The holidays have come and gone and I truly hope each and every one of you had a safe and enjoyable time. I know, we at the security department, made every effort to make that the case. During the last part of November and the month of December, PGA National saw a very moderate increase in what the police term Part One Crimes. These are basically burglaries and thefts, both actual and attempts. I can also tell you that in every instance, without exception, all the crimes were those of opportunity presented to the criminally inclined. I am referring to unlocked vehicles, keys left inside and valuables in plain sight. Even so, the rate in PGA was markedly lower than all the surrounding communities. This information is provided by Gardens PD and carefully scrutinized by the security department.
There is a tendency to relax a bit after the holidays. I can tell you the criminal element won’t. They know January is an excellent opportunity to continue on from December. Presents are out in the open and still in plain sight. The bottom line here is thieves will always be present, in every community and the best deterrent is to remove the temptations. If you lock your car, set the alarm and stow valuables from view, I can almost guarantee your car will not be stolen or burglarized. Why should a thief expend the effort to circumvent these obstacles if they can just find one without them? The same precautions need to be used for your residence. Lock doors and windows, set your alarm and leave lights on. Make it appear someone might be home. Again, burglars pick the most vulnerable home where they assume they won’t be confronting anyone.
Residential lighting, both inside and outside the home, if used correctly is an excellent deterrent for being victimized. Inexpensive electronics can be used to turn lights on and off at predetermined intervals. They can even open and close drapes as well as operate sound equipment. If your home has dark outside areas, correct that with lights that accomplish what you need without offending your neighbors. Usually, with a little thought this can be done quite effectively. Lastly, consider motion lighting. This spooks thieves for the most part and they usually just pick an easier target.
To a large degree, your safety is in your hands. If you have any specific questions please feel free to contact me at the Comm. Center, 627.1600.
Happy New Year to all!