Peachtree Corners Announces Crime-Free Program for Apartment Complexes

Submitted by City of Peachtree Corners

Improving the safety and welfare of residents living in one of Peachtree Corners 24 apartment complexes has been a top priority for city leaders.

Friday, the mayor announced that the City of Peachtree Corners will join forces with Gwinnett County Police Department in promoting a program aimed at reducing crime in multi-family housing units.

The “Crime Free Multi-Housing Program,” which has been effective in other Gwinnett
communities, is now being offered to Peachtree Corners property managers and owners.

The program works through the cooperative efforts between apartment managers, residents and police.

“Keeping Peachtree Corners’ residents safe is on the top of the city’s list,” said Mayor Mike
Mason. Statistics show that after implementing the program communities have seen a
significant drop in robberies, burglaries, auto theft, drugs, gangs and other crimes by as much as 16 percent in just the first year.

To kick it off, the City and Gwinnett County Police Department co-sponsored a luncheon to
introduce the “Crime Free Multi-Housing Program” to apartment managers.

“I’m excited to bring this training to the property,” said Luisa Luperdi, property manager for
Barrington Hills who was familiar with the program through another apartment complex she had managed. “It’s actually super effective.”

The program has been very successful in reducing crimes everywhere it’s been introduced, said GCPD Officer David Martinez, who is spearheading the program. According to GCPD, the program has been successful in reducing crime by up to 70 percent at some properties.

Gwinnett County Commissioner Lynette Howard has been an advocate for the program and
was instrumental in including Peachtree Corners in the program.

“It took four months to find Officer Martinez,” said Howard. “We wanted someone who was passionate about the program.”

The program consists of three phases which are to be completed by the apartment manager or landlord and supervised by the GCPD; the steps include an eight-hour seminar, participating in a crime prevention survey that addresses various safety issues and organizing a social for tenants to meet police and their management team who will work hand in hand to make the program successful.

“Through this program, you’ll be able to offer a safer environment for your tenants,” said
Officer Martinez. “I encourage you to get involved.”

In addition to reducing crime, the program lists a number of benefits for property owners, including increased property values, lower maintenance and repair costs and a stable, more satisfied tenant base.

The city will host an all-day seminar in January for apartment managers and landlords who are interested in joining the program. For additional information on the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program, contact Officer David Martinez via email at david.martinez@gwinnettcounty.com or by phone, 770-560-7454.

About the City of Peachtree Corners
Gwinnett County’s newest and largest city. Peachtree Corners was founded July 1, 2012 and is located along the shores of the Chattahoochee River in the southwest corner of the county. The city is home to some 38,500 residents and over 2,300 businesses. City Hall is located at 147 Technology Parkway, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092.

About Crime Free Multi-Housing Program
First developed in 1992 by the Mesa, Ariz., Police Department, the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program is an on-going crime prevention program designed to help reduce crime, drugs and gangs in apartment communities. Since inception the program has spread to 44 states, most Canadian provinces and 11 other countries.