Articles Posted in Public Service Announcement

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Georgia apartment residents have a right to protect their families and feel safe and secure in their homes. By law, Georgia apartment owners have a responsibility to protect their residents from violent crime, sexual assault, and foreseeable harm. Unfortunately, all too often, apartment complex owners are more concerned with limiting their financial exposure than protecting tenants and their guests.

The Sandy Springs Police Department urges prospective tenants to check apartment complex crime and security measures prior to renting:

Sandy Springs Apartment Safety Checker

One of the biggest concerns when it comes to renting an apartment is safety.  Feeling safe in your own home is important to any renter.  There are a few steps you can take to help in your research.

  • View the neighborhood crime rate.  Using the Apartment Safety Checker tool, you can compare the criminal activity in your chosen area. 
  • Visit the area.  If possible, walk, drive, or take a bus through the area to see how safe it is.  If there is a particular route you would use to get to school or work, use that.  Consider the quality of the area both during the day and at night.
  • During your apartment tour,  look for secure entrances and exits; lighting around sidewalks, stairwells, hallways, mailboxes, laundry rooms and other common areas; and security features such as peepholes, deadbolt locks, and any on-site security.

The Apartment Safety Checker Map, created in conjunction with Sandy Springs Police, provides the numbers on incidents reported within the individual apartment communities.  Included as part of the Apartment Safety Checker program are: Part One Crime (murder, rape robbery, aggravated assault, theft, motor vehicle theft, arson, narcotics offenses), as well as Disorderly Conduct and Loitering/Prowling.  Any unfounded reports of crime  are excluded from the totals. 

Want to know how a particular Sandy Springs apartment complex measures up in terms of safety? Check out the apartment complex crime-per-unit index or call Sandy Springs police for detailed information on a particular complex or unit.

Victims of Georgia Apartment Assault or Injury: What Are My Legal Options for Justice and Compensation?

As each case and property is unique, victims of violent apartment crime should speak with an experienced security negligence firm as soon as possible to ensure all evidence, such as surveillance footage or broken lighting, is preserved and their best interests are protected.

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A staggering number of violent crimes are plaguing Georgia convenience stores. It’s time owners and managers make the safety and security of staff and customers their first priority.

In August 2018, 13 WMAZ reports, 21-year-old Macon convenience store clerk, Waqar Ali, was shot and killed during his shift. The tragedy occurred only days after Alpeshkumar Prajapati was reportedly shot in a separate Macon convenience store shooting.

Two Augusta teenagers were injured in a convenience store shooting in August 2018, according to The Augusta Chronicle.

In June 2018, 11 Alive reports, three people were injured in an Atlanta convenience store shooting.

Victims of Georgia Convenience Store Violence: Know Your Rights

Convenience store patrons have a right to feel safe and secure while on the premises of the establishment they are visiting. By law, Georgia property owners are required to protect all those legally on the premises from any foreseeable harm. For example, should a store or gas station owner have knowledge of prior crime on or near property, they have a responsibility to implement reasonable security precautions to protect employees and patrons from future crime. Security measures may include: bright lighting, metal detectors, clear windows, a visible security guard or off-duty police officer, visible sight lines, and surveillance cameras. Should a convenience store owner fail in this critical duty, they may be held civilly liable for any assaults, injuries or wrongful deaths which occur as a consequence.

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Savannah Neighborhood Crime Prevention

“Neighborhood leaders want homeowners across Savannah to light up their homes in a city wide effort to deter crime and brighten neighborhoods,” according to WSAV reports. In July, the Downtown Savannah Neighborhood Association partnered with police, Phillips Electric and The Home Depot to hand out hundreds of L.E.D. light bulbs to home owners in an effort to reduce opportunistic crime.

In August, Savannah Police teamed up with neighbors for National Night Out, a campaign to strengthen community and law enforcement partnerships for a safer Savannah.

Savannah Apartment Crime Prevention

Savannah apartment residents have a right to protect their families and feel safe and secure in their homes. While home owners are able to protect their families and reduce community crime through security measures, such as lighting, landscaping, and neighborhood watches, apartment residents are typically unable to control property security measures and access controls.

As such, Georgia apartment owners have a responsibility to protect their residents from violent crime, sexual assault, and foreseeable harm. Should a property owner fail in this critical duty, they may be held civilly liable for any injuries or wrongful deaths which occur as a consequence.

Victims of Savannah Apartment Assault or Injury: What Are My Legal Options for Justice and Compensation?

As each case and property is unique, victims of violent apartment crime should speak with an experienced security negligence firm as soon as possible to ensure all evidence, such as surveillance footage or broken lighting, is preserved and their best interests are protected.

Continue reading →