Statistically, this is a low crime area. Regular reports on incidents in a neighborhood are distributed by the police if there is a Neighborhood Watch program set up. CHCA has tried in the past but could not get people to volunteer to serve as "block captains." CHCA Board is trying to arrange to get regular reports on crime in another way. Meanwhile, we publish via the listserv any incidents that come to our attention.
Anti-Crime Advice from Central Precinct officers at Public Meeting 9/20/06
- 99% of car break-ins correlate with owners leaving valuables within view, even coins.
- Homeowners should call 911 even when they just have a bad feeling, e.g., seeing a flashlight on at 1:30 a.m. or a suspicious solicitor or contractor or other persons in the street.
- Homeowners should write down the serial numbers of all their valuables because most arrests and recoveries of stolen property result from police looking at pawn store lists.
- If you come home to a ransacked house, it is better to stay outside and call 911 on a cellphone (in case someone is still inside)
DeKalb County Police Contacts
- Emergency Services/Dispatch: 911 or 404-294-2523
- Non-Emergency Police Service (Center Precinct, 3630 Camp Circle, Decatur, GA 30032): 404-294-2580
- Police Services General Information: 404-294-2000
- Crime Prevention (Neighborhood Watch, Security Surveys, Programs on Personal Safety & Crime Prevention): 404-294-2184 (Janean Hightower)
- Criminal Investigations/Detectives: 404-294-2554
- Domestic Violence (Women's resource 24 hours) 404-688-9436
- Rape Crisis Center: 404-377-1428
- Drug hotline: 770-322-2540
- Records (Copy of police reports): 404-294-2512
- Crime statistics: 404-294-2546
- Tactical Operations (speeding, radar) 404-294-2278
