The Watch with Will Kennedy: Robberies on the Rise in Charlotte
CHARLOTTE, NC — The latest CMPD numbers show that robberies are up across Charlotte, with a 41 percent increase in commercial robberies this quarter, and personal robberies up 42 percent. And those numbers are even higher in certain parts of the city, especially near the UNC Charlotte campus.
It’s all in the numbers. 37 people are victims of a robbery in Charlotte every week. Purses snatched. Cell phones grabbed. Sometimes in broad daylight.
“A lot of these robberies are simple walking around with cell phones in your hands, and you have somebody running up behind you and grabbing your cell phone and then taking off,” says CMPD Officer Chris Kopp.
Not only are the robbery numbers up, the crimes are getting more brazen. A woman in her vehicle was at an intersection in Uptown, when a kid on a bicycle pulled up and took her cell phone right out of her hand.
Police are still looking for the suspect in that robbery.
The robbery numbers continue to pile up. But there are safety steps you can take.
“Start being aware of those suspicious people that are around you,” says Officer Kopp. “You know, putting away your cell phone when you’re walking around. Hold your purse cross-body when you have it strapped on your shoulder.”
There are areas where you should take extra caution. Personal robberies have increased 110 percent in the University City area this quarter, especially around the UNC Charlotte campus.
And commercial robberies are up 125 percent in the North Tryon Division. Officer Kopp says that CMPD has a program to help local businesses. Providing a business security survey. Sending an officer out to inspect the building and make recommendations on how to prevent potential robberies.
Concerned citizens and business owners can also use 911 to report any suspicious activity.
“You see a vehicle that’s parked out in your parking lot for an extended period of time, and you don’t know what they’re doing there, call 911,” says Kopp. “Let an officer come out.”
If you have any information about the suspect in the cell phone snatching mentioned in the story, you’re asked to call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
