Atlanta, GA
Van theft turns family vacation to Atlanta into heartbreak
ATLANTA – A trip ends in desperation after a criminal steals a Florida household’s van whereas they had been taking within the sights not removed from Centennial Olympic Park. An Atlanta enterprise proprietor mentioned automobile break-ins and theft occur round there all too usually.
Joriane Horning, her husband and their youngsters drove up from Florida over the weekend to observe their son play in a soccer match in Athens. They determined to take an tour to Atlanta.
“We spent an additional day up right here to come back see the Georgia Aquarium,” Horning mentioned.
The Hornings parked in lots on Marietta Road on Monday morning and went into the Georgia Aquarium. Then, as they ate lunch, they obtained information nobody needs to listen to, particularly not on trip.
“We began getting textual content messages from our bank card firms about fraudulent costs,” Horning mentioned.
Her husband’s pockets was within the van.
“My husband ran to the parking zone,” Horning mentioned, including that the information went from unhealthy to worse. “It’s not simply my pockets within the automobile. He says all the van is gone our van is now not right here.”
Surveillance video exhibits a man pop the lock on Horning’s van and drive off.
An area enterprise proprietor, who didn’t wish to reveal his identify, mentioned his surveillance digicam recorded the theft in progress.
“Normally you simply see break-ins. I’ve by no means seen somebody taking a automobile,” the enterprise proprietor mentioned
He mentioned he known as 911 simply earlier than 11 a.m.
“We informed them that he’s sitting within the automobile, he turned the automobile on, and that’s once we notice he’s going to take the automobile. He backed up, took it away,” enterprise proprietor mentioned.
His digicam caught another crooks smashing the window of one other van within the afternoon. He mentioned criminals break-in to automobiles round frequently in his neighborhood with few penalties.
“It’s very unhealthy. It’s scary to be out right here,” he mentioned.
Horning and her household had been left scrambling to determine what to do.
“How am I going to get to Florida? I’ve no solution to get again there now,” they requested.
Police mentioned officers arrived simply moments after the primary break-in. FOX 5 noticed them right here later after the second break-in.
Horning mentioned her household must hire a van for almost $1,000 to get dwelling.