Tears and frustration for seniors who say thieves keep breaking into their cars

SOUTH FULTON, Ga. — Residents at an apartment complex for seniors told Channel 2 Action News criminals broke into more than two dozen cars,and they said this is not the first time this has happened.

The seniors who live at the Anthem Senior Apartments in the City of South Fulton told Channel 2′s Tom Jones the break-ins are taking money from their pockets they don’t have.

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Cynthia Hildreth said she burst into tears when she stepped outside.

“When I came out here and saw my car. December. And then now,” she said.

Hildreth said someone broke her car window and got inside Sunday night and back in December. She’s on a fixed income and said the car break-ins are stressing her out.

“Got a heart condition and this ain’t helping,” she stated.

Sunday night suspects broke in more than two dozen cars, and stole one.

“It’s 30 cars this time. It was 21 the time before,” Donita Etheridge told Channel 2s Tom Jones.

Channel 2 Action News saw plastic bags covering the broken windows of several cars while a repairman went from car to car fixing windows. Some residents believe the criminals are looking for money and guns.

“We don’t have guns in our glove compartments. We would take them in the house. We’re seniors,” Josephine Edwards pointed out.

The seniors believe the criminals are coming in through a wooded area that surrounds the complex.

“It should be gated. It should be fenced in. And a fence high enough,” Hildreth explained.

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Residents have asked management for a fence and for a security guard from midnight to 6 a.m. They said management told them it would cost too much.

“I don’t feel safe right now,” Edwards said.

Jones went by the leasing office to see what management had to say.

A manager gave Channel 2 Action News the following statement:

“My first concern is for the privacy of my residents and employees.” She then gave him an email address for further comment.

Residents feel like management and the criminals don’t care about them.

“We’re their grandmothers. Their aunts. Their moms,” Etheridge said.

Thornton Kennedy, a spokesperson for the complex, later shared a lengthy statement that read:

We would like to address a concerning issue that has been affecting our residents at Anthem I and Anthem II, two senior affordable housing communities located at 1910 and 1928 Waycrest Drive in the city of South Fulton. Since September/October 2022, we have experienced a spate of car break-ins. Criminals have broken into multiple vehicles on the property in separate incidents over the last eight months.

First and foremost, the safety and the protection of our residents and their property are of paramount importance. We have taken action to combat this pervasive problem. Management has been actively engaged with the South Fulton Police Department, requesting additional patrols in the area to increase security presence.

Our communities have controlled access at all entry points. We have installed over 100 cameras throughout the properties to enhance surveillance and deter criminal activities. To further strengthen our security measures, we are currently working with the city to install Flock Cameras.

In our efforts to address this issue collaboratively, we have initiated various community-driven initiatives. These include events such as Coffee with a Cop, which fosters open communication between law enforcement and residents. In cooperation with the police department, we are launching a Neighborhood Watch program and we have held Town Hall meetings to keep everyone informed about the progress and receive valuable input.

After each unfortunate event, we ensure that residents are promptly notified and provided with guidance on how to stay safe and minimize the risk of vehicle vandalism. We work with our local officers to bring these criminals to justice.

While we have been proactive in addressing this issue, we recognize that more cooperation is needed between law enforcement agencies, the judicial system and local municipalities. We firmly believe that by working together, we can make a significant impact on crime prevention and improve the overall safety of our community.

We understand that this issue is not unique to our community but rather a challenge affecting individuals and families throughout metro Atlanta and the country. Nevertheless, we are committed to providing a safe environment for our residents, especially considering that we house over 150 seniors who rely on us for affordable housing.

Seniors at the complex have had town hall meetings with police and their councilperson. But still, this problem persists.

One man said this is the fifth time they have had multiple cars broken into in one night.

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