Neighborhood Alerts

Unlocked Cars in Open Garages

Subject:    Theft Prevention
Date:            February 16, 2010


As we discuss in your Neighborhood Watch meetings, our Patrol Division is very proactive in preventing crimes and therefore heavily patrol our Neighborhoods during late night and early morning hours.  I have been told several times recently that Deputies have seen numerous unlocked automobiles, many with valuables in plain view, and open garage doors while checking the Neighborhoods.  This will allow thieves to enter you’re your vehicle AND your garage to relieve you of property.  These unlocked car doors and open garage doors are not just being found in the late night / early morning hours, but during the day while the occupants are gone to work or shopping.  Items usually stolen when cars are entered into included laptop computers, GPS systems, and wallets or purses which contain credit cards, gift cards and different forms of identification.  The items that are stolen are things that the thieves can generally sell easily, and as we all know, stolen wallets often lead to identity theft and fraud.  It can take months, even years, to clean up your identity and credit after being the victim of identity theft.

Please remember to secure your vehicle, even if it parked in your driveway.  Remove any valuables, including laptops, GPS units, wallets etc. from your vehicle and bring them inside your home or lock them in your trunk where they are not visible from the outside.
Please keep your garage doors down even during daylight hours.  An open garage is simply an invitation for a thief to steal items within your garage.   Keep a porch light on during hours of darkness or ideally install lighting with motion sensors.
Be very observant of any suspicious or criminal activity in and or around your subdivision. If you see or hear any suspicious activity, please call 911 immediately.


Be very observant of any suspicious or criminal activity in and or around your neighborhood. If you see any suspicious activity, please call 911 immediately.  For any other issues you can call the non emergency number into the 911 center at 770-781-3087.  As always, Liason’s please call me with any issues or concerns at 678-513-5982.

Neighborhood Alert- Entering Auto Suspects Caught in Act

To: All South End Neighborhood Watch Participants
From: Deputy First Class Mike Garrison
Subject: Entering Auto Suspect Arrested
Date: 6/15/2009


On 6/14/2009 at 3:17am the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a complainant residing within the Old Atlanta Club subdivision. She stated that there were two white males attempting to break into her husband’s car and that he chased them off. Within 8 minutes the first patrol units arrived and received a very good description of the perpetrators from the complainant. Our deputies followed footprints located from the scene of the crime which led to a cul-de-sac within Old Atlanta Club. We had several patrol units on scene and they split up to canvas the subdivision. Shortly there after one of our units called out that he had spotted a suspicious vehicle within the subdivision occupied by four white males. When additional units arrived they noticed that there were several GPS units along with other items in the back of their car. When our deputies removed the suspects from the vehicle they noticed that two of them were wearing wet clothing along with freshly cut grass on their shoes. All four males were over the age of 17 (One perpetrator resides in Grand Cascades subdivision, with the other three residing out of Arkansas).

After our deputies along with Investigators from our Criminal Investigations Division interviewed the four males they were placed under arrest and charged with four counts of Felony Entering Auto each. They were transported to the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center where they were processed and still reside as of this morning.

These arrests would not have been possible without the quick response from our deputies along with the assistance from the complainant which immediately called 911 and provided a detailed description of the perpetrators. This is a perfect example of how our Neighborhood Watch Program works to not only deter crime but assist the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office in apprehending criminals.

Thank You

Mike Garrison
Deputy First Class
Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office
678-513-5880
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Neighborhood Alert- Summer Crime Prevention

TO: ALL NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PARTICIPANTS
FROM: DEPUTY COURTNEY SPRIGGS
SUBJECT: SUMMER CRIME PREVENTION
DATE: JUNE 10, 2009

As everyone knows, school is out for the summer. This often correlates to an increase in vandalism, entering autos, and mischief that frequently causes damage to property. It is also historically when auto accidents
increase. Below are some tips to keep your family safe this summer.

1. LOCK IT! We have had several entering automobile incidents in recent weeks. In all of these incidents the vehicles were left unlocked in driveways or on the roadway with valuables visible from the outside. The simplest deterrent for this is to lock your car doors and remove valuables (laptops, GPS systems, DVD players, iPods, etc.) by taking them inside or securing them in the trunk, out of sight. Always lock the doors to your home, especially at night or when leaving the house for any amount of time.

2. LIGHT IT UP! We have also had incidents of damage to pool and commons areas. Lighting is key to keeping vandals away from these areas at night. Motion sensors and flood lights are great deterrents. Additionally, ask neighbors who can see your neighborhood’s common/pool area to keep an eye on it and call 911 if they see suspicious activity. Keep your home’s exterior lighting on at night or invest in motion sensors.

3. SHUT IT! Please keep your garage doors down even during daylight hours. An open garage is simply an invitation for a thief to steal items within your garage.

4. DRIVE ON! Because of the known increase in auto accidents in the summertime, deputies will be actively enforcing traffic laws. Insure that you and your loved ones limit distractions such as cell phones, slow down, buckle up, and move over for emergency vehicles displaying flashing lights. Please remember the rules for golf carts and other low speed vehicles in your neighborhood. Pay close attention to your speed in the neighborhood, as more children and other pedestrians will be outside.

As always, be observant and familiar with your surroundings at all times. If you see any suspicious activity, please call 911 immediately. For other issues call the non-emergency dispatch number, (770) 781-3087.
Thank you for your help keeping our community safe!

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Community Outreach Specialist

Neighborhood Alert- Marseille, Evans Farms, Derby Downs

To: All Marseille, Evans Farms, and Derby Downs Residents
From: Sergeant Allan Frampton
Subject: Residential Burglary
Date: May, 26th 2009

On May 26, 2009 at 10:22 am the Forsyth County Sheriffs Office was called out to an address on Post Road near the Sweetbriar Subdivision in reference to a burglary in progress. Prior to deputies arriving three Hispanic males were seen by a witness leaving the residence on foot. Two were seen headed south and one headed north from the residence. One suspect ended up running through Marseille, but was later seen in the area of Sweetbriar subdivision.

When Deputies arrived they conducted a search of the area and two Hispanic males were seen running toward the wood line on Wellington Place in the Sweetbriar Subdivision. One was wearing a peach colored shirt and the other was wearing a yellow shirt. After a foot pursuit the one wearing the peach colored shirt was apprehended. The other two Hispanic males possibly left the area in a blue or black in color Dodge Durango.

This incident is currently being investigated by the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division. Please keep your garage doors down even during daylight hours. An open garage is simply an invitation for a thief to steal items within your garage.

Be very observant of any suspicious or criminal activity in and or around your subdivision. If you see or hear any suspicious activity, please call 911 immediately.

If any residents saw any suspicious activity during this time frame or have any other information, please contact the Sheriff’s Office non emergency number at 770-781-3087, or Criminal Investigations at 770-781-2200, or contact me at 678-513-5982 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Respectfully,

Sgt Allan Frampton
Crime Prevention Unit