Communities function better when neighbors keep in contact with each other regularly. Sharing improvements in city streets, safety measures as well as local incidents of crime in our neighborhood helps keep our lifestyle in Kottinger Ranch the best that it can be!This section will keep you informed about what's happening in our neighborhood and will be frequently updated. Please feel free to share information here that you become aware of so we can continue to keep Kottinger Ranch a great community. Please check back often and please participate. ATTENTION KR Neighborhood Watch Block Captains: Anyone interested in being part of a committe to inform other block captains of future meetings, police reports etc? Please respond thru the e-newsletter. To all the Block Captains we currently have: A BIG THANK YOU !!! |
- 13 Things Your Burglar Won't Tell You:1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator.
2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier.
3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste ... and taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.
4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it.
5. If it snows while you're out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway.
6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don't let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it's set. That makes it too easy.
7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom-and your jewelry. It's not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too.
8. It's raining, you're fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door-understandable. But understand this: I don't take a day off because of bad weather.
9. I always knock first. If you answer, I'll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don't take me up on it.)
10. Do you really think I won't look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.
11. Helpful hint: I almost never go into kids' rooms.
12. You're right: I won't have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it's not bolted down, I'll take it with me.
13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you're reluctant to leave your TV on while you're out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television. (Find it at faketv.com.)
8 MORE THINGS A BURGLAR WON'T TELL YOU:
1. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook.
2. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors.
3. I'll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he'll stop what he's doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn't hear it again, he'll just go back to what he was doing. It's human nature.
4. I'm not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?
5. I love looking in your windows. I'm looking for signs that you're home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I'd like. I'll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets.
6. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It's easier than you think to look up your address.
7. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it's an invitation.
8. If you don't answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in.
Sources: Convicted burglars in North Carolina, Oregon, California, and Kentucky; security consultant Chris McGoey, who runs crimedoctor.com; and Richard T. Wright, a criminology professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, who interviewed 105 burglars for his book Burglars on the Job.
Protection for you and your home
If you don't have a gun, here's a more humane way to wreck someone's evil plans for you. I guess I can get rid of the baseball bat.
Wasp Spray
A friend who is a receptionist in a church in a high risk area was concerned about someone coming into the office on Monday to rob them when they were counting the collection. She asked the local police department about using pepper spray and they recommended to her that she get a can of wasp spray instead.
The wasp spray, they told her, can shoot up to twenty feet away and is a lot more accurate, while with the pepper spray, they have to get too close to you and could overpower you. The wasp spray temporarily blinds an attacker until they get to the hospital for an antidote. She keeps a can on her desk in the office and it doesn't attract attention from people like a can of pepper spray would. She also keeps one nearby at home for home protection... Thought this was interesting and might be of use.
Wasp And Hornet Spray
On the heels of a break in and beating that left an elderly woman in Toledo dead, self defense experts have a tip that could save your life.
Val Glinka teaches self-defense to students at Sylvania Southview High School. For decades, he's suggested putting a can of wasp and hornet spray near your door or bed.
Glinka says, 'This is better than anything I can teach them.'
Glinka considers it inexpensive, easy to find, and more effective than mace or pepper spray. The cans typically shoot 20 to 30 feet; so if someone tries to break into your home, Glinka says, 'spray the culprit in the eyes'. It's a tip he's given to students for decades. It's also one he wants everyone to hear. If you're looking for protection, Glinka says look to the spray.
'That's going to give you a chance to call the police; maybe get out.' - How to Lock Your Car and WhyI locked my car. As I walked away I heard my car door unlock. I went back and locked my car again three times. Each time, as soon as I started to walk away, I would hear it unlock again!! Naturally alarmed, I looked around and there were two guys sitting in a car in the fire lane next to the store. They were obviously watching me intently, and there was no doubt they were somehow involved in this very weird situation. I quickly chucked the errand I was on, jumped in my car and sped away. I went straight t o the police station, told them what had happened, and found out I was part of a new, and very successful, scheme being used to gain entry into cars. Two weeks later, my friend's son had a similar happening....
While traveling, my friend's son stopped at a roadside rest to use the bathroom. When he came out to his car less than 4-5 minutes later, someone had gotten into his car and stolen his cell phone, laptop computer, GPS navigator, briefcase.....you name it. He called the police and since there were no signs of his car being broken into, the police told him he had been a victim of the latest robbery tactic -- there is a device that robbers are using now to clone your security code when you lock your doors on your car using your key-chain locking device.
