76 cars broken into, vandalized at BeltLine apartment complex

ATLANTA — Police say 76 were cars broken into at an apartment building just steps from the Atlanta BeltLine overnight.

The break-ins happened at The Edge apartment complex along Edgewood Avenue.

Channel 2 investigative reporter Justin Gray pulled crime statistics from the Atlanta Police Department that show auto break-ins are up across Zone 6.

Residents of the apartment complex came out to find bags thrown everywhere and broken glass all over the ground after thieves smashed in windows to dozens of cars inside the complex’s parking deck.

“Every car that I drove by literally had shattered glass on the ground,” one resident said, asking not to be identified.

The resident told Gray that he pays at least $1,800 a month for his one-bedroom apartment.

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“You pay a premium price on top of that, and you don’t get premium service,” the resident said.

These apartments face the popular Eastside Trail of the Atlanta BeltLine, which see a lot of traffic.

Gray pulled Atlanta police crime statistics on car break-ins for Zone 6 and shows a 36% increase in larcenies from autos for the most recent 28-day period ending Jan 11.

Zone 6 is located in East Atlanta and contains Boulevard Heights, Cabbagetown, Candler Park, Druid Hills, East Atlanta, East Lake, Edgewood, Emory Village, Glenwood Park, Grant Park, Inman Park, Little Five Points, Old Fourth Ward, Ormewood, Kirkwood, Poncey-Highland, Sweet Auburn, Reynoldstown, Virginia Highland and Woodland Hills.

The resident told Gray she was afraid to spend the night in her own home.

“I called security and I actually went to stay with a friend. I did not feel safe to stay here,” the resident said.

The building just changed ownership recently. On Monday, Gray called the new owners, The Connor Group, for reaction to this story.

A spokesman said they plan to add additional security cameras, an additional security officer on-site 24/7 and have increased patrols by the Atlanta Police Department.

“People are scared, and they are mad,” the resident said.

Atlanta police said their investigators are working to identify the suspects and are increasing patrols in the area.

Gray said he saw APD cruisers going in and out of the parking garage while he was working on this story Monday.

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