From Captain Beller, Chamblee Police Department
Homicide- March 21 7:45 pm 2175 Savoy Drive - I am sure most of you heard about the fatal shooting in the parking lot of the 300 Atlanta Bowling Alley. To update you on the investigation, the shooter has been released without charges because he was being robbed and shot in self defense. Antwan Milton, who planned the robbery along with John Williams (the decedent) has been charged with Armed Robbery and Murder. Milton was apprehended Tuesday night by members of the Dekalb Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Squad.
http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/botched-robbery-led-to-847966.html
Fatal Accident- A pedestrian who stepped onto Savoy drive was struck and killed by a vehicle.
http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/pedestrian-killed-in-chamblee-855126.html?cxtype=rss_news_82007
Burglary- 3700 block of Chamblee Dunwoody Rd. A resident returned to his house to find the back door had been forced open and several valuable items had been taken. --As far as I know, this is the only burglary to a house we have had in over a month, which is a significant decline from previous numbers. Keep calling about suspicious activity and looking out for your neighbors.
Local Club Shut Down-The Mist Lounge on Savoy Drive was investigated by agents of the Ga Dept of Revenue-Alcohol Division along with Chamblee Detectives. The establishment was selling alcohol without a state license and was also unlawfully selling tobacco products without a license. The owner was arrested and all alcohol products were confiscated. This location is not allowed to sell alcohol or tobacco products at this time.
Crime Prevention Tip:
Flim-Flams-The term flim-flam basically describes some sort of con or ruse that is used to trick people out of their money. Often these people target the elderly or the naive. There are so many different cons out there that it is impossible to describe them all, but it is helpful to be aware of a few. Most of these cons work either because of the victim’s greed or the victim’s charity. Often the victims are too embarrassed to report these incidents to the police.
1. The “found money” scam is often used in a bank parking lot. The perpetrator will pretend to find a lot of money often wrapped in a bag or bandanna in the presence of the victim. Then these two are approached by a second perpetrator who pretends not to know the first. Together they “decide” to check with the bank if anyone lost the money and if not to split it three ways. The victim will then give them cash so they know they can trust him while he holds the money bag. They then leave with the victim’s cash and he discovers the money bag has been switched for newspapers.
2. Another scam involves someone who claims to have a fortune they need your help to import or clear customs or transport. Of course they need a small amount of your cash so they know they can trust you.
3. If you ever travel internationally, you may be approached by someone who claims to be on your flight but who has too much luggage. They will pay you to claim one of their overweight bags. If you take the bait you have now become a “drug mule” and if caught might spend years in an overseas prison.
4. Last year someone successfully used a “you’ve won the lottery” scam in Chamblee. The victim was told that her mega millions lotto ticket was the winning numbers. The perpetrator agreed to help her collect the winnings for a fee. She gave him about $8,000 in cash and jewelry and he disappeared.
5. An elderly person receives a call at home from someone who claims to be “their favorite grandson.” The voice doesn’t match but the young man claims to be in jail and desperately needs bond money to get out. He says some friends will come over to pick up the money and bond him out. Of course, you know the rest.
6. The last one is similar in nature but is not exactly a crime. The victim is approached by a fast talking young man who claims to work for a high end stereo company. He is usually driving a white van and claims to have received excess inventory of the latest top of the line stereo speakers in error. He can’t take these back to the dealer because they aren’t on the manifest. These are claimed to be worth several thousands of dollars and the brand names are similar to a recognized brand name. The salesman is very excited about the product and will say something like ---“these have molybdenum tweeters and nymdium drivers!!! The victim can’t pass up a “steal” on these top of the line speakers and pays for speakers he later discovers are worth about a quarter of what he paid for them. If you see these guys in Chamblee, call the police. We can’t arrest them for selling cheap products but in the past I have written them tickets for conducting business without a license.
To avoid these scams a good amount of suspicion towards strangers is a good thing. Always be suspicious of someone who claims to be clergy, even if he has a clerical collar or documents to “prove it.” Often two people who pretend to be strangers actually are in the scam together. Be charitable through recognized official charities like the Salvation Army or the United Way or your local church. Being charitable to people that approach you on the street is either a con or at a minimum means you are encouraging them to beg other strangers for money. Here is a web site that has more information on this kind of thing ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_confidence_tricks
