Each
Month Neighborhood Watch Information will continue to be published
in an ongoing effort to keep our community informed on crime watch
matters.
From
mid September through mid October, and after the ARREST ON 17 AUGUST,
we have
experienced ZERO REPORTED CRIMES. Unfortunately, we had one
unreported crime – the theft of an A/C unit and water system from Quinn
Street.
When crime statistics are low, I labor over what
to discuss in this article. Should I discuss
unlighted vehicles on
our roads after dark or the runners or walkers with their dogs, both
hard to see without reflective clothing, or should I discuss open
garage doors?
Remember our theme
for Night Out was 'Lock Up Wedgefield' to prevent the committing
of a theft, in other words preventing crime. Well, another way to
prevent crime is to report
it. Once a criminal gets away with a crime
and there is no ,response from law enforcement
or neighbors the
criminal is emboldened and continues to get away with the bad deeds.
Had the theft of the A/C unit and a water system
been reported, the proper authorities would
have been on the lookout
for the items to show up in the usual places. Our previous A/C unit
thefts were solved with an arrest. If unreported, a crime will never
be solved.
So not only do we have to 'Lock Up Wedgefield', we
also have to report crime as it happens
if we want to have a safe
environment for our community.
Last but not least, parents be sure your children
are biking and riding with proper and lighted
equipment. Runners,
and walkers, please wear reflective clothing and let us ALL make a
conscious effort to LOCK-UP our vehicles, LOCK-UP our GARAGE DOORS,
and
LOCK-UP OUR HOMES.
This year’s theme is “Crime Prevention” –
(remove the opportunity for crime) and that is what we have been
trying to do here with “LOCK-UP” Wedgefield. I ask that
everyone please make note of vacant homes on your street and
relay that information to me via any of the following methods.
1. E-mail – unser@earthlink.net
2. FAX – 1-800-477-0208
3. Phone (early evening) 407-679-6644
It is imperative that we keep a close eye on these homes to preclude
vandalism and/or unauthorized occupancy by transits. This list will be
made available to the COP volunteers for increased surveillance during
patrols.
Now let us all be good neighbors and make the effort to be observant
and take appropriate action.
To report a crime in progress, fire or medical emergency Dial 911
To report suspicious activity or a crime committed Dial 407-836-HELP
(4357) THEN PHIL
UNSER at 407-679-6644 (24hrs)
Remember that the best crime prevention device ever invented
is a
good neighbor. Neighborhood Watch is comprised of good neighbors who
watch out for and report suspicious or unusual activities. Members do
not confront the perpetrators of criminal activity but rather report it
to the proper authorities.
Neighborhood Watch members are not the police of the
neighborhood
but rather are the eyes and ears of Law Enforcement. Members are not
traffic cops but as good neighbors do report the sightings of illegally
operated vehicles on our roads, right of ways and canals. The number of
unlicensed youths riding non street legal vehicles on and off our
roadways is an ongoing problem that places them and responsible adults
at risk. The canals and roadways are off limits as well as the golf
course – to be exact the only place many of these vehicles can be
operated legally is on private property – and then only with the
permission of the owner. The liability aspect of underage vehicle
operation should in and of itself cause parental supervision.
Block Captains are reminded that with new construction and new
neighbors moving in, updates to our membership listings need to be
forwarded for inclusion in our telephone chain.
Good neighbors make the effort to be observant and take
appropriate
action. To report a crime in progress, fire or medical emergency Dial
911
THE NEW 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.
