There's a bright side to the snow: It puts a freeze on crime.
Area police are reporting a lot fewer arrests than usual.
“When there’s no one out, there’s no one to be a victim," Officer Joe Hernandez with Cobb County police told the AJC.
And without an easy escape route, many would-be criminals won't chance it, he said.
In Dalton, two teenagers that robbed a liquor store made it easy for police officers to find them. Their footprints in the snow led from the store to a nearby apartment. Both were arrested early Monday.
Sixteen people were arrested in Cobb County on Monday, according to jail records. Typically, about 50 are booked in each day.
Just 13 people were arrested Monday in Gwinnett County. And Atlanta police have worked only a third of the crimes as usual.
Only 12 people were jailed in DeKalb Monday. The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office also saw a big drop in crimes, Lt. Jay Baker said.
Police officers across the metro area agree that many people are staying inside, which in turn keeps crimes down. But there will always be those willing to take the risk of getting caught.
Thieves took advantage of several frozen security gates left open at gated communities on Monday night, Atlanta police said. The result was a rash of car break-ins, including some situations where drivers left purses, laptops and other belongings on car seats, officers said.
DeKalb County police were quick to arrive late Monday night during an armed robbery at a Citgo near Stone Mountain, Officer Jason Gagnon told the AJC. Officers arrested three suspects who were still in the store, he said.
“There are still people doing stupid things because they think the police response time will be slow," Gagnon said. "But it's not."
- Staff writer Megan Matteucci contributed to this report.
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