They sit a distance away and watch for their next victim. They know you are going inside of the store, restaurant, or bathroom and that they now have a few minutes to steal and run. The police officer said to manually lock your car door-by hitting the lock button inside the car -- that way if there is someone sitting in a parking lot watching for their next victim, it will not be you.
When you hit the lock button on your car upon exiting, it does not send the security code, but if you walk away and use the door lock on your key chain, it sends the code through the airwaves where it can be instantly stolen. This is very real.
Be wisely aware of what you just read and please pass this note on. Look how many times we all lock our doors with our remote just to be sure we remembered to lock them -- and bingo, someone has our code...and whatever was in our car. - Burglary updateHello Block Captains,
As promised here are the residential burglary occurrences for the last month or so. It has been quite for the last week or so (cross your fingers), but as you can see, our apartment communities are becoming a bigger target. Also of note, many of these were crimes of opportunity in that almost half of them occurred because suspects were able to enter through unlocked doors or open windows. I also made note of a couple of arrests that have already been made. Keep in mind that while I like to provide you with successful cases of arrest, the “case” is not “closed” when I send out these emails. Our team here at PPD is still working on almost all of them when I send the list out to you, and many times the cases have to be put on hold to wait for lab work, etc.
Auto burglaries have slowed down a bit, but they are occurring occasionally at the mall again. Please take care not to leave valuables (including GPS, removable stereo face plates, shopping bags) in your vehicle. Remember that if you’ve done a considerable amount of shopping and need to drop items at the car, put them in the trunk, and re-park your vehicle in another parking lot. And never leave your windows “cracked”… just because the weather is warmer (kind of) doesn’t mean you can give criminals an extra opportunity.
I hope all is well with all of you; we have been VERY busy with NW meetings, thank you!! We have seen a huge jump in NW participation, and new groups are cropping up all of the time. Thank you for making this job so enjoyable. I hope to re-connect with many of you as we gear up for our biggest night of the year… National Night Out! If your group hasn’t been active in awhile, please consider hosting a National Night Out party. At the end of this year we’ll be reviewing NW group activity. Any group that would be considered inactive is subject to removal from the email list and removal of signs from the neighborhood.
Residential burglary
Sheldon Circle
Between 05-01-09 @ 0800 and 05-14-09 @ 0800
Designer purses and luggage
Residential burglary (apartment)
Andrews Drive
Between 05-18-09 @ 1300 and 05-18-09 @ 1840
Flat screen TVs, currency
Residential burglary (theft from garage)
Palomino Drive
Between 05-21-09 @ 2200 and 5-22-09 @ 0750
GPS and coins taken from vehicle in garage
Residential burglary
Calle Morelia
Between 05-22-09 @ 0850 and 05-22-09 @ 0930
Firearm ***suspect arrested***
Residential burglary
Payne Road
Between 05-22-09 @ 0840 and 05-22-09 @ 1030
Camcorder, video game system, cell phone ***suspect arrested***
Residential burglary (apartment)
Springhouse Drive
Between 06-02-09 @ 0800 and 06-02-09 @ 1245
Laptop, jewelry
Residential burglary (apartment)
Old Bernal Avenue
Between 06-02-09 @ 1330 and 06-02-09 @1430
Flat screen TV, video game system, clothing
Residential burglary (apartment)
Valley Avenue
Between 06-02-09 @ 1530 and 06-02-09 @ 1700
Laptops
Residential burglary (apartment)
Springhouse Drive
Between 06-02-09 @ 0800 and 06-02-09 @ 1750
2 LCD TVs, 2 video game systems, laptop, iPod
Residential burglary
Lethbridge Court
Between 06-02-09 @ 1300 and 06-06-09 @ 1030
Firearms -
Safe Rides is a crew of teens (ages 15 to 21) and adults (over 25) that are providing service to the teens of our community by giving them a free, safe, confidential ride home on Friday or Saturday night from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Although our crew, sponsors and supporters do not condone underage drinking or the use of drugs, we recognize that our friends and families are being killed or injured under these circumstances and are taking action. Our crew is trained to handle driving passengers that are under the influence as well as other situations they may arise. Adults are always available as a resource to our crew.
Please let your teens know, if they need a ride, to call Safe Rides at 416-6810. This is a Boy Scouts of America program that is being sponsored by Valley Care Hospital. We are in need of adult and teen volunteers, so if you or your teens are interested in being a part of the Safe Rides Crew, send an email to trivalleysaferides@live.com Safe Rides Saves Lives!
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The Pleasanton Unified School District is now offering a Student Support Tipline at 417-5199. Calls to this phone number are anonymous and confidential. The tipline is an avenue for students or adults to report concerns about fellow students. Messages will be reviewed and directed to appropriate District staff for follow up.
