Hello Neighbors,
The Board has been made aware of some recent thefts that occurred in our community and wanted to make sure that homeowners were aware as well as issue some reminders when it comes to securing homes and valuables.
As posted to online Facebook groups we are aware of the following incidents:
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- Hadshire Ct – A backyard was entered and a patio set was stolen
- Manshire Ct – Front porch patio rockers and table were stolen
- Marhurst Ct – Front porch patio chairs and table were stolen
All three incidents occurred on April 21st. As far as we are aware there was no video caught of any of these incidents.
Safety is of paramount importance to our community and the Board has reached out to our community liaison officer, Officer Paulus ([email protected]), who is reaching out to local patrols. Per conversation with Officer Paulus he indicated he has not heard anything specific about thefts like this but that given the size of the items in question it was likely more than one person and a large vehicle to remove them. He urged review of any nearby security cameras to see if any large vehicles were captured. If someone should find any vehicles on the night of April 21st that were captured please advise Officer Paulus via email.
As always, homeowners are encouraged to call the police non-emergency number (614 645 4545) to report any suspicious vehicles or persons within our community when it is able to be done safely.
Sadly, crimes of opportunity will always occur so with that in mind we want to reiterate some best practices when it comes to home safety.
- Be sure to secure any vehicles left outside as well as securing doors and windows at night
If at all possible park vehicles in garages where they are most secure. - Secure any valuables left outdoors
Make use of locking cables for any items that are too large to move indoors. Ensure all walkthrough gates are locked when possible. - Make best use of any security features you currently have on your home
Be sure to keep exterior lights on or on timers at night. Make sure motion lights are powered and have functioning light bulbs. Increase the sensitivity of any motion detectors or video cameras on your property to ensure that they are capturing as much video as possible when motion is detected. Add locks to any gates to make removing property from your yard more challenging. - Use landscaping to your advantage
If your property has easily visible sightlines to property you feel is valuable (like patio furniture, gas grills, yard decorations, etc) try to obscure the view by using well placed plants, flowers, and shrubs. This is particularly important for any homeowners on corner lots where more of their property is visible. - Add the Columbus police non-emergency number to your phone’s contacts
If you see anything suspicious in the neighborhood contact the non emergency line at 614 645 4545. Be prepared with as much of a description as you can safely provide – vehicle or clothing descriptions, identifying characteristics can be very useful to police. As always, DO NOT APPROACH ANY SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE OR PERSON. Your safety is paramount. - Check your property and any camera motion-alerts daily
A quick review of your exterior property will ensure that you are aware of when anything may have been taken as well as give you an opportunity to ensure your safety measures are always in place and working as intended. Reviewing doorbell or other security camera footage may show any suspicious activity even if your home wasn’t directly affected. - Report any crime/theft to Columbus Police
Obtaining additional patrols in the area of our community will not happen if there are not documented reports with the Columbus police of any issues. Please take the time to file the appropriate reports at the time of any incidents.
There is no 100% effective solution to address crime but we certainly hope that homeowners take some time to review their properties and the ways they can minimize their risk of property loss.
Finally, with the Spring weather starting to improve soon and graduation around the corner it is also anticipated that yearly activities like “Senior Tag” (played by graduating high school seniors) will be occurring soon. This game can have dangerous consequences especially if a community is on edge from other recent crime. For more information see this article: WBNS 10TV – Police urge teens to find healthier outlet instead of senior tag. Please take some time to talk to your graduating seniors about the timing of this game in light of recent concerns.