Story Published:
Aug 26, 2008 at 5:24 PM EST
Story Updated:
Aug 27, 2008 at 12:19 PM EST
They're the location of hundreds of crimes in Augusta...motels and hotels.
Crimes at these businesses seem to be making headlines nearly every day, including a violent deadly stabbing last Thursday.
Statistics from the Richmond County Sheriff's Office show about 400 incidents ranging from battery to rape at area hotels since the beginning of the year.
According to the sheriff's office, there have been 70 incidents that led to criminal charges at The Super Inn on Gordon Highway this year.
"It's definitely a high crime rate area, especially for a hotel to have that many calls go out," said Lt. Tony Walden with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.
Criminal charges at the Super Inn include drugs, burglary and gun possession.
The owner says he knows about the crime, but says he can't seem to get it under control.
"I've done my best but people come here who vandalize and don't have a home and we try to help them," said owner, Ragiv Bhardwaj.
The owner says he's even added extra security.
"I put surveillance cameras and I spent a lot on that but the cameras, they find out where they are and cut the wires," said Bhardwaj.
NBC Augusta also looked at the crimes that took place at America's Best Value Inn on Washington Road.
Just last Thursday a Charleston, South Carolina, man was stabbed to death there.
In all, we found more than two dozen incident reports from this motel.
NBC Augusta tried a second time to reach America's Best Value Inn to give the owner or manager a chance to respond.
The neighbor who doesn't want to be identified says she's had property damage from the hotel.
"It makes you fear for your life because you never know what's going to happen," she said.
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