Security Manager’s Report – December, 2009

With the holiday months approaching, it is especially important to pay close attention to personal and property safety. As a former police detective, I can tell you from personal experience that no matter what the state of economy is at the time, the months of November, December and the first half of January always experience peaks in petty theft and residential burglaries. There are also more personal assaults such as pocket book thefts. If you think about it from a thief’s perspective, this only makes sense. The holiday season means more money in pocketbooks and sugar jars. It also means there are all those nice new presents just waiting to be wrapped. So what can you do to keep safe.

With all the things we have to do – going to work, picking up kids and shuttling them around for after school activities, taking care of the house – who has time to think about much of anything else? That’s why we need a reminder every year to pay close attention to the very things we take for granted. The biggest mistake you can make is to assume you will never be the one robbed or burglarized. It can happen to anyone and so being prepared is key to a happy and safe holiday season.

I have just finished a review of the Palm Beach Gardens crime statistics for the month of October (yes, I review them monthly) and have found that PGA National still has a far lower crime rate than all the surrounding communities. I confirmed this during a recent phone conversation with an Officer in the crime prevention unit. That being said, this is not the time to let our guard down. Your security department knows this and is as vigilant as ever during the holiday months.

Every so often there comes along a particular crime that stands out. Right now it is the theft of catalytic converters, and it has become an epidemic. There is a small amount of precious metal contained within the converter that can be removed and sold. These thefts are occurring all over and quite frequently. So far, most of these crimes are contained to public parking lots with the vehicle of choice being a Toyota SUV. If you observe anything suspicious in a public lot, please report it. You will not be wasting anyone’s time. Your tips can finally put an end to this.

Happy and safe holidays to all!

Property Manager’s Report – December 2009

Hi – I fell off my soapbox and I’m back….see last month’s article if you don’t know what I’m referring to. Thanks for all the positive comments to last month’s rant! Sometimes we just have to vent and I guess I felt it was just my turn – thanks again for “listening”.

First, I want to remind everyone that the PGA POA Special Events Committee has been working very hard organizing the 4th Annual Art Festival and Craft Fair to be held Saturday, December 12th in Masters Park. You do NOT want to miss it this year! In addition to more than 60 very talented artists and crafters, there will be food and great weather (do you think the weather sprites would let us down after the cold event last year?). Seriously, stop by between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. – even if you just stop to say hi to me while I sell the jewelry I make in all my “spare” time!

So, what’s up?

Paving
A few months ago I reported that NPBCID would be paving Tournament Blvd. Well, they are going to but it seems it will happen later than I anticipated so I will have to let you know when I hear something

Entry
The POA is still working with the PGA Resort to try to enhance the entry at Avenue of the Champions. Ultimately, the goal is to enhance all entries but that one will be first. Did you notice the new tile roofs on all the guardhouses? The next minor project will be repainting the monument walls and the Northlake Blvd wall.

Turnpike Buffer
Although it has taken longer than expected for the ficus hedge to grow in, I am happy to report that it is thickening up and getting taller. Who knew that White Fly was going to attack Ficus and that we would have the worst drought ever right after the hedge was planted? Speaking of White Fly, if you have a Ficus hedge or tree anywhere on your property, call a pest control company to treat it right away. I’m sure you have seen sections of beautiful, full hedges suddenly turn brown and die…its most likely White Fly! It will kill a previously thought indestructible Ficus in weeks.

Dogs
Many owners have stepped up (which is so much better than stepping in) and are now cleaning up after their pets – thank you! Wackenhut Security is going to start handing out bags to any owner seen walking a pet without visible means of cleaning up. This doesn’t mean you should stop carrying a bag so you can get one from them: if it happens often enough with the same person, it is possible that you could be subject to fining for not following the rules so please continue doing a great job on your own.

Security
Wackenhut has its own article but now that everyone is back in town I wanted to remind you: LOCK YOUR DOORS – SET YOUR ALARM. Please do not leave anything valuable in your car and by all means, lock the door to your car and your home! Leaving the garage door open while you walk to the group of mailboxes two doors down is a great way for someone to slip into your house and you won’t even know it. Keep your garage door closed and stay safe.

A BIG SECRET!!!!
The PGA POA Annual meeting will be held Thursday, January 21, 2010. Sign in starts at 5:00 p.m. and the meeting starts at 6:00 p.m. NO, that is not the secret, silly – we send everyone a notice about the meeting! The secret is that the POA will be raffling off
Two tickets to the Honda Classic Champions Club on the 18th Fairway (yep, the expensive ones). All you have to do is attend the meeting (sorry, you can’t sign in and leave, you have to stay). The meeting will only take about an hour and the public officials who diligently attend each year and give a report will be happy to see you there taking an interest (even if we did have to bribe you). Hope to see you there!

In closing I want to wish everyone a very happy holiday season. We are all going through difficult times and those who can afford it should think about sharing whatever they can: clean out a closet and donate to the local charity; spend a day working at a food bank or “soup kitchen”; make a cash donation; pick up a toy and put it in the “Toys for Tots” bin or buy some extra food for the bin at Publix; or just hold the door and smile at someone if that’s all you can give. Believe me, every little thing means a lot!