ATLANTA -- Robberies in the city of Atlanta are on the rise. While some neighborhoods haven't been impacted, others have seen huge increases in the numbers.
Little Five Points is one of Atlanta's most iconic neighborhoods, but it's also a growing robbery hot spot. It and its surrounding neighborhoods, have seen a dramatic 39% increase in robberies this year, including a deadly crime spree last month.
During the overnight hours of March 14, police say these four men shown committed at least two robberies in 11 minutes only a mile apart. Those are two of the 68 robberies that have occurred in that part of the city so far this year.
Earlier this month, neighbors told Atlanta's police chief they've had enough.
11Alive poured through the crime reports looking for the places you're most likely to get robbed.
Robberies are up 23 percent in Zone 3, which includes the neighborhoods of Mechanicsville and Southeastern.
They're up 19 percent in Zone 4, the west end.
And they're up a whopping 39% in Zone 6, which includes the neighborhoods of Little Five Points, Old Fourth Ward and Poncey-Highlands.
As part of our mission to hold the powerful accountable, we took these numbers APD Chief George Turner.
"If you look at the overall part one crimes, the numbers were really not that great, but they were violent," Turner said. "Any time that you have violent issues people are concerned. And they should be."
Turner says career criminals and illegal guns are plaguing certain neighborhoods with crime. He said town halls, like the one he held three weeks ago, are designed to build a relationship between citizens and police.
"I think that what they should be doing is calling 911 when they see something that are out of the norm," Turner said.
The good news is robbery reports are down in the other parts of the city. But the fact remains, in certain neighborhoods, you're significantly more likely to be robbed.
In Cobb County, this year there have been six fewer robbery reports than this time last year.
RESOURCES |
Atlanta residents: Check the crime in your neighborhood
DeKalb County residents: CrimeMap tracking
Gwinnett County residents: CrimeMap tracking
Other communities: SpotCrime Maps across Georgia
