ATLANTA — A group of metro Atlanta neighbors are sending a warning about gun thefts. They said thieves are stealing weapons out of locked cars in their gated garage with security cameras watching.
On Jan. 7, police said thieves broke into 18 cars at the Atlantic North Highland apartment complex on Highland Ave. in the city’s Old Fourth Ward neighborhood.
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The police calculated that the break-ins happened in a span of 10 minutes from 4:00 am to 4:10 am.
Asa Brown told Channel 2’s Courtney Francisco that he saw it happening.
“I heard my car alarm ringing, went and looked. Sure enough, it was. I seen like three gentlemen scurrying out of the parking deck,” said Brown.
He said the thieves did not take the money in his car.
“They wasn’t looking for any money,” said Brown.
In fact, the thieves did not steal anything from 17 of the vehicles, according to police. In the last break-in report, police said the thieves stole a 9mm handgun.
“It’s Atlanta for you,” said Aaron Bowie.
More than 2,000 guns are stolen here each year, according to APD and The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Officers said many are stolen from cars and used in violent crimes later.
“Don’t keep anything like that in your vehicle,” said Bowie.
“Stop the small ones to prevent the big ones,” said Brown.
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The Director of Georgia Majority for Gun Safety, Heather Hallett, said Atlanta ranks second in the U.S. for most stolen guns.
She pointed out that Savannah was the first city to make it illegal to store a gun in an unlocked car.
“It’s just about protecting the public and making sure guns don’t get in the hands of people who shouldn’t have them,” said Hallett.
State lawmakers have stepped in to stop Savannah from changing gun laws with SB 204. It’s on the governor’s desk for signature into law.
Some of the victims of the break-ins at the apartments in the Old Fourth Ward said the threat of punishment might prevent some from reporting stolen weapons.
“That’s blaming the victim,” said Brown.
“Only thing you can really do is clean out your car,” said Bowie.
They want more patrols and apartment managers to find out how the thieves got in and out of the locked garage gates.
APD has not announced any arrests in connection with the break-ins at the apartment complex. They do have the serial number of the stolen gun, and that could help them track those responsible.
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