ATLANTA -- Atlanta mayoral candidates said Wednesday that they are concerned about the new crime spree in Midtown and are vowing to keep repeat offenders in jail.

Atlanta police report vehicle break-ins are up 250 percent in the past three weeks.

Police recently arrested 48-year-old Adolphus Thomas in connection with two of the break-ins. Thomas has been taken into custody 40 times.

"I think we reform that part of the system through legislation at the state of Georgia regarding magistrates' ability to sign off on bonds for criminals in our city,” said candidate Kasim Reed.

Reed wants only elected judges, who are accountable to voters, to have the ability to grant bond for suspects.

"Clearly I would have a repeat offender program up immediately," said Reed's opponent, Mary Norwood. "Clearly I would be communicating with citizens.”

Both candidates acknowledged that the Fulton County jail is overcrowded but said that is no excuse for repeat offenders to be released.

"We need to do an analysis of all the different facilities that are in the city, whether the city jail, the Fulton County facility, other facilities that I’m hearing about that are here,” said Norwood.

Reed said that Fulton County needs to build a new jail and if necessary must borrow money for a new facility.

Atlanta police said that they are frustrated.

"These repeat offenders are a menace on our streets," said Sgt. Brent Schierbaum, who reported that police have made 110 arrests for vehicle break-ins this year.