Crime Affects Commercial Property As Well As Residential

Yesterday my co-worker Kim Iler asked me to ride with her to one of her commercial property listings to meet a customer there. She was smart to ask me because the property, on Ogeechee Road, is vacant and set back from the street.

She wanted my company because she didn't know the person/people she was meeting and mace can't prevent all criminal attempts.

When we pulled up we saw the front door to one of the buildings was forced open and the door on another building were swaying in the breeze. So she called the Chatham County Sheriff's Office to report the incident.

We sat in the car upon the advice of the dispatcher, which was just as well considering it started to rain. Officer Bena arrived, got our story and then called for back-up. Officer Marshall (no relation) quickly arrived. As they searched the first building Kim's customer pulled up.

It can't be a good thought that crosses a customer's mind when he makes an appointment to walk a property and arrives to find two cops yelling "Police!" from inside it.

Kim explained the nature of their visit and he volunteered that the doors had not been busted open when he drove by the property at 7p.m. the night before. So now the officers could narrow the time the crime occurred. After they cleared each building Kim walked around explaining the virtues of this investment to the customer.

While I'm not looking at any statistics right now, I think it is safe to say break-ins are on the rise. The community recently saw the theft of A/C units from just empty churches on Isle of Hope and the Boy Scouts Coastal Center. So what can a property owner do to protect her property? (In this case, the owner lives in Florida.) You can use an alarm system (most practical), file paperwork with the Sheriff's Office to permit them to patrol the property and arrest anyone on it (practical) and alert the neighbors (generally effective).

Fortunately for me and Kim, it isn't our job to protect your property in your absence, but we can help out when something goes wrong.

This particular property owner is lucky- nothing was stolen (A/C units, appliances, wiring, etc...) and there was no extensive damage from smoke or graffiti. All the trespassers left were a broken door and empty Twinkie wrappers.

You read it here first! Savannah man punches burglar through window

Beating the Savannah Morning News to the punch yet again!

Check out today's article and then read yesterday's blog post  for the first person account of this criminal attempt.

The window through which the attempted burglary took place.

Ardsley Park Crime Alert

<The following is an email sent to Ardsley Park residents from a homeowner on 51st Street. I'm leaving his name out to protect his privacy.>

"Early Saturday a.m. (12:45 to be exact) as I was lying in my bed watching TV, I heard a noise outside on my deck (the deck is attached to the house outside of bedroom). I thought it was a neighborhood cat jumping on the deck furniture.

Imagine my surprise and sheer terror when in the next moment a loud crash - the storm window broke in my bedroom. And not just a plain single pane window, but a storm window! Within seconds I was up, and as I used my right hand to glance thru the blinds and see a guy trying to cut through the screen, I used my left hand as payback. I slammed my fist through the window, grabbing at the thug with everything I could. I screamed, he screamed and he was gone, jumping over the fence and took off running down the lane.

I immediately called 911. The police and medics (lots of blood but only a few small cuts from the glass on my hand) were there in moments. About 1/2 dozen cops combed the area. They found 2 bikes, a yard blower and all gates opened on all houses within the surrounding area. Basically the thug that came to my house had already hit up one place and got the blower (and probably the bike) and were getting ready to have a free-for-all on my block. Thank goodness I was awake and was able to put a stop to his "shopping" spree.

I am happy to report that the POS showed up within the hour at Memorial with cuts on his hands/arms. Memorial alerted the cops and he was eventually arrested. His name is Samuel Green, III and wonder of wonders....he was on probation! Sadly and even more so, INFURIATING, he will be out jail within a couple of months and be right back on the streets to steal from us again!
It’s vital that if you see anyone you do not recognize in your alley or on your street to call the cops – and let them sort it out because next time the only tax payer dollars to be used will be for the paperwork and the coroner."