Last month, one of our neighboring gated communities experienced thirteen auto burglaries in one night. One of the burglarized vehicles was stolen as a result of the keys being left inside. A real unfortunate situation for everyone involved. PGA National, in reality could be subjected to the same misfortune if the same scenario is present.
The Car Smart Program is one component of the services security provides. In this program, security randomly selects a community and visually conducts vehicle inspections. Our objective is to identify potential risk factors and inform the residents of their vulnerability. Since January security has conducted 311 vehicle inspections and have found that seven percent were identified as potential targets for crimes of opportunity having valuables left in plain sight. This is a two percent increase compared to all of 2014. That being said, the number of reported auto burglaries have decreased to nine this year compared to the fifteen reported last year which is great news. However, a lack of knowledge can create complacencies, which can lead to an increase in criminal activity within PGA National.
As we move forward into the holiday season, remember to secure your vehicle when not in use and never leave valuables in your vehicle in plain sight. Always secure your home and set your alarm before leaving. In doing so, you can greatly reduce your chances of being targeted and becoming the next victim of a crime. You are always encouraged to report all suspicious vehicles, person(s), and activity and never hesitate to call security at 627-1600. Any information on the person(s) involved or vehicle description will be helpful.