Hello VAT Community,
As we have previously discussed there were several thefts within our community in the late Spring/early Summer. Click HERE for more information and safety tips.
Columbus Police Communication and Increased Security
The VAT Board has been in continuous communication with Officer Paulus (our community liaison officer) since these thefts began within our community. Specifically we have requested increased Columbus Police patrolling within the community especially in the overnight hours.
CPD has indicated that they are in the area of our community in the overnight hours looking for suspicious vehicles, however that presence has not (to our knowledge) been directly within our community. CPD is aware of the thefts within our community as well as the suspicious vehicle that has been spotted in our community (details at the end). CPD has also been partnering with the Franklin County Sheriffs but we are still waiting to hear on what, if any, support the sheriffs can provide CPD.
Along with this regular CPD communication the board has been looking into the potential hiring of off-duty officers or private security agencies to maintain a presence within our community in a limited capacity. Finally, the Board has discussed the potential addition of security cameras on our community owned property (Alton-Darby entrances, Community Fenceline, and Community Park)
Emergency Fund, Potential Camera Installation or Private Security Hiring
Thanks to our previous Treasurer we do have an established emergency fund that could be used for the hiring of this security or security cameras if we opt for that route. However, even those funds are limited and there is no guarantee that our thief will be present within our community while we have security present or that security will be able to apprehend anyone or gain better knowledge on a suspect. Use of those funds for the hiring of security too early into our fiscal year could exhaust them and limit our ability to stay within our established budget for the remainder of the year should other emergency needs occur, or frankly if thefts were to occur again later this year.
To be clear we share this information to be transparent in our concerns, not to indicate an unwillingness to explore these options – our foremost responsibility as Board members to be stewards for our community and its assets and maintain healthy funding for our community.
Timing and Legal Concerns
Timing of when the suspects are in our community is the biggest challenge for the hiring of security. Daily monitoring of the overnight hours (approx 12-4AM) will exhaust these funds more quickly than targeted use on specific days. The Board is continuing to use all available reports from within the community as well as partnering with CPD to see what approach may yield results to benefit our community.
One of the major concerns with the installation of security cameras on community property is that it would be continuous surveillance by the HOA (as an entity) of public roadways that are not the exclusive use of our community. Ownership of the video as well as who would have the ability to request access are concerns that need to be followed up upon with the HOA attorneys. Simply put, we don’t want to open our association to lawsuits for a failure to do our diligence on any of the measures we are exploring.
Final thoughts
We recognize that these answers do not reflect the speed at which our community would like to see implementation (e.g. cameras aren’t going to be installed today) – however the safety of our community is of the utmost importance (we are your neighbors too!) and we will continue to explore the options available to us and speak with our attorney’s to get their guidance about the actions we have outlined above. When we have more information we will continue to communicate with our community. Homeowners are always welcome to send their concerns to the board either via the contact form on the website or via email.
ALERT: SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE IN OUR COMMUNITY
Earlier this year the following vehicle was flagged as suspicious in our community. We share this information with neighbors for awareness as more folks will be out during the day with school beginning again. As always your safety is priority one and we urge you strongly to NOT APPROACH suspicious vehicles.
This vehicle was observed in our community on 5/15/2024 in the afternoon hours between 12:00-1PM. It was observed in Eddy Ct (in Thornapple Grove) then traveled fast down Thornview Dr to Clubhurst Ct where it turned right and was next spotted on Claytonbend Dr. It was traveling at a high rate of speed and sped off quickly when a homeowner exited their garage.
If this vehicle is observed in our community please reach out to Columbus Police – especially if you notice suspicious behavior (observing property, driving slowly or speeding, approaching doors/windows). Any identifying observations about this vehicle (missing tail lights, license plates, dents/missing paint, signs/logos) would help aid in its identification. Noting the direction of travel this vehicle takes would also be useful to CPD. We also urge you to post your observations in the Thornapple Community Block Watch Facebook Group (this group was renamed from Thornapple Grove Block Watch (TAG)).
To be VERY clear: this is a suspicious vehicle, it does not mean this is the person who has been committing the thefts. We share this in the interest of safety and community awareness. Should anyone have knowledge that this vehicle is in our community as a known vendor, please let us know that as well.
Year: UNKNOWN
Below is an image of this vehicle from a neighbors security camera.
Links to videos of this vehicle can be found here: https://drive.google.