ATLANTA — As car break-ins are on the rise in Atlanta, residents in one apartment complex say they're being victimized far too often without enough support to keep away criminals.
Vehicle larceny is up nearly 30 percent in southwest Atlanta, and up 5 percent citywide compared to this point in 2014.
At Westview Lofts on Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard, residents told Channel 2's Matt Johnson they've been victimized six times in the past three months.
"I strongly believe this is someone in this area who is taking advantage of the fact we don't have any official security," said Aisha Greenlee, whose car was broken into on Sunday and Monday.
Greenlee told Johnson that thieves made off with her GPS system on Monday and that another resident reported a break-in to his vehicle on the same day.
"We feel uncomfortable," said Damon Waring, a four-year resident of the apartment complex. "We don't know what quite to do about it."
The property manager told Johnson the building is too small for any security cameras. However, she attended a community meeting with Greenlee on Wednesday night to get input from law enforcement.
Atlanta police vowed to continue patrols and listen to feedback from victims.
Officers encouraged citizens to remove valuables from their cars at night, keep their doors locked, and have regular interactions with their neighbors.
Meanwhile, Greenlee says there should be more police patrols at night in the wake of the increase in break-ins.
She plans to create an online message board where residents at her apartment complex can share real-time information about crime and suspicious activity.
WSBTV
