Crime rates in Atlanta Police Department’s Zone 2 precinct, an area that includes Buckhead, rose in 2012 while crime rates in the city’s other five zones decreased, figures released by APD show.
Zone 2’s 2012 crime rates increased by 8 percent, a year after the zone’s previous commander received an award for having the biggest drop in crime in 2011. It was the only zone that saw an overall increase, figures show.
In late 2011, the beat was redesigned to include 3 square miles from Zone 6. The zone now includes the Cheshire Bridge Road/Morningside corridor, and officers are also responsible for Cheshire Bridge Road’s strip clubs and other adult attractions.
Zone 2 commander Maj. Van Hobbs told the Buckhead Council of Neighborhoods on Jan. 10 he didn’t have any data that show the expansion contributed to the jump in Zone 2 crime.
But it could be a factor, he said.
“It may be our calls are up … because of that area we got,” Hobbs said, answering a question from District 8 Councilwoman Yolanda Adrean about the impact of the zone expansion.
Three crime reporting categories dragged down Zone 2’s total, APD figures show. In 2012, aggravated assault jumped 16 percent, burglary rose 8 percent and thefts from vehicles rose 27 percent.
All other categories showed a decline.
“What killed us was the entering autos,” Hobbs told the BCN. He said a recent look at reports showed 73 percent of the people who reported thefts from their vehicles over a 30 day period did not live in the zone.
Hobbs said he is considering a public awareness campaign to caution people against leaving valuables in vehicles, something he said could be promoted statewide.
2011 vs. 2012 Part One crime rates
Citywide: -5 percent
Zone 1: -4 percent
Zone 2: 8 percent
Zone 3: -14 percent
Zone 4: -9 percent
Zone 5: -10 percent
Zone 6: 0 percent
Zone 2 Part One Crimes
Homicide: -100 percent. No murders reported for Zone 2 in 2012.
Rape: -29 percent. APD’s Zone 2 received 12 reports of rape in 2012, down from 17 in 2011.
Robbery: -5 percent
Aggravated assault: 16 percent.
Burglary: 8 percent
Larceny from vehicle: 27 percent. In 2011, APD’s Zone 2 received 1,664 reports of theft from vehicle. In 2012, Zone 2 received 2,119 reports of theft from vehicle.
Larceny other: – 3 percent
Auto theft: – 10 percent
Source: Atlanta Police Department