Police release sketch of sexual predator, residents unaware | News

ATLANTA -- Atlanta police released a sketch of a man they believe is responsible for seven sexual assaults in three apartment complexes located in Buckhead and Lindbergh.

But when we went to talk with residents about it, most had never seen the picture. So we made copies and started passing them out. Residents seemed grateful for the update.

"Hopefully it leads to an arrest and gets this guy off the street," said Maribeth Nolan who has lived in Peachtree Park apartments since the first attack in 2009.

According to police, it's been five months since an attack there but the suspect is connected to four incidents spanning more than a year. So there's nothing to say he won't come back. Nolan like many residents we talked with assumed the guy must have been arrested or left the area.

"I didn't even really know there continued to be assaults taking place because the only thing they've notified us of lately is break-ins," Nolan said.

The management at each of the complexes involved declined to talk with us on camera, but Nolan says management at Peachtree Park did install motion activated lights outside. At least two of the complexes have alarm systems if residents choose to pay the monthly fee to hook them up. Nolan said she put in a few of her own safety gadgets.

But Mary Parker, President of All (N) 1 Security says alarm systems and door chimes only work if they are maintained and used properly.

"It's just like with your smoke detector. Put it on a schedule," Parker said.

Police say they have yet to see any signs of forced entry in the attacks.  That's why Parker stresses families need to check the batteries in their security devices, lock their doors and windows and remember to turn on their alarms when in for the night. Some other low cost suggestions are indoor motion activated lights, a stick in the track of a window or sliding door, sill locks so that windows can only open a few inches and even a wind chime hung in the entry way.

"The key is to slow the perpetrator down until you can take safety," said Parker.