APD credits social media, community involvement for East Atlanta crime reduction

ATLANTA — Atlanta police are crediting social media for helping them drastically reduce crime in the East Atlanta area.
 
The neighborhood, part of the Zone 6 precinct, had a crime wave about a year ago. It includes the Kirkwood, Grant Park, and Edgewood neighborhoods.
 
Residents were upset at the time, but say they got together to fight back.
 
"We definitely fought back.  We got together and strategized," said Luana Slaughter, a neighbor, and president of the East Lake Security Patrols
 
Neighbors have also increased private security patrols in the area, which has helped, according to police
 
Atlanta police say they are using Facebook, Twitter, and new apps like Next Door to alert neighbors about crime.
 
"In a matter of seconds, thousands and thousands of neighbors could be looking for this one vehicle," said Slaughter.
 
And the numbers speak for themselves.
 
Robbery is down 44 percent, burglary is down 18 percent, murder is down 100 percent, larceny from a car is down 12 percent, and auto theft is down 48 percent over last year, according to statistics provided to Channel 2 Action News by the Atlanta Police Department.
 
"They are better informed, and it helps us in the front end because they can share that information with their neighbors," said Major Timothy Peek. "We are collectively sharing information, across the entire zone so we all know who we are looking, why we are looking for them, thus getting those eyes and ears out on the street."

WSBTV