Being Vigilant Against Crime Can Be As Simple As Locking Your Doors

Do you lock your car door after getting in?

Police and crime prevention experts say something as simple as locking your door may prevent you from being a crime victim.

That might have made the difference in what happened to an Inman Park man on Wednesday who pulled into the Citgo filling station at Boulevard and North Avenue.

The victim said he drove up to a bay of fuel pumps when a man jumped into his passenger seat and told him to keep driving. The uninvited passenger assumed the victim was there to buy drugs.

Hearing "no," the drug dealer asked demanded to be taken back to the Citgo — only to change his mind again after seeing an Atlanta police cruiser at the Boulevard and North Avenue intersection.

The dealer tried to get the victim to drive past the station and into a private driveway. The victim refused and the dealer left, but not before an unsuccessful attempt to take the victim's mobile phone.

The police found the dealer a short time later, arrested and charged him with attempted robbery.

That stretch of Boulevard has been a source of frustration for the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood, which has complained about , sometimes occurring in plain view of patrolling officers.

"This location has been problematic primarily because of the persons who hang out in the area," Atlanta Police Department Maj. Christopher Leighty said. "Since this is private property the owner must be willing to give criminal trespass warnings to the folks on that property unless an officer witnesses a crime."

Leighty, commander of APD's Zone 5, which includes Old Fourth Ward, said officers could no longer enforce criminal trespass codes on private properties without owners' direct request.

"The owner has to give each person the warning and document it," Leighty said. "APD at one time could use a "Letter of Agency" which basically said we could act on behalf of the owner. It is currently being reviewed by the city."

As to preventing the scenario of having a criminal jump in a car, Leighty said motorists should always keep their doors and windows locked — even when driving.

Here are some other tips law enforcement agencies advise motorists use to thwart such incidents:

• Scan the area around the places where you slow down or stop such garages/parking lots, intersections, gas stations, highway entrance and exit ramps and bank ATMs.
• When coming to a stop always leave eave enough room to maneuver around other cars.
• Don't stop to help a stranger whose car has broken down. Use your phone to call police instead.
• If threatened with a gun or other weapon, give up the vehicle. Don't argue or fight back.
• Avoid idling your car in neutral. You might have to move quickly.
• When driving, try to be in the lane closest to the center of the street as much as possible; avoid the curbside line when possible because a carjacker can break a window, unlock the door and be inside within seconds.
• If you are bumped from behind and it seems suspicious, motion to the driver to follow you. Drive slowly but steadily to the nearest, safest, well-lit area that's populated or a police station if able.