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ApartmentCrimeParking Garage Robbery: Grave Warning for Atlanta Apartment Owners and Residents

Local News

A woman was reportedly robbed and carjacked at gunpoint outside of her Buckhead apartment home Thursday, October 20, 2016.

According to The Buckhead Patch, the victim pulled into a parking space on the third level of her apartment garage shortly after midnight Thursday morning. A vehicle with four armed men apparently pulled up next to her.

“[T]he men stole her purse, wallet and jewelry, and drove off with her car,” The Buckhead Patch reports.

Thankfully, it appears the victim was physically unharmed during the robbery. However, the frightening ordeal serves as a grave warning to Atlanta-area apartment residents and apartment complex owners.

Our Legal Take

Apartment residents and guests have a right to feel safe and secure while on the premises. The Murray Law Firm questions the level of security provided to those at the apartment complex and whether this incident may have been prevented.

  • How did the vehicle and gunmen gain entry to the property?
  • What security measures and access-controls, such as gated-entry, surveillance cameras and security patrols, were in place and working at the time of the armed robbery?

The potentially fatal incident is an opportunity for all Atlanta-area apartment complexes to review security measures and to liaise with their local police departments to protect residents and deter crime.

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Occupational safety advocates warn, late-night gas station and convenience store clerks are at a heightened risk of workplace violence. The Enterprise reports, “the clerks, attendants and cashiers who staff the counters at gas stations and corner grocery stores, often alone and late into the night, are among the most vulnerable to workplace violence and harassment, falling victim to on-the-job attacks at a rate that approaches law enforcement officers and people who work with the mentally ill.”

Young workers are particularly vulnerable to “inappropriate or threatening behavior,” the Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health tells media. The coalition reports, those under 25-years-old are “twice as likely to be injured on the job…and often know little about their workplace rights.”

The coalition offers training sessions and urges employers to:

  • Think about how the physical setup of their stores affects the safety of their workers.
  • Keep businesses well lit.
  • Invest in appropriate security systems.
  • Make sure windows are clear.
  • Train employees how to handle confrontation with a verbally abusive costumer.
  • Train employees how to respond to a robbery or violent situation.

Read more at The Enterprise.

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Fire Safety EvacWhile we plan for fire emergencies in our own homes, business and leisure travelers often neglect to prepare for an emergency while staying in a hotel. It is important to check for fire safety measures prior to selecting a hotel and to review potential fire evacuation routes upon arrival.

The National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) urges travelers to practice the following fire safety tips:

Be Safe When Traveling

  • Choose a hotel/motel that is protected by both smoke alarms and a fire sprinkler system.
  • When you check in, ask the front desk what the fire alarm sounds like.
  • When you enter your room, review the escape plan posted in your room.
  • Take the time to find the exits and count the number of doors between your room and the exit. Make sure the exits are unlocked. If they are locked, report it to management right away.
  • Keep your room key by your bed and take it with you if there is a fire.
  • If the alarm sounds, leave right away, closing all doors behind you. Use the stairs — never use elevators during a fire.
  • If you must escape through smoke, get low and go under the smoke to your exit.

If You Can’t Escape …

  • Shut off fans and air conditioners.
  • Stuff wet towels in the crack around the doors.
  • Call the fire department and let them know your location.
  • Wait at the window and signal with a flashlight or light colored cloth.

Victims of Hotel Safety Negligence: What Are My Legal Options for Justice and Compensation?

As each case and property is unique, victims of hotel safety negligence should speak with an experienced premises liability firm as soon as possible to ensure all evidence, such as surveillance footage or faulty wiring, is preserved and their best interests are protected.

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