Wedgefield NHW
Each
Month Neighborhood Watch Information will continue to be published in
an ongoing effort to keep our community informed on crime watch matters.
During the last half of JANUARY to the present date of FEBRUARY 15,
2011, based on Orange County Sheriff’s crime statistics and individual
reports there WAS 1 reported AUTO burglary ON ABALONE 2500 BLOCK and
SEVERAL MAIL BOXES DESTROYED/DAMAGED and NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH
SOLICITORS.
It is apparent that those who tend to drive up our crime statistics are
WARM WEATHER perpetrators. Even though our crime stats are down for the
30-day period those who were victims in the above crimes feel the
financial effects of the crime committed against them.
We continue to have solicitors at our doors at all times of day and
night and that is SUSPICIOUS. Remember we are a NO SOLICITATION
NEIGHBORHOOD and you never open your door to someone you do not know –
but you let them know you are there. Neither the Wedgefield Homeowners
Association or Neighborhood Watch has the authority to enforce the NO
SOLICITATION or investigate the SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY, so we must call
the Orange County Sheriff’s non-emergency number (407) 836-4357 to
report the SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY.
Regarding the mailbox issues those performing the RASCALLY BEHAVIOR if
caught can be held to some serious Federal statutes. Destroying mail
receptacles or interfering with mail delivery is a Federal offense
while destroying a mail receptacle with a vehicle and leaving, is the
same as leavingthe scene of an accident also a serious offense. Parents
are asked to remind their charges of these facts.
Warm weather beings all ages out to enjoy the beauty of our
subdivision. It encourages residents to open windows in homes and
vehicles and open up the garage doors to take in the fresh air. And
each is an invitation to the thief regardless if he or she planned on
stealing. The school bound youth seeing an open car window can seize
the opportunity or a nonresident passing through seeing a garage door
open can also seize the moment to steal something of value. Enough said
on this because everyone knows to LOCK-UP and secure our homes and
vehicles.
Now let us BE SURE TO LOCK UP AND, be good neighbors and make the
effort to be observant and take appropriate action.
“SEE SOMETHING – SAY SOMETHING.” To report a crime in progress, fire or
medical emergency Dial 911. THE NUMBER to report suspicious activity or
a crime committed Dial 407-836-HELP (4357) THEN PHIL UNSER at
407-679-6644 (24hrs).
CITIZENS
ON PATROL
If you are interested
in applying for the COP Wedgefield Team,
complete an online application at
www.ocso.com - click here
or contact Team Leader
Victor Alzona 321- 388-8545 or
email: thevikter@yahoo.com
With
summer here it’s hard to think of anything else but getting away and
relaxing. But before
you
go on your well deserved vacation, here are a few tips and reminders
that will help keep
your
home safe and less of a target when you are away
A Week Before You Leave. . .
Ask a neighbor to watch
your home and provide them with emergency contact information.
Arrange to have your
mail held at the post office or have a trusted neighbor pick it up
daily.
Arrange to have your
newspaper stopped or picked up by a neighbor.
Make arrangements to
have the lawn mowed while you’re away.
Do not hide cash or
jewelry in the home. Consider putting valuables in a safe. Make sure you
have secured outside
things such as bicycles and lawn items. Unsecured items are easy
targets.
Contact Victor Aizona
with Citizens on Patrol to request a vacation watch on your property.
Contact Phil Unser with
Neighborhood Watch te also keep an eye on your property.
Just
Before Leaving....
Don’t advertise your
trip.
Turn down the ringer
volume of your phone so it cannot be heard from outside.
Set your electric
timer(s) to turn some of your lights on arid off during the evening.
Unplug all electrical
appliances, such as the TV, stereos, computers, toasters,
and microwave ovens to
prevent damage during electrical storms.
Have a friend park a
vehicle in your driveway.
Lock your garage door
with a bar or padlock on the inside track to prevent anyone forcing
open the overhead door.
Close all windows and
sliding doors. Make sure the locks are secure.
Make sure the last
person out of the house locks the door. Then make a check of
the outside of you home to see that all is secure.
Be a “Tough Target”
A vacation, a weekend
away from home, or a business trip
should be a pleasant experience for you and your family.
You can make each trip
more enjoyable arid enhance your security
if you will take a few easy steps to reduce the possibility
that your home
will be
burglarized or vandalized while you’re away. You do not want to return
to a trashed
home and
find your valuable property missing or destroyed. A vacant
home,
or one that appears vacant, is an appealing target to a
burglar.
What is Citizens on Patrol and how can I
get involved?
Citizens
on Patrol is a volunteer unit of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office,
providing the Sheriff's Office with extra sets of eyes and ears to
enhance law enforcement.
The
Citizens
on Patrol program was created to reduce crime through increased
cooperation between citizens and the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
Orange County extends over one thousand square miles. The
Sheriff’s
Office is very appreciative of the help it receives from the Citizens
on Patrol Volunteer Teams.
The
Orange County Sheriff’s Office COP program is
actively recruiting for new volunteers for the Wedgefield community.
The training includes Driver Performance Analysis
System (D.P.A.S.), First Aid, CPR, and Policy and Procedures training.
The
primary
job of COP is to watch over our Communities. The volunteers are men and
women who are husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, grandfathers and
grandmothers, retired, employed full-time or part-time. These
members
come from diverse backgrounds, but they share a common goal: KEEPING
THEIR COMMUNITY SAFE.In order to
participate, volunteers have to be at least 21 years old, and must pass
a criminal
background check, a physical exam and a voice stress analysis.
Have
You Lost or Found an Animal?
We
often find ourselves in the situation where a treasured family pet has
decided to check out the nearby neighborhood without telling you where
he or she is going. And to make it worse a neighbor on the other side
of the neighborhood has found a friendly or not so friendly but lost
pet and does not know what to do for the pet.
Below are
listed some
immediate suggestions:
If your pet is
lost or you
have found a
lost pet: Call Phil at (407) 679-6644 with a description, the time it
was
noticed missing or found, the pet’s home or location and a working
phone number that is answered.
For those who find a pet:
Remember it
does the pet
or you no good
if you are bitten or cat scratched so use caution in restraining the
animal.
Most are docile, but caution is always the best advice. Often
they need nourishment or to be hydrated and that will assist in safely
confining the animal. If neither of us are contacted by the owner and
you are unable to keep the pet there are a number of alternatives and
one needs to contact Patricia Caminitti at (407) 568-4092 or Cell (321)
208-2406. If this is done remember to advise Phil as to the pet’s
destination in case the owner does call.
For those who have lost
the pet:
If the animal
has a collar
with your
name and phone number hopefully you will get a call shortly if not,
hopefully someone has called Phil at (407) 679-6644 with its location
and a contact phone number.
Everyone is
reminded that
county and
local HOA restrictions require dogs to be leashed at all times unless
under the direct supervision of the owner on their property or in an
approved area.
And of course
wild animals
need to be referred to:
Shirleyn Cannan at Fallin’ Pines Critter Rescue, Inc (407) 568-7988.
Animals under
distress
(injured or
abused) need to be referred to Animal Control at 311 or (407) 836-3111
or the Sheriff’s office (407) 836-4357.
PLEASE PUT YOUR NAME AND PHONE NUMBER ON YOUR PET’S COLLAR
FOR THEIR
SECURITY AND YOUR PEACE OF MIND.
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