Violent crime is rare in Summerville, but petty car break-ins are all too common, residents and others say.
Overall, the Summerville and the adjacent Forest Hills area are relatively crime-free when it comes to serious violent crimes, and District 3 Commissioner Katherine Smith-McKnight said that is because the area has a robust neighborhood watch and residents are known to protect themselves and their property.
The last instance of a home invasion in Summerville that ended in violence was a decade ago, and it ended poorly for the invader.
In 2010, retired Judge Carlisle Overstreet shot and killed a home intruder, which shocked the neighborhood and, according to McKnight, kicked off new awareness and proactive vigilance in the neighborhood.
Less serious crimes, particularly thefts from cars, are much more common. According to records provided by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, there were 236 vehicle break-ins in 2020, and there have been 147 so far this year, meaning 2021 could surpass last year’s numbers.
One of the most recent Summerville car break-ins, which took place in broad daylight, has turned the spotlight on the that area. The person arrested was a sanitation worker working on his trash route. Timothy Stone, 53, was arrested after workers observed him attempting to enter several vehicles on McDowell Street.
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Unlike other neighborhoods that generally have low vehicular traffic, the Summerville and Forest Hills areas offer a corridor that is used by commuters on a daily basis. David Dunagan, committee chairman of the Summerville Neighborhood Crime Watch, said residents are used to seeing people use side streets in the neighborhood as shortcuts.
“Traffic overall has been an issue for us,” Dunagan said.
Higher traffic, especially at night, makes the neighborhood more vulnerable to crimes of opportunity, according to District 10 Commissioner John Clarke, who has met with constituents in the neighborhood to discuss the problem of people entering cars at night.
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“That entire area is beautiful with all those old trees and manicured shrubbery, but that works to a disadvantage to the residents. The area cannot be lit up very well at night. That means people can commit a crime of opportunity and get away into the shadows,” said Clarke.
Dunagan agreed and pointed out that the vast majority of the cars that were entered unlawfully were not technically “broken into” since they were unlocked.
McKnight said that Dunagan is correct, and she knows because her own sister lives in the area and made the mistake of leaving her purse in her unlocked car.
“She just didn’t think about it when she got out of the car, and (the purse) wasn’t even out there that long,” McKnight said.
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“Their neighborhood watch is strong and I know that people have upgraded their camera systems as a further deterrence,” McKnight said.
Dunagan said that while the numbers of car break-ins are alarming, residents can easily help keep Summerville from being an easy target simply by securing their vehicles.
“Don’t allow yourself to be a victim. We encourage everyone to check that everything is locked at bedtime and that includes the cars,” Dunagan said.
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McKnight said she has to remind her 17-year-old son almost daily to keep his car locked, even in the driveway of their Summerville home.
“The kids, they don’t think about it. The next thing you know, a laptop is gone. The best protection is to lock your car every time you get out of it, no matter where the car is parked,” McKnight said.
For those living in the Summerville/Forest Hills area, a Facebook page is dedicated to issues involving crime and traffic, found here.
Scott Hudson is the Senior Reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com.
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