HOA NEWS: HOA Board Working Toward Better Communication With Nearby Neighborhoods

One of the residents of Hampton Leas (Leslie Vilhelmsen) has been in touch with Chris Evans and the Homeowner's Association over the past 24 hours or so.

One of the notes had been sent to the entire neighborhood email list, but there have been additional follow-ups between the Board and Leslie -- who is in touch with various area neighborhoods (Providence Commons, Crown Colony, Bishop's Ridge, and Hampton Leas) -- regarding the set-up of some more formal communications between our neighborhood and our various neighbors.

No decisions have been made regarding any meetings or format, scheduling, or any details (e.g., whether this will just be the various Boards or Neighborhood Watch captains getting together, or whether it will be a larger neighborhoods-wide undertaking).

But, as someone who's becoming equally frightened and ticked off about the recent rash of crime over the past couple months, I figured I'd share with the neighborhood that Jill, Mindy, Melanie, and Chris are working diligently toward setting something up, and at the least doing what they can to make communication between our neighborhoods more efficient.

Stay tuned for updates from the Board and/or Chris.

In the meantime, I've included part of one of Leslie's notes, which talks about some of the "history" of some of the criminal activities, and specific methods being used. This is becoming ridiculously redundant, but I once learned from G.I. Joe that "knowing is half the battle." Sigh.

-- B.J.

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Leslie wrote:

Hey Chris, I am so sorry to hear about your incident. We are all feeling so frightened and angry that this is happening! I did not know you had three incidents. Wow! What streets were they on?

We have had a rash of vehicle break ins. It seems to come in waves. They will 'hit' 3-6 vehicles in one evening (we think evening or early morning) then it will be quiet for 2-4 months and then they 'hit' again. This has been going on for about 1 1/2 years...Half of our homes do not have garages or if they do, they park outside of the garage.

They seem to be getting bolder. It used to be only the vehicles on the street, now the car can be parked in the driveway but on an incline just outside the door of the home! These cars are usually locked, though not always.

Items are stowed away (hidden) but they seem to find them AND they have stolen two vehicle registrations. The police do not know why the registrations at this time....The police have told me to tell our group the following: Do not leave anything valuable in the vehicle...even if hidden!! They really stressed the valuables issue. If you are the sole driver of a vehicle place vehicle registration in your wallet or if not, lock registration in glove box!

I guess you have heard about the newest crime, that they are stealing garage door openers and vehicle registrations to break in homes. Hide the garage door opener as well...