The Atlanta Police Department's Zone 3, which includes Summerhill, Historic South Atlanta, Peoplestown and Chosewood Park issued this crime update and alert with respect to the 2012 year:

Overall, crime in Zone 3 was down 15 percent in 2012. Overall crime on beats 301 (Capitol View) and 306 (Sylvan Hills) was also down.

However, we have had a spike in auto thefts. We saw repeat thefts of: Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Stratus, Dodge R1500, Ford Ranger, and Jeep Cherokees.

To deter auto thefts, we recommend:

• Never leaving the vehicle keys in the car while the car is unattended.
• If your vehicle becomes disabled, do not leave it on the side of the road. Tow as soon as possible.
• Parking vehicle close to your door so you can keep an eye on it.
• Installing alarms (flashing LED lights inside may help), tracking devices, ignition kill switches, fuel pump kill switches, steering wheel locks or locking bars.
• Be alert for wreckers which could be illegally taking vehicles in order to recycle (call 911).
• Not leaving valuables in your vehicle which draw perpetrators to your vehicle.
• Report truants and curfew violators.

Here are the full-year crime stats in Zone 3: