Welcome to the Precinct 2 Pens Bulletin, brought to you by the Precinct 2 Criminal Investigations Unit.

Crime Prevention Tips

For a crime to occur, three factors must be present: desire, ability, and opportunity. You can significantly impact opportunity and reduce crime by following these simple crime prevention tips.

Phone Scams

If you receive phone calls or texts advising you have missed jury duty and are now in danger of arrest, this MAY be a SCAM. Phone scams are increasingly occurring and victimizing the citizens of Cobb County. If you fall victim to these scams, you are not alone. These phone scams continue to occur because they successfully generate funds for the criminal element. Below are common signs of a phone scam:

1. A phone call asking for money or personal information, such as your Social Security number.
2. A request to buy gift cards to pay a purported debt or to send money to someone whom you’ve only met online.
3. A call saying you’ve won a sweepstakes or lottery, though you don’t recall entering one.

Report a scam or fraud if:

• You get a suspicious call, text or email requesting your bank account number; instructing you to buy a gift card; or promising a prize or gift.
• You gave money or financial or medical information to someone whom you now suspect was a scammer.
• A relative or friend gave money or something of value to a suspected scammer.

What to Do if You Suspect You've Been Scammed

If you suspect you've fallen victim to a rental scam and sent money by check or wire, contact your bank immediately to see if you can stop payment. Next, you can file a complaint with your local police station, the FBI, or the FTC.

If you've given the scammer sensitive information about yourself, such as your Social Security number, consider setting up a fraud alert on your credit reports to get a notification if someone tries to apply for credit under your name.

Precinct 2 Year-to-Date Statistics

Crime Event	Number	Trend	%
Homicide	2	▼	-40%
Robbery	14	▼	-16%
Aggravated Assault	84	▲	+14%
Residential Burglary	51	▼	-14%
Commercial Burglary	26	▼	-20%
Entering Auto	114	▼	-24%
Theft	227	▼	-12%
Vehicle Theft	99	▼	-5%

We work hard in the uniform and detective bureaus to keep our community safe. We need your help. Call 911 to report suspicious activity, register your cameras, and lock your vehicles when parked. Small steps can make a big difference.

Crime Trends in South Cobb

Ladies and gentlemen, our current crime trends are in the area of burglary in residential areas and general thefts. The burglaries are occurring in vacant homes and are often related to squatters. Additionally, we have had some homes under construction targeted for appliance thefts. We have made arrests in these cases, so we are encouraged by the work being done by our officers and detectives. If you observe a suspicious vehicle in a residential area, especially a neighborhood under construction, do not approach them, but immediately call 911. From a safe place, call 911 and provide an accurate description of the suspects, involved vehicles, and what direction the suspect is going. No property is worth getting hurt over.

A Crisis Has No Schedule

Help is available 24/7 for problems with developmental disabilities, mental health, drugs, or alcohol.

Call the Georgia Crisis & Access Line at 1-800-715-4225 or visit georgiacollaborative.com.

Community Affairs Unit

The Community Affairs Unit seeks to effectively engage the community and citizens to strengthen Public Safety and community partnerships, facilitate a joint effort in solving problems that affect our community, and foster enhanced trust, communication, transparency, and mutual respect. Officers work with homeowner’s associations, community organizations, advocacy groups, public and private schools, faith-based organizations, and individual residents to promote mutually beneficial partnerships.  As a result of these working partnerships, the officers are able to develop proactive crime-fighting projects that are jointly undertaken by Department personnel and citizens.

Precinct Two Heroes at Work

Entering Auto Suspects Caught Red-Handed

On January 21, 2024, Evening watch officers responded to Cobb Hospital in reference to several entering autos that occurred the previous night around 11:30 pm. Officers arrived on the scene and began watching surveillance video of a male entering approximately 20 vehicles. Officers immediately recognized the suspect as a juvenile who lives in the apartments near the hospital. This juvenile has had multiple contacts with the police over the last week. While officers were on scene, they could only locate three victims to make reports. Officers went to the juvenile’s residence, taking the suspect into custody. The juvenile was then transported to Marietta YDC on entering auto charges.

