Welcome to the Precinct 3 PENS Web site. Here you will be able to keep
up with current crime trends in your neighborhoods, current issues effecting
your area, and significant arrests made at Precinct III. You
may also contact us via email at
p3pens@cobbcounty.org We
will add your email address to our list of personal contacts. We
encourage Homeowner's association presidents, vice presidents, secretaries
or other board members to contact us. Provide us with your subdivision,
condominium or business complex name and location. We will add you to
our personal contact list.
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E-mail Address:
Check out the other useful links at the top of this page
P-3 PENS Bulletin
November 6, 2009
WARNING: INCREASE RISK FOR CAR BREAK IN.
Once again we feel it is necessary to remind everyone of the increased risk for car break-ins. With the holiday season upon us, our shopping areas will become crowded. The increase in shoppers, traffic, and cars being parked will bring additional opportunities for those who look for items left inside cars to steal. Malls, hotel, apartment, condominium and fitness center parking lots are hot spots for thefts from cars.
U-Tube is loaded with interesting video clips of how to break into a car. Most of the videos are meant for car owners who simply lock themselves out. However, what the videos don't show is that the most common way of committing a car break in, is to simply break a window. That is the preferred method for the thief who is not concerned with the damage done to your car. He simply wants what is inside and will use the simplest and quickest way to get it.
Most people think that it will not happen to them. However, it can and may unless you take the proper steps to prevent it. Remember:
• Don't leave items such as GPS devices, IPODS, lap top computers etc., inside your car.
• Don't leave purses, wallets or check books inside your car.
• Lock your car.
• Don't leave packages visible inside your car . If you must, place them inside the trunk where they are not visible.
Crime Prevention Tips, and what you can do.
By being alert we want the public to help be our eyes and ears in their communities. We are few in number when compared with the total population. The number of apartments, condominiums, single family houses and businesses in Precinct Three is enormous therefore, making it impossible for our officers to adequately patrol all areas. Call 911 to report suspicious cars and persons immediately .
By being informed we want the public to understand that they too have a role and responsibility to help protect both themselves and their property. In the vast majority of cars broken into, there was an item left visible for the bad guy to see. GPS units, laptop computers and IPods are favorite targets.
By being guarded persons can lessen the chance of becoming a victim. Make sure that your car is locked and all items of value are removed from inside.
Residential burglaries . While most car break-ins occur at night, the opposite is true with residential burglaries, most of them occur during the day while homeowners are away . Most residential burglars do not want a confrontation, so they will generally take some measure to ensure that the occupants are not home prior to breaking in. One common tactic is to simply ring the doorbell and see if they get an answer. If someone answers the door they will may just ask a question or act as if they were looking for someone and were at the wrong address. It is not recommended for lone females or young persons who are home alone to answer the door at all. Rather, go to the door and ask who is there or turn on a loud television or radio to let the person know someone is inside. Barking dogs can also be a valuable deterrent. But, if the person at the door persists and you cannot verify that it is genuinely someone making a delivery etc., then they should be told that the police have been called and are on the way.
Other helpful suggestions:
• Make sure alarm systems are working properly and are set to activate when no one is home.
• Make sure all exterior doors, including garage doors and windows are locked.
• Take photographs of the interior of your home, to include electronics, jewelry and guns. Record serial numbers of all the items that have one.
• Communicate with neighbors and exchange information via homeowner association news letters, email, etc.
Remember, as previously mentioned be alert, be informed and be guarded. Preventing, reporting and reducing crime is everyone's responsibility.
For more information on crime prevention tips or programs designed to assist the homeowner in property protection, please contact our crime prevention officers:
Officer Christopher Mabe
christopher.mabe@cobbcounty.org
770/499-3909
Officer Mike Bowman
770/499-4134