The following information was provided to the Reporter by the Sandy Springs Police Department from its records and is presumed to be accurate.

Detective honored

An organization honored Sandy Springs police Detective Jeff Thomas on May 11 for his law enforcement efforts against people involved in the sexual exploitation of children.

A Future, Not a Past, a group dedicated to the victims of underage prostitution, recognized Thomas and state Judge Janis Gordon in a ceremony at the Atlanta offices of law firm Kilpatrick Stockton for their dedication to help such victims to prosecute their exploiters.

The group said Thomas played a crucial part in the criminal investigation of Johnathan Terry, 27, who recently accepted a plea deal resulting in a 20-year sentence for the pimping and pandering of a 14-year-old girl, among other crimes.

“Thomas’ skill and determination to seek out sexual criminals while assisting young victims exemplifies his commitment,” A Future, Not a Past said in a statement.

Robbery

Roswell Road near Morgan Falls Road 30350 – A man reported that he went to see a guy about getting his cell phone back. The guy held his cell phone while the victim was in jail. During the visit, the guy wanted the visitor to help him “get some stuff back” in Marietta. When the victim said no, the guy pulled a gun, shot once into the ground and once into the air, and took the cell phone.

Burglary

3000 block of Queen’s Anne Court 30328 – A home’s front door was pried open May 7 and a computer was stolen.

3500 block of the Valley 30328 – Someone pried open the front door of an apartment May 7 and took a 40-inch television, a computer and an expensive camera.

8100 block of Colquitt Road 30350 – A 32-inch television went missing from an apartment May 10. No forced entry was found.

600 block of Amster Green Drive 30328 – A television was reported stolen from the basement of the home May 10.

Abingdon Way 30328 – A woman came home from work May 10 and found that her front door had been pried open. Several items had been taken.

4600 block of Roswell Road 30342 – A man reported May 10 that he left his apartment overnight, and on his return, he found that the apartment had been entered and that several items had been taken. No forced entry was found.

4600 block of Roswell Road 30342 – Someone took $320 from a night stand May 11. Because of the bad shape of the door frame, the victim didn’t know whether the front door had been pried open.

700 block of Cimarron Parkway 30350 – A computer was reported stolen May 12. No forced entry was found.

8600 block of Roswell Road 30350 – A bar reported that someone broke out a window in the front May 12, but nothing was taken.

7600 block of Spalding Lane 30350 – A laptop computer and $300 cash were among the items taken from a residence May 12. No forced entry was found.

8200 block of Roswell Road 30350 – A restaurant reported that someone threw two rocks through the window of the business and stole two TVs May 12.

9700 block of Huntcliff Trace 30350 – The residents reported May 13 that while they were out of town, someone entered their home by breaking a small window by the front door, reaching in and opening the door. Several items were stolen.

Theft

7000 block of Roswell Road 30328 – Someone stole a 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse from an apartment parking area May 7.

6300 block of Powers Ferry Road 30327 – A man left his wallet in a convenience store May 7. When he went back, the wallet was gone. Store video showed a woman taking the wallet.

500 block of Embassy Row 30328 – A staff member of a school reported that her handbag was stolen from a secured room while she was in a meeting May 13.

1100 block of Perimeter Center West 30328 — 5/13

A woman reported that she placed her purse behind her work desk May 13. The purse was stolen, and her credit cards were used later. The desk is visible from the front reception area. The victim said all of the office employees were in a back area when they heard the door open. About a minute later, a man asked directions to another office. He is believed to be the purse thief.

5600 block of Roswell Road 30328 – A woman stole two hair extensions from a hair-supply business.

7000 block of Roswell Road 30350 – A woman reported that someone took a camera and lens valued at more than $500 from her apartment.

6500 block of Roswell Road 30328 – Someone stole a 1988 Dodge Dakota from a repair shop May 7.

3400 block of Spring Creek Lane 30350 – A woman reported May 10 that she and her roommate had shared an apartment since August. The woman visited Florida, and when she returned, the roommate had moved out and taken computer items and a toaster with her.

8100 block of Colquitt Road 30350 – A 2003 Cadillac was stolen from an apartment complex parking lot May 11.

