Crime & Safety

What Is 'Suspicious'?

Cobb County Police's South Cobb Precinct 2 offers answers to that question and more. The police are urging South Cobb citizens to call 911 whenever they notice suspicious activity in our community.

Cobb County Police have been adamant in their message to South Cobb residents: call 911 if you see anything suspicious in your community.

The message is one designed to help South Cobb residents be the eyes and ears of their community and to cut down on the crime rates in South Cobb, which are the highest in the county.

In light of the shooting death of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin and the subsequent ongoing trial of the man who shot and killed him, George Zimmerman, many have wondered, "What is suspicious?"

Find out what's happening in South Cobbwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Lt. Carole King of South Cobb's Precinct 2 offers answers.

WHAT IS SUSPICIOUS?

- A person peering into another's vehicle - this could be in a driveway, apartment complex or shopping center

- If a person knocks on your door asking for someone who doesn't live there or if they call your home phone asking the same question

- A person wearing a backpack lurking around a neighbor's home

- If a person you don't recognize as your neighbor is dropped off in front of their residence

- With the back door or window the entry point on so many burglaries, virtually anyone standing at the back door or crouched at the window is suspicious

- A person in a vehicle you don't recognize, who appears to be sitting and waiting in your neighbor's driveway - especially if they are backed in

- A vehicle in a neighbor's driveway you don't recognize and the vehicle has no license plate or a paper tag for a license plate

- A person walking down the street using pillow cases as a means for carrying items

- Someone other than the mail carrier opening a mailbox

- An night, if a vehicle drives slowly into the neighborhood with no lights on

- A person you don't recognize as the resident, running out of a home or apartment.

- Our investigators have found many burglars are actually an acquaintance of the victim's teenage kid. The teen may have innocently allowed the "friend" over to hang out and enjoy his Xbox, only to find his home burglarized days later. So neighbors, just because you've seen a kid in the company of your neighbor's teen, doesn't mean he won't be back later to steal. If you see the "friend" at the home, unaccompanied by the resident, be wary. Also, because juvenile burglars tend to commit their crime in groups, be extra concerned if the "friend" is there with other kids, absent the resident.

- Because flat screen television thefts are very common these days, if you see someone you don't recognize backed into your neighbor's driveway and they're loading a flat screen television into their vehicle (especially if the TV is not in a box), call 911

- Another word on flat screen televisions...because juvenile burglars often don't have vehicles, they are more likely to stash a stolen television in the woods to be picked up later

Find out what's happening in South Cobbwith free, real-time updates from Patch.



She writes in this month's police email notification, "Having shared with you the above suggestions, I'm not recommending you call 911 every time a new face enters your neighborhood. Common sense and logic should prevail. You know the type of people who live in your neighborhood. If you see someone (or a group of people) who you think may be up to no good, ask yourself, 'Is what I'm seeing normal for this time of day at this location?' If it feels odd or out of place, it probably is. Remember to trust your gut! And by all means, don't approach a suspicious character; call 911, give us a detailed description and let us do the work. We'll check it out and if the situation is legitimate, no harm done. What's important is that you were alert and called 911 when you reasonably believed you saw suspicious behavior or crime in progress.

"These tips on suspicious behavior continue my belief that the citizens and police must be in a partnership for safer neighborhoods. As you know, the officers of Precinct Two can't be everywhere at once, so it's up to the good citizens of South Cobb to work with us to help reduce crime. Stay alert, be vigilant and let your inner "Gladys Kravitz" shine!"

What do you think "suspicious" mean? Do you call 911 when you see suspicious activity in your neighborhood? Why or why not?


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