Regional Roundup: Bomb Threat Scam, Entering Autos on the Rise, and New Lane on SR 316 Opens

-- Dacula Patch

A Dacula man turned down an unusual phone solicitation Thursday afternoon.

The victim, who lives in Belfaire subdivision off Auburn Road, reportedly received a phone call at approximately 4 p.m. on April 12 from a caller with a “Jamaican” accent. According to the victim, the caller warned there was going to be an explosion in the area and asked the victim if he “wanted the bomb to be canceled.”

The suspect then inquired if the victim lived near the or the Walgreens on Braselton Highway. The victim replied that he lived in that area. The suspect asked if the victim could meet at the Hamilton Mill Walmart and allegedly told the victim to bring $100 if he wanted the explosion stopped.

The victim informed the suspect he was not going to meet at the Walmart. The victim said the caller began to speak again, but then hung up the phone.

– Athens Patch

According to the , there has been a 16 percent increase in the number cases involving entering autos in Athens since last year.

Approximately 70 percent of these vehicles were left unlocked, or at least there was no sign of forced entry.

Backpacks, wallets, and purses were the favored items—39 of them were stolen. Coming in second at 27 incidents were iPods, iPhones, or other similar hand held electronics.  Approximately 17 GPS units and 10 laptops were also stolen.

-- Lawrenceville Patch

After nearly , a new lane on State Route 316 opened Friday afternoon, just in time for the evening rush hour.

The new lane on SR 316 eastbound runs from the I-85 split to Sugarloaf Parkway.Funding for this project came from SPLOST programs.