SECURITY

As Criminal Activity Increases - The Safe Neighborhoods Respond

As a neighborhood, we need to be concerned about everything that is happening in our area. When neighbors are alert, crime goes down. Call the police when student aged people going through the neighborhood during school hours or who are violating the midnight curfew. Call the police when strange cars are cruising the neighborhood too slowly. Call police when strangers are knocking on doors either selling things or looking for work. Call police when strange cars are parked in your neighbors driveway. Call 911. It is better to make a mistake than for you or your neighbors to be subject to crime.

However, with the 911 system overload necessitating triaging of calls, non emergency calls should be made to Center Precinct at 770-724-7600 or for all of DeKalb, 678-937-2852. The administrative number for 911 concerns is 404-294-2911.

Your Sagamore Hills Civic Association has provided a special fund for residents to band together to hire off-duty policemen. Currently there are two off-duty police on the Sagamore payroll: Ronnie Viar and Jenny Miller. Each cruise the neighborhood in marked and unmarked cars for 3 hour shifts several times a week varying their routes and times in an effort to be present at the most vulnerable times. Contributions are always accepted for this fund. All contributions are used on personnel and the number of personnel shifts per week is dependent on contributions. Contribute by sending your check to Sagamore Hills Civic Association; PO Box 49207; Atlanta, GA 30359.

We truly must communicate more with our immediate neighbors. It is where people live, that those people know what is happening in their immediate neighborhood, so if something does not seem right, it probably isn't; report it right then. Call 911 immediately.

Before you go away, tell your neighbors. Give them an emergency contact number where you can be reached. It is a good idea to give them the code for your alarm in case it goes off. As we look out for one another, our neighborhood becomes safer.

Record and have on file serial numbers of your items that have them since this allows police to check with their data base of stolen items. Keep shrubs trimmed from windows and access points to your house. Don’t open your door to strangers. Use outdoor lighting in front and back of your house. Lock cars and don’t leave valuables visible to those passing by.

DeKalb County has pressed forward with the "Interactive Community Policing" (ICP) program with a goal of placing an additional 800 officers on the force over the next years. Additionally DeKalb County Police are employing mobile coaches as police precincts which can be dispatched to an area where increasing crime is taking place. These units were purchased with drug seizure funds, not tax dollars.

The best way to live in a safe neighborhood is for each neighbor to accept the responsibility for safety.