Purses to phones: Personal items from stolen cars being dumped in neighborhood

ATLANTA — Neighbors in a southwest Atlanta community told Channel 2 Action News they are tired of their streets being a dumping ground for stolen stuff.

Channel 2's Matt Johnson learned of the activity while covering a car theft at a Union City car dealership that happened Saturday afternoon.

People who live near Pemberton Road SW and Pacific Drive SW said the stolen car ended up in their neighborhood -- along with with stolen bags, clothes and other items that were eventually left in the street.

"It's valuable information, their personal information, driver's license, luggage, purses, phones, laptops," neighbor Maeyria Williams said. "We really want these crimes to stop."

Witnesses said the thieves will throw bags from the inside of stolen cars and then drive off.

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"I have no idea what they're capable of, but guns are in some of these cars," Williams said.

It's the fifth time in three months that neighbors said they've found stolen items and returned them to victims after calling 911.

"A lot of ladies walk in the morning and we see it. We immediately collect it in bags and call the police," Williams said.

When a car theft victim picked up her stolen bag from a neighbor who called her, she told Johnson about the problem.

Johnson put the neighborhood association in touch with the Atlanta Police Foundation so they can apply for city surveillance cameras.

"We need some cameras or something to stop these young people coming into our community trying to destroy it," neighbor Helen Jackson said.

Atlanta police said cameras can cost up to $8,000 to install.

Cox Media Group