Welcome to the November edition of the PENS Bulletin brought to you by the Cobb County Police Criminal Investigations Unit at Precinct Two.

Public Safety Topic(s) of the Month

Holiday Safety Tips

The holiday season is always a special time of year. It is also a time when busy people become careless and vulnerable to theft and other holiday crime. We can never be too careful, too prepared, or too aware. Please share this information with family, friends, and neighbors. The Cobb County Police Department wishes you a safe, happy, and peaceful holiday season.

Driving/Parking

• Avoid driving alone or at night.
• Keep all car doors locked and windows closed while in or out of your car. Set your alarm or use an anti-theft device.
• If you must shop at night, park in a well-lit area.
• Avoid parking next to vans, trucks with camper shells, or cars with tinted windows.
• Park as close as you can to your destination and take notice of where you parked.
• Never leave your car unoccupied with the motor running or with children inside.
• Do not leave packages or valuables on the seat of your car. This creates a temptation for thieves. If you must leave something in the car, lock it in the trunk or put it out of sight.
• Be sure to locate your keys prior to going to your car.
• Keep a secure hold on your purse, handbag, and parcels. Do not put them down or on top of the car in order to open the door.
• When approaching or leaving your vehicle, be aware of your surroundings.
• Do not approach your car alone if there are suspicious people in the area.
• Ask mall or store security for an escort before leaving your shopping location.

Shopping

• Shop during daylight hours whenever possible. If you must shop at night, go with a friend or family member.
• Dress casually and comfortably.
• Avoid wearing expensive jewelry.
• Do not carry a purse or wallet, if possible.
• Always carry your Driver License or Identification Card along with necessary cash, checks and/or a credit card you expect to use.
• Even though you are rushed and thinking about a thousand things, stay alert to your surroundings.
• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash.
• Pay for purchases with a check or credit card when possible.
• Keep cash in your front pocket.
• Notify the credit card issuer immediately if your credit card is lost, stolen, or misused.
• Keep a record of all of your credit card numbers in a safe place at home.
• Be extra careful if you do carry a wallet or purse. They are the prime targets of criminals in crowded shopping areas, transportation terminals, bus stops, on buses and other rapid transit.
• Avoid overloading yourself with packages. It is important to have clear visibility and freedom of motion to avoid mishaps.
• Beware of strangers approaching you for any reason. At this time of year, "con-artists" may try various methods of distracting you with the intention of taking your money or belongings.

At Home

• Doorbell cameras are highly recommended. They can serve as a deterrent for criminal activity and/or an investigative tool for detectives should a crime occur.
• Be cautious of having items delivered to your home. Try to arrange being home when your package is delivered. 
• Be extra cautious about locking doors and windows when you leave the house, even for a few minutes.
• When leaving home for an extended time, have a neighbor or family member watch your house and pick up your newspapers and mail.
• Indoor and outdoor lights should be on an automatic timer.
• Leave a radio or television on so the house looks and sounds occupied.
• Large displays of holiday gifts should not be visible through the windows and doors of your home.
• When setting up a Christmas tree or other holiday display, make sure doors and passageways are clear inside your home.
• Be sure your Christmas tree is mounted on a sturdy base so children, elderly persons, or family pets cannot pull it over on themselves.
• If you use lights on your Christmas tree ensure the wiring is not damaged or frayed. Frayed or damaged wiring can cause a fire.
• Place your Christmas tree in water or wet sand to keep it green.
• Never place wrapping paper in your fireplace.

 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 both businesses and residents to register their cameras online by completing the form below.

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.

Fill out our Online Registration Form and find out more about the program.

Your Heroes at Work

Entering Auto/Arrest

Officers McGhee, Harrell, Lincoln, Rankins, and Bailey responded to a residence in Zone 2 in reference to an entering auto. The male suspect came from a car that was parked in the roadway in front of the residence. The complainant confronted the male suspect and he fled on foot. The female suspect stayed with the vehicle. She was ultimately arrested and the vehicle was towed. Officers searched for the male, but were unable to locate him. Officers discovered the suspect committed another entering auto on the same street prior to fleeing. Stolen property from that incident was recovered inside the vehicle. Later that morning detectives were able to identify the male suspect and secure a warrant for his arrest.

Stolen Vehicle

Officer Sorenson took a report of a stolen vehicle from a residence in Zone 2. Several hours later Officer Bailey located the stolen car at Mableton Pkwy and Discovery Blvd. When Officers Lake, Sorenson, and FTO Jones arrived, they successfully boxed the stolen vehicle in without causing any damage to the patrol cars or the stolen car. The driver had multiple warrants and was in possession of crack cocaine.

Stolen Auto/Firearm/Narcotics and Warrants

Officer Eustace observed a previously reported stolen vehicle in the parking lot of a business located in Zone 2. The vehicle was unoccupied. Officers Abernathy, Vogel, and Goodwin responded and set up surveillance on the vehicle awaiting the driver to return from the store. After a few minutes, a female appeared and attempted to enter the vehicle when officers took her into custody.  A search of the vehicle prior to impound revealed approximately two nickel bags of marijuana and several ecstasy pills. A firearm stolen out of Douglas County was also located in the vehicle. The driver was arrested and charged with theft by receiving the vehicle and firearm, possession of the drugs, and two of three outstanding warrants. One of which was out of Zone 2 for aggravated assault.

The Cobb County Police Department strongly urges you NOT to confront any persons you may witness committing a crime. Persons who commit these types of crimes are often armed. We recommend you immediately call 911 and provide a detailed physical description of the suspect, description of suspect vehicle, and a direction of travel should they leave prior to police arrival.

These are only a few examples that demonstrate the hard work and professionalism exhibited by the officers of Precinct 2 on a daily basis.

Community Affairs Officers for Precinct 2

Officer Cole and Officer Hill are assigned as the Community Affairs officers serving the community in Precinct 2.

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 homeowners 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 effecting your area or would like more information regarding this unit, please contact Officer Cole or Hill.

Officers Cole can be reached via email at Rivion.cole@cobbcounty.org and Officer Hill may be reached at Michael.Hill@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.

Sign Up for PENS Bulletins

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If you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact us at Precinct2Pens@cobbcounty.org

Thank you for your participation.

Lieutenant M.T. Brown - Precinct 2 Criminal Investigations Unit
Sergeant M. Nerbonne - Precinct 2 Criminal Investigations Unit (Day) 
Sergeant K. Clausen - Precinct 2 Criminal Investigations Unit (Evenings)