Carjacking Arrest

On February 4, 2024, Evening watch officers located a carjacked vehicle parked unoccupied in front of an address on Defoors Farm Trail. Multiple officers from Evening watch and Day watch began to head to the area to assist with the help of the Georgia State Patrol and Powder Springs Police. Officers set up around both entrances to prevent the vehicle from leaving. Preliminary information from Dekalb Detectives was two younger black males with masks took the vehicle at gunpoint the previous date. As officers began to flood the area, the two younger males got into the vehicle but then fled on foot upon contact by police. One male was taken into custody very quickly after a foot chase; the other was boxed in by the officers who set up a perimeter and were located hiding in a vehicle after a long K9 track.

Both of the juvenile males were armed with handguns. Dekalb Detectives responded to Cobb County Police Headquarters and interviewed the males taking over their part of the investigation. The juveniles were charged with theft by receiving, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm by a minor, and other charges. Both were taken to Cobb RYDC Dekalb would follow up with possible carjacking charges later.

Coordinated Effort Leads to Burglary Arrest

Day Watch officers were conducting a zone patrol in the area of Floyd Road and Hicks Road; when doing so, an officer observed a male wearing a “GRAYSTAR” shirt following behind a male who was carrying a bookbag and other items. The officer contacted the GRAYSTAR employee and asked him what was happening. The GRAYSTAR employee explained they were inspecting their vacant units and found people inside. While speaking to the employee, another male appeared and was stopped and detained by officers. Officers were advised that one of the subjects was a person of interest in several other burglary and burglary attempts in the area. The initial officer was notified that a female was also located in another unit and refused to come out. Once additional officers arrived, officers, they were able to detain that female. A Day Watch officer recalled taking a burglary report recently that had surveillance video. She notified CIU that this was the possible suspect. A CIU2 detective arrived and took over the investigation. While two of the offenders were detained, another Day Shift officer recognized the possible third suspect watching officers from a distance. Officers confronted the subject, who fled. Officers pursued the male on foot and were able to detain him.  As a result, CIU2 cleared some of their Criminal Trespassing, Burglary,  Burglary-Attempt and other loitering and prowling cases.

Detectives Stop Burglary Suspect

On March 7, 2024, a CIU2 Detective obtained a search warrant for an address off Seminole Circle and an arrest warrant for a suspect for theft from construction sites. An operation plan was developed to execute the search warrant with the aid of the Precinct Two uniform patrol. Units arrived at the home, and the suspect was in the carport and retreated into the home upon seeing the patrol units. Uniform patrol took command, and Officers took up a position in the driveway and began giving commands to the occupants of the house to exit. The communication between the officer giving commands to the other units on the scene was outstanding, as he commanded the backup units in transitioning to changing circumstances. An elderly female exited the home and followed the officer’s commands. She was detained and moved to safety. Officers continued to call out the suspect using the public address system. The suspect exited the home after about eight minutes of calling him out. The suspect was taken into custody after being belligerent toward officers. The search warrant was executed, and important ledgers were located in the suspect’s bedroom. A Stove, a dishwasher, a microwave, and electronics were located in a vehicle parked in the carport. Additional charges are likely to be made in this case.

Cobb County Camera Registry

The Cobb County Police Camera Registration program is a police/community video partnership that operates on a voluntary basis with homeowners, neighborhoods and business owners who own private video surveillance systems. We encourage both businesses and residents to register their cameras online by completing the form below.

This program is intended to let our officers know where cameras are active in the county in case a crime occurs. It is not intended for active surveillance, and officers will not have direct access to homeowners' cameras. Those who register a camera will be contacted if a crime occurs in the vicinity of that camera. Information provided by residents and businesses will be maintained in a secure database.

Fill out our Online Registration Form and find out more about the program.

Police Athletic League

Cobb PAL focuses on juvenile crime prevention through athletic and recreational activities for Cobb County’s high-risk neighborhoods, primarily in South Cobb. There are many ways that you can help, whether it be spreading the word, getting your children involved, volunteering your time and resources or donating money. If you wish to assist this worthwhile program and make a donation, visit Ways to Help.

Sign Up for PENS Bulletins

Please refer your neighbors to sign up for the Police Email Notification System (PENS).

To sign up for the Police Email Notification system please subscribe.

If you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact us at Precinct2Pens@cobbcounty.org

 

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Detective Lieutenant N. McCreary
Det. Sergeant M. Nerbonne
Detective Sergeant R. Hyatt

Cobb County Police Department
Precinct Two
4700 Austell Rd
Austell, GA 30106
Precinct2Pens@cobbcounty.org