Notes from Neighborhood Watch Meeting
By Mary Weatherill - Neighborhood Watch Meeting February 12th, 2012
All of you like to hear how Glenbrooke is doing. Here is my report.
There are 436 homes sold
There are 6 available for sale in Village 3 through the Sales Office
There are 7 for Re-Sale and 2 for Rent
Village 1 has 2 un-occupied
Village 4 has 2 waiting for keys and about 20 under construction.
Residents number approximately 691
Singles approximately 208 Female 180 -- Male 28
These numbers are always changing.
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I want to talk about the Crime Report you can look up on www.elkgrovepd.org
This map shows our area since our last meeting 3 months ago.
Over 500 reports around us, unfortunately we have 2 that happened here.
12-20-11 A catalytic Converter was stolen in the drive way of a Sheffield Way Home—Larceny
Garage your vehicles if you can. Don’t leave anything in plain sight in you vehicle.
The Police advise---Engrave your Vin # on the Converter.
There is an engraver in the Watch cupboard in the Activity Room that you can borrow. Engrave other items in your home if you choose.
1-25-12 Some items were stolen during a move-in. The suspects are the moving company—Larceny
This item is finally on the PD site—I received an alert from another site and had to ask Elk Grove PD why it was not listed—It took over a week to show up.
Write down model and serial numbers of electronics.
Take pictures of anything valuable you own—especially things you cherish.
Copy fronts and backs of all credit cards you carry in case of loss you will have the correct information to call and cancel them.
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A resident asked, “why don’t our residents have their outside porch lights on at night?” The Police advise you use timers on front porch lights. Remember our lights are florescent—purchase the correct timers.
They advise you should have motion lights on side garage lights and patio lights.
I watched a video online done by a burglar who broke into over 500 homes.
If you leave your home, make sure all doors and windows are locked.
He looked for the one you left open. This accounted for 30% of his entries.
If you have an alarm—use it.
He said you should have the glass break added to you alarm—doors and windows
Are alarmed but he went through the glass and never set them off.
Hopefully you have the motion detector—the bigger homes should have one in the master room—you keep your most important things close to you, burglars know that.
The Police advised to rethink where you store your valuables like jewelry/money/guns.
Use timers and motion sensors to turn lights on and off--inside and out.
Replace door jamb screws with 3” screws if you haven’t done so already.
People get a false sense of security in a “Gated Community”.
With gold prices up so high he can carry off your valuables easily.
That goes for your gold coins, jewelry, and guns.
Cut back bushes around your home—don’t give him a place to hide.
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Call Jim Morris if you want window guards for your home windows.
The material he uses matches the window trim used in our homes.
The guards fit into the window track. He has a price depending on the
home model you own. Call Jim at 647-6763 if you are interested.
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Screen doors offer you not only ventilation which is wonderful to enjoy the
Delta breeze----they offer you security when opening you front door.
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US Postal information concerning Internet Fraud visit www.Lookstoogoodtobetrue.com
To order a free DVD Web of Deceit visit www.usps.com/postalinspectors
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In today’s Bee—“On-line Romance or Painful Scam”—example visiting Grandaughter.
She used on-line chat that brought a stalker/false identity/ terrorist into their lives.
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Some of you attended the Health Fair put on by New York Life and the Elk Grove Police Department.
Denise Costello spoke a bit about safety. She passed around pictures taken in parking lots showing what we leave in our cars.
Purses, mail with addresses, checks, fund raising envelopes—with money, gym bags, and all sorts of electronics.
When you go to the gym you are afraid of locker break-ins so where do you leave your valuables?—in the car. Be careful.
The Toyota Trucks—Tundra’s especially—because they are more off the ground. The thief has tools to easily remove this type of Catalytic Converter.
Honda’s are the most stolen car.
Animal Control is now serviced by the Police Department.
Animal Control Officer—Gerald Skibby was on hand to answer questions. He can be reached at 916-687-3032.
There were forms to license you cats and dogs. Yes cats need to be licensed.
VIPs “Volunteers in Police Service’ were on hand.
They are looking for more volunteers.
Their service is free—if you are going to be gone for a while you can meet With a VIP to collect your information and they will check on your home until you return. They can be reached at 916-478-8100.
They have 2 shift presently and want to add a 3rd evening shift to Police the City Parks.
Volunteers in general are always welcome at Elk Grove PD.
If you have skills in computer, typing, foreign languages they could use you.
If you are interested call Jessica Martinez—Volunteer Coordinator at
916-627-3708 jmartinez@elkgrovepd.org
Denise also passed around a copy of the Solicitors Permit that solicitors in Elk Grove are required to have on them when they come to your door.
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I have a copy of the Elk Grove PD Parking Violation form.
I have warned you about parking with-in 15 feet either way from a Fire Hydrant, Now I will warn you about parking where you block a Disabled Sidewalk Access Ramp or parking with-in Cross Hatched Lines. These are hefty fines.
Hydarant-$113, Blocked Disabled Access Ramp-$373, Cross Hatched Lines-$413
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There are upcoming meetings…
Animal Control Events & Community Presentations— City Council Chambers
The next meetings---March 6th, First Aid for Your Pet----
April 3rd, Barking Dogs-----May 1st, Why Licensing Your Pet is Important
NOTE…
This year’s Earth Week activities—Glenbrooke residents are invited to lend a hand in beautifying Elk Grove’s Creed and Trail System--Whitelock Parkway Canal.
This Creek Clean-Up will be Saturday April 21st. Meet at 9:00 am at Franklin High.
If you are interested call Peter Gaffney-685-0603 or Bart Raudebaugh-685-5131.
Wear appropriate clothes and shoes. Maybe bring gloves.
There will be a BBQ lunch afterwards at Miwok Park on Village Tree Drive.
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Neighborhood Watch Coordinators Met Feb 6th –City Council Chambers
There was a presentation by CERT member Dale Miller concerning a new program NET—Neighborhood Emergency Training
Small groups will meet and discuss home safety and what to do for the first 72 hours of a disaster. More information and dates TBA.
Denise Costello spoke of the ease of selling stolen gold.
Can you believe it!—There are 27 pawn/antiques shops in Elk Grove plus the 6 traveling ones. There were 3 different ads in today’s Sacramento Bee. There is a new PD Pawn Detail trying to keep up with the stolen items.
If you are selling items to one of these—don’t get followed
Give a good detailed description when making a crime report—pictures help.
Vacant homes are loosing the metal/copper.
East Side doors were being kicked in—they caught a/the guy.
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Press Releases…
There will be a “Citywide Public Safety Forum on March 8th starting at 6:30 pm in the City Council Chambers
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If you want information on the Residential Knox Box,
If you need to up-date your permission slips for either the Glenbrooke Resident Directory or the One Call Now,
If you have any questions or suggestions—please contact me.
Mary Weatherill—Glenbrooke Watch Coordinator—686-3390
All Watch information is in the Neighborhood Watch Binder at the Lodge.
Thank You to everyone who attended today and
Please Thank your Block Captains.
Our next meeting will be May 6th at a new time 2:00 pm—by request.
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Thanks, Mary.
This was very informative. I'm glad those not in attendance (like myself) have a chance to consider all the ideas suggested at the meeting.
I'm a little slow with the Thank You this morning...need to work on that.
Mary has made Glenbrooke's safety a priority, maybe not a # 1, but a close second, so that we can live safely in our own homes. Informing neighbors how to protect themselves and their homes against crime and checking on neighbors to see if they need any help. She goes beyond the call of duty...perhaps she could be described "as a Glenbrooke jewel".