Rats taking over Gwinnett apartment complex, residents say

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Residents at a Gwinnett County apartment complex said they're afraid to go outside because rats are running around in the parking lot near their apartments.

They said rats are taking over the Ridgewood Apartments in Lawrenceville.

"They play around at the garbage can. They climb up the poles," resident Leandrea Smith said.

"I saw a rat running across the driveway," resident Jolene Murphy said.

Neighbors said the rats come to feast at the dumpsters.

"It's not safe for our kids to take the trash out. You might come out and find a dead rat laying in the yard," Smith said.

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Poison traps have been put out near the dumpsters and the buildings, but residents are worried the problem won't go away because the apartments back up to businesses, including several restaurants and their dumpsters.

The only thing separating the apartments and the businesses is a chain-link fence.

"They're going to come right back," Smith said.

Channel 2's Carl Willis went to the leasing office for answers and no one was there. He spoke on the phone with someone who said the staff is aware of the issue and believes steps are being taken to fix it.

Residents said they want to see better results.

"It is scary because if you have rats in your house, you deem it unsuitable to live in," Murphy said.

Cox Media Group