There was a burglary on Gracewood between Gresham and Brownwood this afternoon shortly after 4:00.  If you saw anything or find anything on your camera, please email us at [email protected].  As continues to be typical of almost every burglary, the entry point was a window.  If you haven't enhanced your window security, be sure to do so as soon as possible.  If you have an alarm with sensors on your windows, be sure to test the alarm to make sure the sensors still work.  Alarms should not be your primary source of defense, but generally are a good way to prevent the burglar from staying long, and do act as a deterrent in some cases.  They also alert you and your neighbors to a possible crime.

APD is reporting to be on the lookout for a purple 1998 Toyota Corolla with tag CIC5673.  This vehicle is being used in the commission of vehicle break-ins and package thefts.  

Vehicle break-ins have been a huge problem of late.  The reason they are so popular is because they are so successful.  Do not store any items of value in your car, especially when you are home.  Take the time to bring in laptops, guns or any of the other valuables that continue to appear in the police reports.

Package thefts are also a major problem, so please explore all possible alternatives to delivery at your home.  More companies are allowing for delivery to places like drugstores, Fedex and the UPS Store.  Another option is having things delivered to an office or a neighbor who is home during the day.  You can also alert a neighbor to walk over after your camera catches a package delivery, or when texted by the delivery service.  This problem is not going away, so try to find a way to deal with this that best fits your situation.

Be on the lookout for a maroon Dodge Charger or similar model being used to break into vehicles.  It has Florida tags and is occupied by three African American males. If you see a vehicle matching this description, immediately call 911 followed by the EASP at 404-954-1568.

​With several streets being annexed into East Atlanta on April 1st, the East Atlanta Security Patrol (EASP) is now offering memberships to residents living on Braeburn Circle, Brown Place, Nash, Josephine and Sylvester Circle.  With the April 1st deadline to join the EASP fast approaching, we are extending the deadline to join the EASP for this quarter to April 5th.  Should you miss the April 5th deadline, your membership will begin on the first day of the quarter after paying for your membership.  All other residents of the East Atlanta community that are existing city of Atlanta residents may also enroll for the April quarter through April 5th.
 
Membership in the EASP means that you may request extra patrols whenever you're away from home, including Spring Break, Memorial Day and during Summer Vacation.  By submitting a simple form, members receive extra patrols at their homes by both the EASP officers and APD officers. 
 
This is also a great opportunity to invite your neighbors to become members, as patrol time is largely allocated based on where members live.  And more members also means more patrol hours for the East Atlanta community.

Membership in the EASP is $50 per quarter, with a one-time charge of $15 for administrative fees and an EASP yard sign.  Half-price memberships are available for Seniors age 65 and above.  Memberships are offered for 3, 6 and 12 months.  To become a member, visit our website at www.easecuritypatrol.com or call 404-954-1568.
 
The EASP, now in its twelfth year of operation, is an effort to enhance public safety in East Atlanta. The EASP employs off-duty Zone Six police officers to perform additional patrols within Beat 612, which is the police designation for the East Atlanta community. All patrol officers are armed, in uniform, with full arrest powers.  All vehicles are clearly marked on both sides with the EASP emblem.  When possible, the EASP employs officers who work or live in the East Atlanta community and have a vested interest in keeping our neighborhood safe.
 
In addition to extra police patrols in our community, the EASP works closely with the Atlanta Police Department and other security patrols to share information about crime threats or new patterns of crime. When appropriate, the EASP shares this information with the community via the EASP website, Facebook and Twitter.  The EASP also addresses quality of life issues, which can range from abandoned cars to noise complaints, and difficult neighbors to missing street signs.
 

At Tuesday's EACA meeting, there will be an update provided by the East Atlanta Security Patrol.  If you have any questions about crime, making your house more burglar-proof or the patrol in general, or have input on changes you would like for the EASP to make, come to Branan Towers (1200 Glenwood Avenue) tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m.

You may also become a member of the EASP at the meeting, or by visiting the membership page.  Membership begins on the first day of each quarter, which means that anyone signing up during the month of March will begin service on April 1st.

If you will be traveling for Spring Break, Memorial Day or any other time this summer, it is a great time to join the EASP and receive extra patrols while you are away.  Submitting a single form allows you to receive extra patrols for your home from the EASP, and from APD's Zone 6 as well.  Of course you'll also receive regular patrols all throughout the year if you become a member.  Most of the patrol time is allocated based on where members live, so your membership contributes to more hours for the patrol as a whole, as well as a greater proportion of the patrol time for your street.

If you can't make tomorrow night's meeting, you can always give the EASP a call at 404-954-1568, or send an email to [email protected].

Crime Stoppers is looking for a burglar who has been terrorizing East Atlanta and surrounding Zone 6 communities. Please check the video and contact Crime Stoppers if you know 

It appears as though significant progress has been made in identifying and arresting the men connected to a number of burglaries in East Atlanta and other surrounding neighborhoods.  APD had identified Nigel Upshaw in connection with multiple burglaries, and was finally able to arrest him on December 22nd.  There were two burglaries in East Atlanta on December 22nd, but none since Mr. Upshaw was arrested.  An unconfirmed source told us that he was arrested along with a murder suspect, so the community should be happy to hear that he is off the streets and will be looking at some substantial prison time.  From what we've heard, other suspects have been identified so it's likely more arrests are forthcoming.

​For more on the charges against Mr. Upshaw, click here.

An adult was arrested by the East Atlanta Security Patrol officer this morning.  He was knocking on doors on Flat Shoals in the usual effort to find unoccupied homes to burglarize.  At this time, it is not known whether he was operating alone or on behalf of a larger group.  He does have a prior burglary history, so it was good that he was caught before a crime could be committed. Thanks to our officer and to the alert citizen who called 911 to report the suspicious activity.  As a reminder, call 911 immediately to report all suspicious activity.  Atlanta does not have a non-emergency number, so 911 is the right number to call.  Only after calling 911, call the EASP at 404-954-1568.

Last night before 8:00 p.m., a resident was robbed at Brownwood and Emerson.   Two men jumped out of a four door white Pontiac, and held up the victim at gunpoint.  The driver was not seen.  The two men appeared to be in their early to mid 20s, average height, dark-skinned African American males.  They were said to be unusually polite.

This is somewhat of an unusual tactic for a robbery and an unusually early time of night for this type of crime.  We urge all residents to be on the lookout for this vehicle, as we have strong concerns that they will return to the area in the near future.  If you see a vehicle matching this description lingering in the area, call 911 immediately followed by a call to the EASP at 404-954-1568.

On Monday, there were a couple more burglaries reported in East Atlanta near Brownwood Park.  This video contains good footage of a man poking around a garage on Gresham shortly before noon and it appears as though he was trying to find a way into the home.  He was successful in his quest to enter a home on Portland a couple of hours later.

Should you see this man or know who he is, please call 911 followed by a call to the EASP at 404-954-1568.  For anyone who lives in the vicinity of 593 Gresham, both crimes were in that area, so neighbors may want to watch to see if this man might be residing over there.

We understand that many people are eager to see the capture of the younger and more mobile burglars that have victimized some of you, and that investigation continues.  In the interim, the EASP will continue to work with the police to help arrest all those who continue to commit crimes in our neighborhood.