Decatur PD just sent out this alert…
On 03/04/2015 at approximately 11:34 pm, Decatur Police were dispatched to the parking lot at the corner of Church Street and Commerce Drive in reference to an armed robbery. The victim reported he parked and secured his 1994 Jeep Cherokee in the lot at approximately 7 pm and when he returned at approximately 11 pm, he observed the lock and ignition were damaged. He attempted to start the vehicle, but was unsuccessful. He secured the vehicle and went to a restaurant on East Court Square. The victim further reported that while he was standing outside of the restaurant, an unknown black male approached him and asked him if he was alright. He was visibly upset and assumed that was why the individual had asked. The victim returned to his vehicle at approximately 11:25 pm and observed a black male in the driver’s seat and two black males by the bushes next to his vehicle. He told the suspect in the vehicle to get out of the vehicle and the males began walking away from him. He then attempted to take a picture of the suspects with his cell phone. At this time, one of the suspects ran at the victim with a handgun drawn, and demanded his cell phone. The victim gave the suspects his cell phone and password. The suspects fled on foot toward Clairemont Avenue. The victim was not injured.
The victim described the suspects as teenaged black males wearing dark clothing but one had on something red, two were taller than the third. One of the suspects was the same male who previously approached the victim outside of the restaurant and asked him if he was alright.
Isn’t this the second vintage Jeep theft downtown in the past week? I think Decaturish reported on one as well. Do older Jeeps have some new appeal for some reason?
Good question, I’ll ask DPD if they know of anything.
From Sgt. Ross…
“Newer model vehicles are equipped with anti-theft features making it extremely difficult to steal them without a key, fob or tow truck. The electrical systems in most newer vehicles will simply shut down if a suspect attempts to circumvent the ignition. Older model vehicles are easier to steal and are therefore targeted. Many older vehicles can be entered by simply prying the door handle, prying the window from the frame or punching the lock and then the vehicle ignition is circumvented with tools, often a screwdriver. Certain older vehicle makes are easier than others, for us 90’s Honda, Jeep and Dodge vehicles have been the most popular.”
From what I hear they are easier to break into and the ignition is easier to get into. My brother in law has had his broken into a few times in Grant Park.
Older cars that are still popular are prime targets – you chop ’em for parts. At my job we had two 1980s Chevy pickups stolen in as many weeks – apparently you can just go in through the back window and hotwire it.
Shouldn’t these kids be at home studying?
My 1991 Jeep was stolen from my condo parking garage on E Ponce a month ago- we have them on video-removing the garage gate – still not found- jeep or the thieves
So are crime stats still down? Every time I start to panic about COD crime, someone posts something here that is reassuring and indicates that crime is down, it’s just my awareness that’s up because of the instant news effect of social media. But I have to admit that the years in the past that I spent completely unaware of any armed robberies, never mind murders, didn’t feel just like an artifact of reporting. Even before DM and neighborhood listservs, there was word of mouth, the AJC, and all those free periodicals like The Champion.
This ain’t Kansas anymore. I remember the good ole days when kids broke into my house in Oakhurst near the bus stop and stole coins and candy canes off my Christmas tree and it was like all hell had broken loose. Oh for the good ole days!