Tweets Raise Safety Concerns

Dear Editor,

I was dismayed this afternoon to see a local catering company tweet four access codes, saying they worked at most gated communities in Atlanta. The tweet also noted he had mentioned it a year ago so this is clearly a continuing "share."

I asked the owner why he would tweet such a thing and was told not to take things "personally or seriously." I take security and safety very seriously, and simply cannot believe that a business owner with any sense of responsibility would behave in this fashion. He added that it was an "inside joke" [among caterers]. I have access to many of those same codes and believe he meant inside knowledge, not an inside joke. There is a reason such knowledge is "inside" and I do not believe that homes and businesses who have hired his company and provided the access codes were aware he would be tweeting those very same codes to the world at large.

For my part, I contacted the HOAs and/or leasing offices where I live and visit often to make sure that, if in fact these were valid codes at those properties, the codes were immediately revoked.

With things like the weekly safety reports from the Virginia Highland Fight Back Against Crime group, tweets from the Atlanta Police Department and others, crime-mapping companies, endless safety tips on the news and in other media, I simply am appalled that a business owner would share access codes in such a manner, with reckless disregard for the safety of those who have hired him.

Holly Dunham
on Twitter: HollyO4W and IDoAtlanta