Coffee Shop Thieves
Several times over the past two weeks we have received reports of thefts at coffee shops; someone’s wallet was taken from her purse and someone’s laptop taken right in front of them. The thieves are very fast and work in pairs or groups so they can make quick getaways. We received the email below from the Old 4th Ward Patrol summing up the situation very well and giving some good pointers that we share with you.
“Over the course of this year, we have noticed an increasing trend of criminals employing a brazen tactic to steal mobile phones (typically smart phones) from people WHILE THEY ARE USING THEM. Similar tactics are being used to steal laptops and tablets from people WHILE THEY ARE USING THEM. We have highlighted these incidents in our monthly newsletters, but we wanted to further highlight this to our membership to increase awareness. Crime often increases around the holidays, and we want to make sure that you are informed and aware so that your smart phone or laptop/tablet is not someone else’s Christmas present this year.
The common denominator in these incidents (mobile phones, laptops and tablets) is that people are using the devices in public places, which makes the victims less aware of their surroundings. This distraction/lack of awareness creates the opportunity for the criminal to get close enough to you to quickly grab the device from your hands and run away, often into a getaway car parked nearby that speeds off.
Mobile phones have been yanked out of people’s hands while they are talking on them or using them to check Facebook, etc. and have been taken off of tables where people often place their phones while they are eating or drinking. Coffee shops are a very popular place for laptop thefts throughout the city. We have seen a number of reports where the criminal simply walks up and grabs the laptop and runs off. We have also seen reports where the criminal will sit at the table next to the victim for 10 or 15 minutes, and then grab the laptop and run off. Seems these events occur more frequently to people sitting at tables outside coffee shops, but we have also seen incidents that occur inside coffee shops.
Some tips to help prevent this:
- While not ideal, the best way to avoid being a victim of this is to not bring your laptop or tablet to a coffee shop (or other public places) and minimize the use of your mobile phone for extended periods of time in public places. Realizing that is not realistic for many people, try to maintain your awareness of who is around you, where you are sitting, etc. Never leave your laptop on the table at a public place to grab some more Splenda, use the restroom, etc., no matter how quickly you think it may take. A criminal can grab your laptop and run out much quicker.
- Don’t put your mobile phone on the table next to you in a public place. Keep them in your pocket or purse where they can’t be seen or easily grabbed. (Keep that purse in a secure place though!)
- Don’t have earphones in listening to music while working on your laptop in a public place or listening to music on your smart phone while walking around town. You put yourself in a vulnerable position by eliminating the use of one of your primary senses that can alert you to what is going on around you.
- Write down the serial number of your laptop, table and smart phone and keep that information in a safe place (you should do this for all electronics that you have, especially flat screen TVs). If your device is stolen, file a police report immediately and get the serial number information to APD. They will alert the pawn shops so that if your device is brought in for pawn, APD can be alerted and hopefully arrest the criminal. Or, if the device is found later with someone, the serial number can be checked by APD to see if it is stolen and may help lead to the arrest of the criminal.
- Don’t leave these items or anything else in your car!
- If you are a victim of this crime, CALL 911 immediately and file a report. APD needs to know what is going on so that resources can be allocated to combat the problem.
We hope everyone has a safe and fun holiday season.
Midtown Alert – Pedestrian Robberies
On Saturday night, around 8:00 pm, a couple was held up at gunpoint on 6th Street between Piedmont and Juniper. The perpetrator was a black male, early 20s, who came up behind them and took their cell phone.
We have received another report of a later robbery at 3rd & Piedmont. Two people were detained but the victim could not postively identify them so they were released.
This is all the detail we have at this time. Major Leighty has added four additional officers to the Midtown Precinct.
We will post any updates coming our way at our Facebook page
POLICE APPEAL: RAPE SUSPECT
Click for larger composite
The Georgia Tech Police is appealing to the public for assistance as their investigators work to identify a suspect in a reported rape.
On 11/10/2011 at approximately 6:45pm, a female student at Georgia Tech reported being raped in the rear of 750 Fowler Street NW, on the Tech campus. The victim said that the unknown male spoke Spanish and she was unable to understand what he was saying.
