Dacula Police Blotter

Lock Punching Incident Captured on Video Surveillance

Woman's Ford Expedition was broken into while she worked out at Anytime Fitness on Hamilton Creek Parkway in Dacula.

Video surveillance at a Dacula workout facility captured a suspect breaking into two cars during the early evening hours of Feb. 4. A Buford woman called Gwinnett County Police after leaving Anytime Fitness and noticing the lock on her 2006 Ford Expedition had been punched. A Sony digital camera, an iPhone 4 and a Dell computer were reported stolen. The officer reviewed the facility's surveillance footage, which showed a male subject in a late model silver Chevrolet Suburban park next to the Expedition. The video showed the male open the door of the Expedition and spend a few seconds in the vehicle. The Suburban was then seen pulling away and parking next to another vehicle.  "The unknown subject spent a few seconds at the other vehicle …

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Two Pistols, Aviation Radio Among Items Stolen During Movie Theater Car Break-ins

Both vehicles were Ford F150s.

A Jan. 26 trip to the movies proved to be very costly for two Ford truck owners. A Sea Island, Ga. man told police he parked his 2006 Ford F150 at the Regal Hamilton Mill Stadium 14 theater at approximately 1:15 p.m. When he returned to his vehicle two hours later, he noticed the driver’s side door lock had been punched out. Several items were missing from the vehicle including a pearl handled Remington pistol, a Baretta 9mm pistol, an aviation handheld radio, an iPod, an iPad, a flight headset, a flight bag and other items. During the same time period, a 2008 Ford F150 that was parked across the aisle from the Sea Island man’s truck was also entered. The owner, a Lawrenceville man, advised that the lock on the driver’s side door of his …

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Dozens of Cars Broken Into Since Jan. 1, Primary Items Taken Were Handguns and Electronics

Several involved pickup trucks and small SUVs in which the locks were broken, including one this past weekend at the Hamilton Mill 14 in Dacula.

Since Jan. 1, dozens of vehicles have been broken into in the northeast part of the county. In the Gwinnett County Police Department's North Precinct, which covers a portion of the Hamilton Mill area of Dacula as well as Buford, Sugar Hill, Rest Haven and unincorporated parts of Lawrenceville and Suwanee (see map), a total of 47 car break-ins have been reported since Jan. 1 according to precinct commander Maj. John Strickland. "[The] entering autos were a combination of both forced and non-forced," Strickland wrote in an email to Patch. "Several were pick-up trucks and SUVs in which the door locks were broken." In those instances, Strickland explained, the suspects punched a small hole into the door near the lock and were subsequently able…

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More Ford Trucks Targeted in Mall of Georgia Area Car Break-ins

The Jan. 19 break-ins are the latest in a series of incidents in which thieves have punched or pried locks on Ford F150s and Ford F250s.

BUFORD, Ga. - More Ford trucks were targeted by a thief or thieves last weekend in the Mall of Georgia area. Gwinnett County Police responded to four car break-ins on Jan. 19 -- two on Mall of Georgia Boulevard and two on Buford Drive. The incidents are the latest in a string of January car break-ins in which the locks on Ford F150s and Ford 250s have been pried or punched. According to Major John Strickland, GCPD North Precinct Commander, the department is closely monitoring the recent entering autos. "We are working closely with the Mall of Georgia Security and have increased patrols," Strickland wrote in an email to Patch. "This includes patrols in marked patrol cars, unmarked cars, foot patrols, and bicycle patrol on all three shifts. …

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Wallet, iPhone Stolen While Owners Exercised at Dacula Gym

Items left in unsecured lockers.

Gwinnett County Police are investigating two recent thefts at Gold’s Gym in Dacula. On Dec. 4, a patron of the gym reported his wallet stolen. According to the police report, the Auburn man left the wallet in an unsecured locker while he was working out in the gym. When he returned to the locker, the wallet was gone. The wallet contained the man’s driver’s license, Social Security card and a debit card. The debit card, the man said, was used shortly after the theft to make a $7.62 purchase at the Ingles on Auburn Road. The man advised the card had since been cancelled and no other fraudulent activity had taken place. On Dec. 9, another Gold’s Gym patron reported a theft. A Hoschton man told police he left his iPhone 4S in an unsecured …

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Dacula Police Blotter

Numerous Car Break-Ins Reported in Hamilton Mill, Waverly Place

Incidents occurred overnight on July 16.

At least seven cars in three Dacula subdivisions were broken into during the overnight hours of July 16. Three of the incidents were reported in Waverly Place subdivision off Braselton Highway. In one of the car break-ins on Waverly Place Drive, nothing was taken but the car was searched. Another car break-in on Waverly Place Drive resulted in the theft of a pink Ruger rifle valued at $150 as well as the loss of two pairs of designer sunglasses. A driver’s license, wallet, Social Security card and $50 in cash were reported stolen out of a car parked on Southern Walk Terrace. All three vehicles had been left unlocked. In Hamilton Mill, a total of three cars on Grove Arbor Court and Mill Grove Terrace were entered. The only items reported …

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Dacula Police Blotter

Gold’s Gym Member Witnesses Car Break-in

Witness hears glass breaking, sees suspect reaching into car.

Another daytime car break-in was reported last week at Gold’s Gym in Dacula. The break-in is the latest in a series of incidents in which the thief or thieves have smashed car windows in order to gain access to the interior of the vehicles. On the morning of July 19, a Hoschton woman was walking across the parking lot of Gold’s Gym when she heard the sound of glass breaking. When the woman turned in the direction of the noise, she saw a black male with short hair reaching inside a white Toyota Camry. According to the witness, the suspect looked up and saw her looking at him. At that point, the male got into a black four-door Chevrolet parked directly behind the Camry and drove away. The witness called 911, but could not provide police with…

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