Click Here for More Information -
We all carry our cell phones with names & numbers stored in its memory but nobody, other than ourselves, know which of these numbers belong to our closest family and friends.
If we were involved in an accident or were taken ill, the people attending us would have our cell phones but wouldn't know whom to call.
Yes, there are hundreds of numbers stored but which one is the contact person in case of an emergency?
HENCE THIS 'ICE' (in case of emergency) CAMPAIGN
Just store the number of a contact person who should be contacted during emergency under the name 'ICE'.
This way Emergency Service personnel and hospital staff would be able to quickly contact the right person stored under 'ICE'.
For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2, etc. - RAPIST'S TRICKCriminals are coming up with craftier, less threatening
methods of attack, so we have to be extra cautious. Read on.. I live in Alexandria , VA , but I often work in Lafayette , LA , staying with friends when I'm there. As you know from America 's Most Wanted TV program, as well as the news media, there is a serial killer in the Lafayette area. I just want to let you know about an 'incident 'that happened to me a few weeks ago, and could have been deadly.
At first I didn't go to the police or anyone with it because I didn't realize how serious this encounter was. But since I work in a jail and I told a few people about it, it wasn't long before I was paraded into Internal Affairs to tell them my story.
It was approximately 5:15 a.m. in Opelousas , La, I had
stayed with a friend there and was on my way to work.
I stopped at the Exxon/Blimpie Pie station to get gas. I got $10 gas and a Diet Coke. I took into the store two $5 bills and one $1 bill (just enough to get my stuff).
As I pulled away from the store, a man approached my truck from the back side of the store (an unlit area). He was an 'approachable-looking' man (clean cut, clean shaven, dressed well, etc.).
He walked up to my window and knocked. Since I'm very paranoid and 'always looking for the rapist or killer,' I didn't open the window . I just asked what he wanted. He raised a $5 bill to my window and said, 'You dropped this.' Since I knew I had gone into the store with a certain amount of
money, I knew I didn't drop it.
When I told him it wasn't mine, he began hitting the window and door, screaming at me to open my door, and insisting that I had dropped the money! At that point, I just drove away as fast as I could. After talking to the Internal Affairs Department and describing the man I saw, and the way he escalated from calm and polite to angry and volatile....it was determined that I could have possibly encountered the serial killer myself.
Up to this point, it had been unclear as to how he had
gained access to his victims, since there has been no
evidence of forced entry into VIctim's homes, cars, etc.
And the fact that he has been attacking in the daytime, when women are less likely to have their guard up, means he is pretty BOLD..
So think about it...what gesture is nicer than returning money to someone that dropped it?????
How many times would you have opened your window (or door) to get your money and say thank you.... because if the person is kind enough to return something to you, then he can't really be a threat. ...can he???? Please be cautious! This might not have been the serial killer... but anyone that gets that angry over someone not accepting money from them,can't have honorable intentions. The most important thing to note is that his reaction was NOT WHAT I EXPECTED! A total surprise! But what might have happened if I had opened my door? I shudder to think!
- HOTEL KEY CARDSEver wonder what is on your magnetic key card?
Answer:
a. Customer's name
b. Customer's partial home address
c. Hotel room number
d. Check-in date and out dates
e. Customer's credit card number and expiration date!
When you turn them in to the front desk your personal information is there for any employee to access by simply scanning the card in the hotel scanner. An employee can take a hand full of cards home and using a scanning device, access the information onto a laptop computer and go shopping at your expense.
Simply put, hotels do not erase the information on these cards until an employee reissues the card to the next hotel guest. At that time, the new guest's information is electronically 'overwritten' on the card and the previous guest's information is erased in the overwriting process.
But until the card is rewritten for the next guest, it usually is kept in a drawer at the front desk with YOUR INFORMATION ON IT!
The bottom line is: Keep the cards, take them home with you, or destroy them. NEVER leave them behind in the room or room wastebasket, and NEVER turn them into the front desk when you check out of a room. They will not
charge you for the card (it's illegal) and you'll be sure you are not leaving a lot of valuable personal information on it that could be easily lifted off with any simple scanning device card reader.
For the same reason, if you arrive at the airport and discover you still have the card key in your pocket, do not toss it in an airport trash basket. Take it home and destroy it by cutting it up, especially through the electronic information strip!
If you have a small magnet, pass it across the magnetic strip several times. Then try it in the door, it will not work. It erases everything on the card.
Information courtesy of: Pasadena Police Department