The suspect: Hispanic male, approximately 40 years of age, 5’8″ in height, and weighing about 175 pounds. He was last seen wearing a white shirt, black sweat pants and white sneakers.
Information helpful in identifying this perpetrator or aid in the investigation of the case should be directed to the Georgia Tech Police Department at 404-894-2500. Any lead, no matter how trivial it may seem, could prove valuable to investigators.
CL: Peachtree-Pine management could be evicted by New Year’s Day
Robbery Suspect Profile: Dewon Pitts
On the evening of 10/25 two pedestrian robberies at gunpoint took place in the neighborhood – one on Myrtle Street and another on 8th Street. In one of the incidents witnesses called 911 as they observed the suspects perpetrate the act and then flee the area in a Nissan Quest. Police responded quickly to both scenes to take incident reports, and put a lookout on this Nissan Quest. Later in the evening a beat officer spotted the suspected vehicle on Parkway Drive and initiated a traffic stop.
The police report notes that the driver of the vehicle, Dewon Pitts, responded by engaging the police in a shootout and survived with only a single gunshot wound. A second suspect in the vehicle escaped as Pitts shot at police officers. Investigators know nothing about this second suspect other than that he likely found refuge somewhere in the Bedford-Pine apartments. Pitts was taken to Grady for his gunshot wound sustained during his assault upon the police.
Police and prosecutors have laid 19 charges on Pitts so far, including multiple counts each of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, armed robbery, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Depending on how you calculate his criminal liability, he should have at least 100 years of prison time coming if found guilty and sentenced to serve consecutively. According to the Criminal Code of Georgia, “A person convicted of the offense of armed robbery shall be punished by death or imprisonment for life or by imprisonment for not less than ten nor more than 20 years,” so he may even be eligible for the death penalty or permanent incarceration on each of the seven counts of armed robbery currently on his booking record. Sharla Jackson, our community prosecutor, confirmed that minimum sentencing applies for armed robbery – ten years to life…
We find it somewhat worrisome that our experience and observations suggest that Fulton County judges tend to sentence offenders rather leniently, as reflected by other cases like the burglar with extensive criminal history convicted earlier this year in a Midtown case being allowed to simply walk away on probation. Because of Pitts’ devotion to a criminal way of life, and given that a robbery at gunpoint is a short step shy of a homicide, we will make this our highest-priority court watch case. If a court in fact convicts Pitts or anyone else for these robberies, anything short of the full brunt of the law would surely offend the sensibilities of the Midtown community put on edge by the latest spate of robberies.
According to our research, he was admitted into Grady on the 25th, but was booked into the jail on the 28th still sporting a hospital gown in his mugshot. He sometimes uses an alias of Roy Latimore. Fulton County records show several bookings under that name, and the Department of Corrections lists that among his known aliases.
The 19 charges also include those in connection with a robbery in Virginia Highland on 10/19. During the police investigation the victims in that incident picked him out in a photo lineup. More charges may be forthcoming, as the outcome of additional photo lineups factor into the ongoing investigation.
Public records show numerous bookings into the Fulton County jail for this seasoned criminal, and the Georgia Department of Corrections notes four periods of imprisonment beginning in 1996. What’s more, Pitts was released last year on parole for a full sentence that runs until May of 2014. From the listing of charges, it appears that the State Board of Pardons and Parole has initiated parole revocation proceedings.
We are grateful not only for the fact that none of the victims were hurt in these incidents, but also for the proactive and diligent work of the Atlanta Police Department in their pursuit of this very dangerous criminal. Our community prosecutor Sharla Jackson assured us that the Fulton County District Attorney’s office will prosecute this case vigorously. We will advise on court watch dates as they arise.
While this is the celebrated arrest that we have been waiting for, please bear in mind:
1. Though it seems to us that the robberies stopped once Pitts was taken into custody, we wish to remind folks not to let their guard down when walking on the streets late at night.
2. The Atlanta Police Department has requested that we withhold photos and mugshots until victims can be shown a photo lineup. As soon as APD gives us clearance to do so, we will post them to the website and link from our Facebook page.
Mugshots of this criminal: Withheld until further notice
Sponsors
Many thanks for our community sponsors! While the majority of our funding comes from residents and small businesses, a significant portion of our neighborhood patrol funds comes from the following sponsors:
