Crime: What You Need To Know To Protect Yourself

In terms of crime, the last few weeks have been unnerving for Atlanta residents.

That's been especially in the Atlanta Police Department's Zone 6, which includes neighborhoods that comprise East Atlanta Patch, including Grant Park, Candler Park, East Atlanta Village and Boulevard Heights, and Virginia-Highland/Druid Hills Patch, which includes Poncey-Highland and Virginia-Highland.

Some of the crimes have included the routine annoyances that occur in a big city, such as vehicle break-ins that are a particularly problematic in popular bar districts such Little Five Points and .

Others have been more serious, including strong-arm robberies, and attempted kidnappings.

With a total of 532 citywide, robberies are down 3.62 percent in the period of Jan. 1 through April 21, compared with the same period last year.

Aggravated assaults, which include the use of weapons, numbered 722, an increase of 7.76 percent for the period.

In Zone 6, robberies, which totaled 82 during the same period, are down 13.68 percent. Aggravated assaults, which numbered 69, increased 1.47 percent.

Patch spoke with Lt. D. Brent Schierbaum, evening watch commander of the Atlanta Police Department's Community Liaison Unit, to help residents learn how to lower their chances of becoming victims of crime.

In this first of four installments, Schierbaum discusses what you should do in cases of strong-arm and armed robberies and what you can do to minimize your chances of being a target.

The Crime Series:

Today:

Wednesday: Protecting Your Home, Business And Community

Thursday: Clean Car Campaign

Friday: Resources You Need To Know To Be More Proactive