Welcome to the March edition of the 2019 Pens Bulletin brought to you by the Cobb County Police Criminal Investigations Unit at Precinct Three.

Public Safety Topic of the Month

As we enter March and early Spring, remember warmer weather often increases the number of Burglaries and Entering Auto cases we see. Please review your current habits related to crime prevention and adjust where necessary to keep your homes and vehicles safe.

• Lock doors and windows and set the alarm every time you leave.
• Keep garage doors closed and locked.
• Remove all valuables and anything that would appear to a thief to contain valuables from your vehicle every night and lock the door.
• Install outdoor security lighting, preferably on a timer.
• If you go on vacation, have a friend or neighbor pick up your mail and check on the residence.
• Don’t post vacation plans on Facebook or other social media sites and don’t post vacation photos until you return.
• Record Make, Model, and serial numbers to all firearms and electronics and email the list to yourself.
• Remember, if you see something suspicious, call 911 right away!

Daylight Savings Time!

When we roll our clocks forward at this time of year, our friends at the Fire Department like to remind us this is a good time to check the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.

Also, as the light of day lengthens, be alert to children who will be staying out to take advantage and play longer outside. Please drive slowly and carefully through your neighborhoods and watch for kids! You often see them long before they see you!

REMINDER - Slider Thefts

Slider thefts continue to plague our community, especially on the southern borders of Cobb County. If you haven’t heard already, “Slider Thefts” typically occur when victims are pumping gas. Thieves enter the gas station parking lot, typically in a stolen vehicle, and pull alongside an unsuspecting victim as they pump their gas. The thief crouches down, out of the victim’s view and opens the victim’s car door on the opposite side and steals his/her personal belongings on the front seat or floorboard. In more recent reports, the thieves steal the victim’s vehicle and leave them standing alone as they watch their own vehicle being driven away. With an uptick in these incidents, citizens should take every precaution to avoid becoming a victim.

Tips for our citizens

• Pay attention to your surroundings.
• Remove your keys, close the window and lock the doors while pumping gas.
• Take your purse/wallet with you.
• Pick well-lit gas stations equipped with surveillance cameras.
• Do Not let your cell phone distract you.
• Do Not engage suspects as they may be armed.
• Call 911 and provide clothing, vehicle description and direction of travel.

Our Officers Hard at Work

Narcotics Arrest

On 3/07/2019, Major Little, the Precinct Commander, received a complaint from management at the Courtyard by Marriott at 3000 Cumberland Blvd, in reference to one the employees there possibly selling narcotics at the hotel. A detail was coordinated with Precinct 3 Officers and Cobb Police K9, to confront the employee and conduct a consensual search of the common and work areas of the hotel. Management gave approval for the search, and K9 Argo, while conducting and “open-air” search, alerted on a backpack hidden by the employee upon seeing the police. A search warrant was obtained for the backpack and 15.5 grams of marijuana and other items of contraband were located within. The employee was subsequently arrested and charged with possession of the marijuana.

Entering Auto Arrest

On 3/11/2019 at approximately 2:15 A.M, Precinct 3 Officers responded to 2043 Powers Ferry Road, the Rockledge Apartments, in reference to a suspicious male wearing gloves and seen walking around vehicles. Officers responded and decided to canvas the area on foot. Officers located the male going through a vehicle in front of building 2055. Officers approached, and a after a brief foot chase, the suspect was apprehended. The suspect had several credit cards (not his) in his possession, a fake gun, and a large butcher knife. The suspect refused to give his name and DOB, but was later identified at the jail via fingerprints. The suspect was charged with at least 4 counts entering auto and other offenses related to the weapons, credit cards, and his refusal to identify himself.

These are only two examples that demonstrate the hard work and professionalism exhibited by the officers of Precinct 3 on a daily basis.

Community Affairs Officers for Precinct 3

Officer Stoney is assigned as the Community Affairs officer serving the community in Precinct 3.

The Community Affairs Unit seeks to effectively engage the community and citizens to strengthen Public Safety and community partnerships, facilitate a joint effort in solving problems which affect our community, and foster enhanced trust, communication, transparency, and mutual respect.

Officers help foster a strong working relationship between the Department and the community it serves. Officers work with homeowner’s associations, community organizations, advocacy groups, public and private schools, faith-based organizations, and individual residents to promote partnerships that are mutually beneficial. 

As a result of these working partnerships, the officers are able to develop pro-active crime fighting projects that are jointly undertaken by Department personnel and citizens.

If you have a concern affecting your area or would like more information regarding this unit, please contact Officer Stoney.

Officer Stoney can be reached via email at Rasean.Stoney@cobbcounty.org

Stay up to Date with Critical Information

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Cobb Department of Public Safety staff is working to enhance the delivery of near real-time information to residents about incidents that may have significant and/or imminent impacts on their safety or welfare. DPS has implemented the SwiftReach Swift911 notification system to distribute these types of alerts.

SwiftReach is a high-speed emergency notification system that alerts residents to emergency situations including severe weather, missing and endangered persons or significant road closures due to fatality accidents or other unplanned incidents in the local area. The program has the capability of delivering pre-recorded messages to the entire county via telephone, cell phone, email and text messaging. The system uses a publicly-available list of phone numbers that can be removed or updated by both residents and businesses.

There are two simple options to opt-in and provide contact information for this service. Sign up on for the service online. Residents can also get the Swift911 Mobile App by texting the word “Swift911” to “99538.” The response text will be a link for the Swift 911 app in the app store. SwiftReach is another example of using current technology to ensure residents receive vital information from the Department of Public Safety.

Police Athletic League

Cobb PAL focuses on juvenile crime prevention through athletic and recreational activities for Cobb County’s high-risk neighborhoods, primarily in South Cobb. There are many ways that you can help, whether it be spreading the word, getting your children involved, volunteering your time and resources or donating money. If you wish to assist this worthwhile program and make a donation, visit Ways to Help.

Cobb County Camera Registry

The Cobb County Police Camera Registration program is a police/community video partnership that operates on a voluntary basis with homeowners, neighborhoods and business owners who own private video surveillance systems. We encourage homeowners, HOAs, businesses, and business communities to partner with the Cobb County Police Department in our efforts to make Cobb County a safer community in which to live, work, and play.

This program is intended to let our officers know where cameras are active in the county in case a crime occurs. It is not intended for active surveillance, and officers will not have direct access to homeowners' cameras. Those who register a camera will be contacted if a crime occurs in the vicinity of that camera.

Information provided by residents and businesses will be maintained in a secure database.

Online Registration Form

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Thank you for your participation

Lieutenant C E Dong -   Precinct 3 Criminal Investigations Unit
Sergeant C S Sperrazza - Precinct 3 Criminal Investigations Unit (Day)
Sergeant J M Holt - Precinct 3 Criminal Investigations Unit (Evening)