Midtown Neighborhood Watch to Increase Patrols

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Atlanta police are working with a Midtown neighborhood security group to step up patrols in the neighborhood in the wake of a half-dozen pedestrian robberies in July.

The Midtown Ponce Security Alliance (MPSA) tells FOX 5 Atlanta that the increased patrols will take place between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., the peak time for the reported crimes. MPSA is also considering installing security cameras around the neighborhood and is organizing the writing of Community Impact Statements to ensure convicted robbers get stiffer sentences, FOX 5 says.

Two of the six most recent robberies occurred outside the victims’ homes, according to FOX 5. On July 8 at approximately 10 p.m., Matthew Jones was just outside his apartment in the 300 block of 8th Street around when two men approached him, forced him to the ground, and stole his car keys, wallet, and phone, according to a police report.

To add insult to injury, the robbers returned to Jones’ apartment just after 1 a.m. July 9 and used his keys to steal his car from the apartment’s parking lot.

Through July 18, Midtown’s Zone 5 has reported a 33 percent increase in the murder rate over this time last year, a 167 percent increase in reported rapes, a 43 percent increase in reported aggravated assaults, and an nine percent increase in reported burglaries, APD crime data shows. Police have made 397 arrests for serious crimes in Midtown this year, down three percent from the number of arrests made this time last year.

Despite several high-profile robberies which have spurred the increased presence from MPSA and APD, the robbery rate is actually down eight percent from this time in 2014, according to the data.