ATLANTA (CBS ATLANTA) -
Midtown Atlanta is bustling with business and crime and Atlanta police want to put a stop to the crime.
They announced Friday that they plan to increase patrols in four key areas in the city as a part of a 60-day crime suppression detail.
The police department received a $500,000 federal grant for the suppression detail. One of the areas they will focus on is the Peachtree Street corridor through Buckhead.
"I think that, you know, as the city starts to expand, we're going to need more police, so I think it's a forward-thinking move," said Midtown worker Bernard Dezata.
Seeing more officers in the area is good news to most people in Atlanta.
"I would say it's needed for the nighttime. I work late and at night it's good to know there are patrols going from this building to MARTA," said Midtown worker Debra Triplet.
Atlanta police will also focus on reducing crime near Morris Brown College close to Beckwith Street, as well as the West End.
"This is a high-crime area, it really is. I stay over here sure enough, but it is a high-crime area and we need that," said West End resident Kimberly Wood.
Wood said there have been robberies, burglaries, car thefts and murders in that area. She doesn't believe an added police presence for two months will solve the problem long term.
"That's not enough. That's not enough. You can get it down in two months, but what happens after the two months. It picks back up," Wood said.
Atlanta police will also increase their presence in the Highlands, Old Forth Ward and Inman Park. Besides increased patrols through neighborhoods, the department will also have more traffic and code enforcement officers on the street.
"Well I don't know much about the crime over here, I didn't think the levels were very high so I don't know if it's necessary," said Highlands resident Tiffany White.
Copyright 2012 WGCL-TV (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
