DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Restaurant owners in DeKalb County who are fed up with thieves breaking into cars in their community are now taking matters into their own hands.
Channel 2′s Audrey Washington was in the Grove Park area of Decatur, where several cars have had their windows smashed in the parking lots of a cluster of popular restaurants and cafes. Nearby homes have also been targeted.
In one home surveillance video, two men appear to try to break into a car near Oak Grove Drive, but aren’t able to get in. But other cars in the area weren’t so lucky.
Washington talked to one restaurant owner who said the break-ins started a few months ago.
Rob Atherholt, who owns Taqueria de Vecino, said the break-ins have been happening the last several months. But it was when one of his own employees became a victim that he knew he had to do something.
“She had a bag in the back seat,” Atherholt said. “She got off from work, and her window was smashed.”
Atherholt said that after that, he banded together with other nearby restaurant owners to hire personal security.
“All the merchants as a group, The Grove, Taqueria, Kitchen Six, all got together with DeKalb County police to talk to them about what we can do," Atherholt said. "We’re all having signs printed up to let people know they’re under surveillance and to also let them know that we’ve hired an off-duty DeKalb County police officer.”
Fred Brazzell lives nearby and thinks the added officer will make a big difference.
“The business owners are trying to do something,” Brazzell said. “They’re trying to be protective."
“The customers have noticed," Atherholt said. "They’ve seen the police officer, and they’ve noticed that it is patrolled.”
DeKalb County police have arrested a few suspects, but are still searching for others.
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