500 block of Northridge Road 30350 – A black 2003 Honda Accord was stolen May 12.

6000 block of Gables Lane 30328 – An apartment resident reported May 12 that $140 he kept in a bedroom end table was gone.

Theft from vehicle

Items were stolen from vehicles broken into at the following locations:

• 400 block of Morgan Falls Road 30350, May 7.

• 2000 block of Dunwoody Club Drive 30350, May 7.

• 5400 block of Glenridge Drive 30342, two vehicles, May 7.

• 5300 block of Roswell Road 30342, May 7.

• 5500 block of Glenridge Drive 30342, May 7.

• 6000 block of Roswell Road 30328, May 10.

• 5300 block of Spring Creek Lane 30350, May 11.

• Concourse Parkway 30328, May 11.

• 1100 block of Mount Vernon Highway 30328, May 11.

• 500 block of Northridge Road 30350, May 11.

• 5400 block of Glenridge Drive 30342, six vehicles, May 11.

• 4700 block of Roswell Road 30342, May 12.

• 7500 block of Roswell Road 30350, May 12.

• 1100 block of Mount Vernon Highway 30328, two vehicles, May 13.

• 8800 block of Roswell Road 30350, May 13.

Just about all of the thefts from cars involved GPS units or laptops. All were visible from outside the car and most were either left overnight or in a retail parking area in plain view.

When you leave your car, remove your GPS from view. The console between the front seats is doesn’t count. Crooks will look there, as well as in the glove compartment. Think of it this way: Where could you stash your GPS unit where it would take some time or effort to find it?

Get into the habit of removing your laptop and other expensive things from your car at night. Even if you’re parking the car in your home garage, thieves will sometimes pry a window or door and take a look around. Lock the car.

Fraud, forgery and ID theft

700 block of Hammond Drive 30328 – A man contacted police May 11 and reported that about a year ago he received a brochure from a judgment-recovery company. He called the contact number, and a man said he could recover $75,000 for him for a 30 percent fee. The man apparently recovered the funds but never sent them to the victim and has fallen out of touch.

7000 block of Roswell Road 30328 – A woman reported May 11 that her fiancé from California came to visit her. She let him use her debit card to get a haircut. Apparently, he went back into her purse, stole the card, withdrew $400, made $125 in purchases and spent $60 at Club Lush. She didn’t realize what had happened until he flew home. Of course, he gave her a birthday check for $400 that bounced and messed up her account.

Assault

1200 block of Sandalwood Drive 30350 – A man reported that a man he knows came to his door May 7 and asked for his phone charger back. The victim said he didn’t have it, so the man punched him in the face.

Arrests

Vice officers made several arrests on prostitution and pimping charges stemming from investigations into Internet solicitation for prostitution. Craigslist is a common site used by pimps and prostitutes.

An officer patrolling the area of Dunwoody Place passed a car and smelled marijuana. He turned around and stopped the car, and he noticed the smell of a lot of marijuana from the car. The driver said he had been smoking and surrendered a small bag of marijuana. He was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

200 block of Sandy Springs Circle 30328 – A man walked into a bank May 10 and attempted to cash a fraudulent check for more than $900. The bank contacted the company issuing the check and found it had not issued a check to the man. Police arrived while the man awaited verification of the check, and he was arrested.

200 block of Sandy Springs Place 30328 – A man walked into Kroger on May 10, put $71 worth of meat into his backpack and tried to exit the store. Store security detained the man, and he was arrested.

Officers responded to a call on Peachtree-Dunwoody Road regarding unruly people. They found one man, who said the others had left. The one man had an active warrant on him in Fulton County for a probation violation. He was arrested.

6300 block of Roswell Road 30328 – Two detectives approached a man May 10 and identified themselves as police officers. The man ran. They chased on foot. Another officer assisted, and they caught him. He had a bag with nearly $200 worth of stolen clothing from Marshalls. He was arrested.

Northridge Road 30350 – A man ordered about $20 in food from Waffle House, then left without paying. The Waffle House staff called the police. A plainclothes officer nearby recognized the man and he detained the man. The man yelled, “The Lord told me about that food.” He kept yelling, but the officer cuffed him and later transported him to jail.