Atlanta Apartment Complex Reports Over 70 Car Break-ins in One Night

According to reports out of Atlanta, an apartment complex along the Beltline experienced over 70 car break-ins in one night - this past Sunday.

A total of 76 cars were broken into in the complex's gated parking deck. The complex is located between Old Fourth Ward and Inman Park. The cars were broken into by suspects smashing in windows. There is currently an ongoing investigation.

As a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer, I will outline the law behind entering auto in the state of Georgia. The law behind entering auto is the vehicular version of burglary in Georgia. Read below.

Entering Auto in Georgia

Entering Auto in Georgia is defined by Georgia Law in O.C.G.A. § 16-8-18 as:

If any person shall enter any automobile or other motor vehicle with the intent to commit a theft or a felony, he shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment for no less than one nor more than five years, or in the discretion of the trial judge, as for a misdemeanor.

The penalty for entering auto is a prison sentence for no less than one year and no more than five years and is deemed a felony. However, it is within the judge's discretion to treat the crime as a misdemeanor instead.

If you are found guilty of a misdemeanor instead of a felony, you may only have to pay a fine. But if you judge issues a felony conviction, the consequences may be years in prison. You could receive a prison sentence, a fine, or both if guilty of a felony.

Also, you may be ordered by the court to pay restitution. Restitution is when someone convicted of a crime must financially compensate a victim or the victim's family. The amount of compensation varies with each case and is set by the court. Your penalty for a conviction of entering auto could be a prison sentence, restitution, and a fine if they found it reasonable for your case.

Practice Note

A criminal defense lawyer is your best line of defense if you or a loved one has been arrested. As a firm, we understand all of the difficulties that accompany an arrest, and we also understand that an arrest is not the same as a conviction. Call our offices today.