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.
Prior to moving to VAT I retired from a 25 year career in law enforcement with the Grandview Heights Police Department.
Part of my responsibility in the late 70’s was as a supervisor and Crime Prevention Officer there.
After retiring, I was the Director of Investigations for the North Central Region of a large security corporation. I have had plenty of experience on the investigation side and prevention side of all sorts of criminal activity.
My wife and I have lived in VAT since 1997.
Thanks to the VAT Board for keeping our community informed of crimes and potential crime in our neighborhood. It is important and fundemental to make sure that the people of a community know when, where and how criminal activity occurs where they live.
Crime prevention in any community is based on a very simple principal. “Taking away, as much as possible, the “opportunity” for someone to commit a crime.”
In most cases here, we are talking about the crimes of property damage, burglary and theft. Crimes of opportunity where the chance of “not being seen” is what most criminals are looking for. Of course there are exceptions to this but as a general rule, it helps to keep those “opportunities” to a minimum.
I am in favor of using email bulletins like this to keep all residences informed of suspicious activity on a regular basis. As a resident, It is by far the most cost effective way to address the issue of criminal activity in our neighborhood.
The whole concept of “Crime Prevention” is to be vigilant and to “make it difficult” for crime to happen. It boils down to “individual”” responsibility throughout VAT. Keeping walk in doors locked, garage doors down and plenty of exterior lighting can make a difference.
The same with vehicles parked on the street. With some exceptions, criminals that may come into the neighborhood are “looking for easy ways to steal”. Most criminals will try to reduce the chance of being caught and will look for unlocked automobiles or houses to enter rather than take the risk of making noise by breaking in. Simply locking your automobile may make the difference between having your car broken into in many cases. There are always those exceptions, but most criminals going through a neighborhood will look for the least risky opportunities. Leaving valuables in plain sight in an automobile parked on the street is an easy mark.
Lighting is also effective in many cases. Burglars and thieves are more likely to break into a car on a dark street than in a lighted driveway. There are going to be some exceptions, but for the most part a locked vehicle in a lighted driveway is less likely to be broken into than a vehicle in the dark.
Burglars and thieves are, in “most cases”, looking for “opportunities” to steal with less risk of being seen or heard. Thats why good out door lighting, locked doors and windows and being vigilant will often make the difference.
If you were a burglar looking for an easy way to break into an automobile or house, would you choose a car parked in a lighted driveway or car parked in a dark section of the street?
We are fortunate as a community to already have this email venue as a way of passing on incidents of crime in our neighborhood. We should continue to use it as a way of keeping our residents informed of all criminal activity within The Village at Thornapple.