Park Glenn Home Invasion Shocks Neighbors
Alpharetta homeowners are making plans to protect their neighborhoods and prevent future attacks.
A home invasion in Park Glenn subdivision on Wednesday night has homeowners shocked and feeling unsafe in their own neighborhood, especially knowing a similar crime took place in Glenn Abbey a few months ago.
Alpharetta Public Safety spokesperson George Gordon confirmed that a home invasion occurred, but declined any other comment, citing a "priority open investigation."
Park Glenn is across Webb Bridge Road from Webb Bridge Middle School.
Chris Ideker, whose family lives a few doors away from the home invasion scene, said police came to his door about 9:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 23.
"They asked me if I had noticed anything unusual and had I been there all night, which I had. And they said there had been a home invasion in the neighborhood," he said.
Five armed men were involved in the home invasion, Ideker said police told him, and "they had a van they had parked in the parking lot next to the tennis courts in our subdivision.
All Ideker said he noticed at that time was a dog barking.
He was shocked to hear of the crime, saying it makes them feel less safe in a very quiet neighborhood.
The Alpharetta resident is looking for an acknowledgement that there's a problem.
"Then I'm looking for a plan of action and resources to be applied," he said.
With these tight budgetary times, he wouldn't be surprised if every department in the city was going to be under scrutiny, especially with a new mayor soon to be sworn in.
"There's nothing more important than the safety of the citizenry. I want to make sure they've got the right resources, applying them in the right way–not chasing down people not wearing seatbelts, they're doing what the police should be doing," Ideker said.
Ideker and Park Glenn's homeowners association is making plans to respond to the home invasion.
- First of all, have police advise us on how we can prevent anything like this;
- Secondly, we are going to be putting up surveillance, so that we can hopefully prevent, but also protect if it doesn't deter;
- Thirdly, we're going to make sure our voices are heard [with] other neighborhoods, in the form of an online petition.
He said the neighborhoods will "speak with one clear voice to the leadership of the city. This is something that needs to be taken very seriously, needs to be dealt with forthrightly."
Bob Pepalis
1:03 am on Saturday, November 26, 2011
Thanks to Tina for some proofing of this story to catch a few typos.
Carolyn Van Oostrom
2:56 pm on Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Hello,
I am a Park Glenn homeowner wanting more information on the robbery. Would you contact me any with new news concerning this incident? carolyn.vanoostrom@neenahpaper.com
Bob Pepalis
3:03 pm on Tuesday, November 29, 2011
I've talked to some city officials, and hope to get more information today on the incident. I will update this story as soon as I can.
Julie Hogg
6:47 pm on Tuesday, November 29, 2011
I also would like more information on this story Bob. I am disturbed about this situation and confused about the lack of press coverage from other outlets (thanks Patch for covering this story!)
JuliannaSmith
12:25 pm on Wednesday, November 30, 2011
We live in a pretty nice neighborhood, but we really can't say that it is 100% safe. We should always make it to a point that we are in any way prepared when emergency arises. Might it be a medical emergency,fire, or situations that put our life in danger. When I was reading a blog my anationofmoms, I read of a service called SafeKidZone that would help you protect your family. The blog also said something about being able to win 6 months of free service. Check it out if you're interested: http://anationofmoms.com/2011/08/protect-your-family-giveaway.html