Vehicle Larceny is Top Crime in Zone 5

Car break-ins are the No. 1 crime in Zone 5.

In fact, nearly a third of Atlanta's reported vehicle larcenies for 2011 (3,516 reports to date) occurred in Zone 5 -- the police zone that covers neighborhoods including Midtown, Atlantic Station, Home Park and Ansley Park.

So far this year -- from Jan. 1 to May 28 -- there have been 1,277 reports of vehicle larcenies in Zone 5. That number is up 13 percent from the same period last year.

Police define vehicle larceny as a crime involving the wrongful acquisition of personal property of another person from inside a vehicle. Vehicle or auto thefts are not included in this classification. 

Sgt. David McGinnis of the said there's no rhyme or reason for the recent increase in car break-ins. Weather patterns and special events can trigger the activity, he said. 

In 2010, there were a total of 3,066 vehicle larcenies in Zone 5. In 2009, there were 3,771. Both years, vehicle larcenies were the top crime for the zone.

Other larcenies account for the next highest number of incidents in the zone (720 reports so far in 2011), followed by auto theft (277 reports so far in 2011). 

"You have a lot of cars in Zone 5," McGinnis said. "The number of cars we have broken into isn't that many in comparison" to the millions of vehicles that visit Atlanta during the year. 

The trouble is vehicle larceny is a crime of opportunity. 

People leave GPS devices, laptops, cell phones, cash and other items in their vehicles when they exit. 

All the thief has to do is window shop. It takes him or her only minutes to complete the act (Do note: Most car break-ins occur between 3 and 11 p.m.).

It's very rare for a vehicle to get broken into that doesn't have something valuable inside, McGinnis said. 

He said police officers do what they can to prevent the crime. 

At the end of May, officers were stopping cars along Charles Allen Drive and handing drivers pamphlets to remind them to remove valuables from their vehicles.

"We are doing everything we can," McGinnis said. 

"It's difficult for us to catch somebody in the act of breaking into a car. They aren't going to break into a car if a cop is five feet away."

Even if officers do arrest someone breaking into cars (they've nabbed 28 in Zone 5 this year), it's difficult to keep them from returning to the streets. Since vehicle larceny is not a violent crime, people caught breaking into cars get little jail time ... even if they are repeat offenders. 

McGinnis said there are people around Midtown that have been arrested 30 or more times for vehicle larceny. 

The worst part is officers in Zone 5 spend a lot of time responding to reports of car break-ins, instead of focusing on more violent crimes or patroling the streets. 

So, really, it's up to us to help reduce the crime. 

We've got to remember -- each and every time we go to close the car door -- we've got to remove all items from our vehicles. 

And be sure to remind everyone who visits the city. Oftentimes, McGinnis said, visitors to the city are the ones who are victimized. 

Here are a few tips to safeguard your vehicle from theft:

1. Always lock your doors, close your windows and shut your sunroof. 

2. Don't hide a key anywhere on the exterior of your car. If you can find it, so could someone else.

3. If you have a GPS that you mount to your windshield, be sure to wipe the ring from the windshield when you remove the device.

4. Be extra cautious when heading to workout at the gym or park. People going to exercise typically take few belongings with them. Placing your purse, bag or other items in the trunk does little to deter a thief. Most cars have a lever to open the trunk in the cab of the vehicle. Once a thief is in, they have access to the entire vehicle.

5. Tint your windows. The harder it is to see what's inside your car, the better. 

6. Be sure to remove cell phone and other electronic chargers. They are an obvious sign that you have a device nearby. 

And lastly, DON'T be scared to call 911. If you see something, say something!

"911 is a service of the public," McGinnis said. "Call police if you see someone out of place."