EACA Newsletter for February 22, 2010

East Atlanta CourtWatch Kickoff

***Only a few spots remain!!!***

As part of beginning our East Atlanta CourtWatch program, a group will meeting at the Dekalb DA's office on February 26th at 8:30 am to learn how to ensure that criminal cases in our community are appropriately prosecuted. We want to be sure that bonds are set appropriately, that sentencing is sufficient and that we monitor those already in jail or prison who could later return to the area. We are keeping the group attending this session small so that everyone has a chance to ask questions and learn how we can best influence the criminal process. We'll also have the chance to hear a different perspective than usual, as we'll be meeting with our current DA Gwen Keyes Fleming and one of the Superior Court judges. If you would like to participate, please drop a note to publicsafety@eaca.net or contact Public Safety chair Myron Polster at 404-429-8815. Anyone within EACA boundaries is welcome, as we all are in Dekalb County and thus the Courtwatch effort is not limited to City of Atlanta residents. Attendance at this event will be cut off once we receive enough RSVPs, so please respond immediately.

We really want to fill this tour mostly because the CourtWatch program is critical to seeing a sustained decrease in crime. It also shows our commitment to support the DA's efforts to prosecute these criminals that APD has worked so hard to arrest.

If you are unable to attend this event, you still have other opportunities to participate in Courtwatch efforts. However, if you want to be one of the people who actively participates in monitoring criminals who have been arrested, it's strongly recommended that you sign up for this session. We are looking for people who will follow one or two criminals and their respective cases, and it will help to make these contacts and learn the process from the inside.

If you're not sure if you have an hour a month to follow a criminal case, you can take up a less active role as a CourtWatcher. That simply puts you on an e-mail list, and you come to court if possible when a court case requires community attendance. CourtWatchers also have the option to follow criminals already convicted of a crime, checking on their status periodically and helping us identify when they may be back in the community.

EASP Criminal Alert

The EASP is very concerned about a possible pattern of criminal activity in the area of Hilburn, Montvallo and Leah Lane. Considering the low levels of crime in East Atlanta so far in 2010, there is extreme concern that one person may be responsible for all of these crimes, two of which involved a gun. In addition to an armed robbery on January 29th at 4:35 am on Montvallo, a man committed a burglary on Leah Lane on February 12th at 6 am and brandished a gun when he encountered the homeowner inside the house. Fortunately no one was hurt in either encounter. There was also a burglary on Hilburn, which is in this exact same area. There has been no other significant criminal activity in East Atlanta during this period. We are concerned that someone living in this area is staking out homes in the early morning hours, and advise all residents in this vicinity to be extremely cautious when coming and going from their homes, particularly in the early morning hours. And when you leave home, be sure to activate your alarm, regardless of whether someone is at home. The only possible description of a suspect thus far is a black male, about 20-30, around 5'9" tall and 170 pounds. If you have any information about a possible suspect or see anything suspicious in this area, please call 911 and then call the EASP at 404-954-1568. APD is putting a lot of effort into this investigation, and is bringing in Dekalb County's South Precinct as well to check for similar patterns and to help identify potential suspects. Please check the EASP website at http://patrol.eaca.net/index/news for ongoing updates.

UPDATE: On Wednesday night, February 17th we had another burglary in the 1100 block of Leah Lane in the early morning hours between 11:30 pm and 6 am. The burglars came in, took items and left went without even waking up the resident. The same immediate area of Hilburn and Leah Lane also had two car break-ins in two days. This continues to be the highest Public Safety priority in East Atlanta for both the EASP and APD, as there is strong concern that there will be an encounter with residents and the armed assailants.

EASP Updated Contact Information

As part of the East Atlanta Security Patrol's efforts to improve communications with the neighborhood, we are changing our e-mail address effective immediately to easp610@gmail.com, although the old address of securitypatrol@eaca.net will continue to function for some time. This is part of our continuing effort to have all voicemail, e-mail and texts funneled into a single account. This makes it easier to track your calls or incoming requests, and makes all of this information easily accessible to the EASP volunteer responsible for handling communications that day. The next step will be offering chat capability, which should be available during the month of February. (Also as on ongoing reminder as of January 4, 2010, EASP has officially changed its phone number to 404-954-1568.)

Don't forget that the EASP responds to calls or contact from all community members. Whether it's a crime in progress or an ongoing issue such as barking dogs or drug dealing, give us a call and we'll involve the appropriate resources to attempt to resolve your issue. While this may seem like a disincentive to become a member of the EASP, members do receive tangible benefits such as extra patrols when out of town and patrol coverage based on the number of members in your street or area.

To learn more about the East Atlanta Security Patrol, view updated news and notes or to enroll, visit the EASP website (http://patrol.eaca.net). There is a 50% discount for longtime residents and those 65+. To qualify, you must have lived at the same address for 20 years or be over age 65. We also have a 20% discount for members of an APD-sanctioned Neighborhood Watch. Please contact us if you're interested in setting up a Neighborhood Watch on your street.

If you have additional questions, please direct them to easp610@gmail.com, or call EACA Public Safety Chair Myron Polster at 404-429-8815.