The reported theft of a minibike from a home in a Cornelia neighborhood over the weekend has spurred concern and increased communication between residents of one city neighborhood.
Comments in the past several days on social media and discussions among residents of the Tower Mountain community point to sightings of unknown individuals “coming and going” and suspicious behavior of people who do not live there. Comments have included talk of a possible break-in to a vehicle and trespassing on porches and carports.
However, outside of the report involving the minibike, no citizen has contacted the police department to report a crime or express concern about activity in the Tower Mountain community, Cornelia Police Chief Chad Smith says.
When the owner of the minibike reported the theft Monday morning, Smith says he conveyed to police comments from others about suspicious sightings in the neighborhood.
“He told officers that people in the neighborhood were saying they noticed people going in and out, suspicious people, and somebody said there might have been a car that had been broken in to,” Smith says. “But nobody has called or reported anything to us about anybody (and) if nobody makes a report, we don’t know.”
Chief Smith stresses involvement from the community in situations such as this is vital.
“People need to know; if they see something that is not right, or see suspicious people that they know shouldn’t be doing things, they need to call 911 and let the police and law enforcement know,” he says.
