Burglary - south of Lower Roswell Rd

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Below is an incident that occurred yesterday in 417 beat. An email is going around about this "robbery". I know it's just words, but this was a burglary. The word "robbery" tends to excite the senses more than the word "burglary". In this case there just happened to be someone home when the incident occurred. Please note the suspect and vehicle description for future use.

This incident again illustrates our position that it is usually best to make your presence known when someone knocks on your door or rings your door bell. Knocking on the door or ringing the doorbell prior to forcing entry is a common tactic used by burglars. Remember, they usually do not want contact with the homeowner. If the homeowner makes their presence known, the burglar will most likely leave without further incident. This typically occurs during the daytime when the burglar would expect the homeowner to be at work.

I do not recommend that the homeowner open the door but rather turn up the TV, ask through the door who it is, etc.

Burglary

417 beat (south of Lower Roswell Road, north of the Chattahoochee River, east of Powers Ferry Road)

07/28/08 11:40 to 11:47 hrs- Stovehill Ct (Old Paper Mill)- resident heard the doorbell ring but chose to ignore it. He heard a noise a short while later thinking it was the TV. He went downstairs and heard a noise again coming from upstairs. He went to the stairs and confronted a dark skinned Hispanic male- short black hair- 5’10”/175 lbs-medium build- holding a black suitcase. He asked the suspect what he was doing. The suspect muttered something in broken English and walked out the front door. S uspect got into a black older model vehicle with a magnetic sign on the door. The only word legible on the faded sign was "Painting". The sign was white with black lettering. Tag number was not obtained. No sign of forced entry to the house. Multiple items of jewelry taken.

There is conflicting information as to whether the vehicle was a black SUV, such as a Ford Bronco or Chevy Blazer, or a black van. A neighbor observed the vehicle in the driveway and described it as an older Chevy van. The neighbor was sure it was a van.

Please remember to visit our website at www.p4.police.cobbcountyga.gov for the PENS Dispatch, daily crime reports, crime stats, crime prevention and questions and answers.

Should your neighborhood have a Neighborhood Watch Coordinator, please share this information.

Lieutenant Mark Chenoweth
Cobb County Police Department
Crimes Against Property
Precinct 4

Cobb County...Expect The Best

www.cobbcounty.org