New security measures in place after thieves target hiking trails along Chattahoochee River

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Anyone looking to enjoy nature along the Chattahoochee likely uses the National Parks’ recreation area.

It extends 48 miles along the river, touching parts of four counties, but it has seen a big spike in the number of car break-ins.

Channel 2′s Steve Gehlbach spoke with police about using new cameras and tag readers to crack down on thefts.

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A small parking area at the end of Indian Trail is likely the most targeted, with the most car break-ins.

Chief Ranger Jeston Fisher, who oversees all 48 miles of river and 15 parking lots and trailheads, says they’ve had 67 cases so far this year, through the Labor Day weekend.

“It’s up more than double then what we’ve had last couple of years,” he said.

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Gehlbach talked to one walker, Mia Woodall, who said she won’t leave her purse behind.

“You have to be prepared, got to keep your stuff locked up if you do have it in the car, but more than likely I’ll take it with me,” Woodall said. “I try not to have nothing valuable in the car.”

That’s the advice from the National Park Service. They can’t have rangers patrolling all lots at all times, so new signs warn visitors after a big increase in car break-ins and thefts.

Fisher says they’ve worked to put in “FLOCK safety” cameras near entrances.

The cameras, which are about the size of a football and run off a solar panel, not only snap a photo of each car that passes, but also read the license plates so they can pinpoint suspects in real time.

“When getting notification that that vehicle is there, we can have time to respond and hopefully catch them while they’re in the act,” Fisher said.

“It’s unfortunate that this is a national park and that we have to think twice about that, (you) would think that it’s safe,” hiker Bob Cook said.

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The park service says the thieves work in teams of two or more.

They’ll blend in, look like they’re here to use the trail, but are really scouting a target, seeing if you’re trying to hide anything of value.

The ranger’s advice is: leave it at home, take it with you, or if you absolutely have to bring something in your car, to stash it in your glove box, center console or trunk before you get here.

Besides warning signs, the National Park Service is also partnering with local law enforcement agencies to add more FLOCK Safety cameras near parking lot entrances to monitor who is coming and going.

Three cameras, monitored by Sandy Springs Police and Cobb County, are already in place.

They capture images and read licenses plates so officers can track suspects in real time.

“When getting notification that that vehicle is there, we can have time to respond and hopefully catch them while they’re in the act,” Fisher said.

The Park Service has plans to add up to a dozen more FLOCK cameras, including some on federal land at the parking areas in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.

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