’s the people on the street. And, yes, thriving NYC has some of the lowest crime rates per capita of most of our large urban centers. The urban centers with the highest crime rates are those with “bombed out” empty places overtaking their downtowns. Look it up.
I suppose that it was inevitable that at some point the density fixation often displayed here would descend into self-parody. I think it just happened. Don’t worry ladies, as soon as we have more people living downtown in efficiency apartments, you’ll be less likely to be robbed at gunpoint! Will urban denity also cure cancer? Well, I’ll bet that no one can prove it won’t.
Weird. What you call a “density fixation” is what I thought was a pragmatic bargain with stable Decatur neighborhoods to pursue the bulk of our economic development efforts in our currently underdeveloped core, which is where cities have routinely densified for millennia.
Granted, it’s easier to fire off a “jump the shark” quip than to examine what, sometimes counterintuitively, has proven effective in other cities. You can’t lose! If someone suggests strategies that don’t provide 100% cures for nagging social problems, you can use them as fall guys in shrouded pleas for the status quo.
Everything’s fine!
Making a pragmatic bargain is one thing. Vastly overselling the benefits of your vision is quite another. I take no position on most of the touted benefits of urban density, but to suggest that density is the solution to a string of armed robberies veers from pragmatism to fetish.
That’s it. Someone played the “density fetish” card. This thread is over.
Sorry, but that is a totally illogical comment Dem.
Not really. No matter the topic or thread, there have been several posts latesly, primarily by a My. Warren Buffett, which basically says that density will solve all of our problems. Anyone who points out a negative or expresses concerns about either a particular project or density in general is summarily dismissed. The statement that density will “fix this problem” is utterly ridiculous. Will more eyes help? Absolutely. But, density isn’t a cure all tonic.
Well if you want to have a active, vibrant, economically and environmentally sustainable downtown core, then you have to have density. It’s just that simple. You can set up some faux disneyfied version of a downtown, but to support it, you have to encourage people to drive there. From everything I’ve seen and been a part of, that’s not what we want in Decatur. We want an thriving urban “place.” And to get that and keep that, we need to dense up our downtown, but keep it humanly scaled. We are further along than most but still have vast swaths of underutilized land (see 315 Ponce) that could be developed and in doing so will help to improve our social and economic issues. Will one building solve everything? Of course not. Will a move toward more density help? Yes it will. The evidence from 5000 years of history and from all corners of the earth back me up.
New York City had its lowest number of murders last year (414) since 1963. While some may argue that it’s because of “stop and frisk” or the prosecution of lifestyle crimes like turnstile jumping, public urination, and window breaking, much of the decline in crime is also the result of increased real estate values in areas like Harlem and Williamsburg that have seen gentrification in the past 25 years.
NYC has a much lower crime rate than less dense Atlanta.
Sounds to me like two kids did all these crimes. Same M.O. same area same time. Catch one and you catch them all. They will make a mistake soon and then it is off to jail. Just make sure you follow up so they don’t get out
I believe there was another incident at around 3.30pm on the Agnes Scott campus yesterday (Tue). Just one male this time….
The other one was on the way to school or work.
Is there anything official on this one?
A girl knocked on my door last night just before midnight and she had just been robbed at gunpoint at East Lake and Johnston. She was walking home from work. They took her money and phone. The police came immediately. She was really shaken up.
I think she posted over on Patch.
This is number six for armed robberies in City of Decatur since early February, right? The four evening robberies reported in the AJC, one on Tuesday afternoon on Agnes Scott campus, and now another evening one in Oakhurst. All women victims. All a short distance from a MARTA station. All but one in the evening; none during school/work hours. Two near CVS, one at Kroger, two near/at Agnes Scott, one in NW Oakhurst near the underpass. So every quadrant of Decatur has been hit. It’s a blessing that no shots have been fired so far but the longer this goes on, the greater the chances that someone will be hurt or killed.
Definitely a real blip in armed robberies. Are folks thinking the six are probably all related?
Free range children warned; one had nightmare last night.
I think the PD believes that at least some, if not all of them are related, based on description of the perp. All the more reason to call when anything seems amiss.