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New home burglaries have locals on edge, police on alert

Police aren't sure, just yet, how far-reaching this trend is, but at least two counties have reports that are surprisingly similar.

Neighbors and police are both concerned over a recent trend that’s making homes the target of break-ins - even before anyone moves in.

Locals say one home was targeted twice in East Atlanta and it was caught on camera. A neighbor said they saw a car drive down the street in the middle of the night. Then it backed into the driveway and that’s where the surveillance video picked it up - what appears to be an SUV or pick-up truck.

The video shows someone get out of the truck and then quickly get right back in.

“Apparently, the alarm goes off, the robbers get spooked and they’re gone in 30 seconds,” the neighbor said.

In a police report, DeKalb County police said a back window was “shattered” and “open” to the East Atlanta home.

According to the report, the refrigerator was in the middle of the living room but it was unknown if any items were taken from the future residence still belonging to Intown Renewal Developers.

11Alive spoke to the neighbor whose camera captured the suspect. He asked that his face not be shown for safety reasons. He said the developers who have been working on the house for 6 months were caught off guard.

“They’re pretty frustrated,” he said. “I don’t think they expected this at all.”

But there has been talk of a burglary ring hitting soft targets – new construction like this home.

In December, Gwinnett police faced a similar problem. They released photos showing burglars caught on camera stealing from a home under construction. Residents in East Atlanta said they won’t let the crimes push them out of their homes.

“I’ve done what I can with my house,” said one resident. “We keep in touch with our neighbors. There’s social media ways to keep up with what’s going on. You do everything you can and that’s all you can do.”

DeKalb County police are still investigated and can’t confirm whether this is the work of a burglary ring or not. But as developments and new construction keep appearing around the city, this is something developers and people moving into new construction like this one are keeping a watchful eye on.

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