I have recently been receiving some mail stating some of our residents have not been gotten alerts although they are on our mail list. If you are not receiving these alerts you might might want to check with your Internet provider to find out how their server treats mail sent out in volume.

There are many servers that will not accept mail that has been sent out in bulk, the server treats it as spam. This is why we also post all alerts on our website.

Unfortunately, there is not much I can do from our end. You might also want to check your Internet Options under tools and change your security level. This might allow you to receive our alerts. 

To Our Phase II Residents:

Phase II of Eagle Palms has grown substantially since our Neighborhood Watch was originally formed. We are having issues in your part of our community that only the residents can solve and desperately need your help.

We are looking for three(3) residents who are willing to step forward and become Block Captains which is an extremely important role in our Neighborhood Watch program. Block Captains are the first line eyes and ears of our community and a tremdous deterrent in reducing or prenvent crime. Won't you please help us in making our community a safer and better place to live.

Call Don Maidlow at (813) 741-1328 for further details or to volunteer.

I received a message from a resident concerning a problem with some deliveries made by UPS.

There are duplicate address numbers in both Phase I and Phase II resulting in deliveries being made in error to the wrong address.

The sad part is by the tiem the error has been discovered there are missing items in some of these packages. We do not know at this tiime if tthe packages are being tampered with at UPS or elsewhere. Please be alert to any mis deliveries of items not belonging to you or your family and do not open any package not belonginging to you.

MAIL TAMPERING IS A FEDERAL CRIME!

I received a call on Sunday Sept. 13th regarding a person soliciting residents in Phase II in an effort to install door viewers. This individual is claiming to be authorized to install these viewers.

The resident became suspicious when this person began wandering around her home stating he could also install other security devices on her door to the garage which is where the alarm panel is installed.

The individual in question is Caucasian, late 50's or early 60's with gray hair. He was wearing a hat, and dressed in shorts. He also had an orange colored apron with pouch, making the homeowner think he was associated with Home Depot.

At this time I do not know if this individual was checking for security weakness or someone selling door viewers. Neighborhood Watch has an Eagle Palms resident to install these devices. If you encounter this individual, please call your Neighborhood Watch Coordinator at (813) 741-1328 or the Hillsborough County Sheriff at (813) 247-8200.

DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT LET THIS INDIVIDUAL; ENTER YOUR HOME! WE HAVE A STRICT NO SOLICITATION POLICY.

At our recent Neighborhood Watch meeting, HCSO advised the residents of Eagle Palms regarding a rash of burglaries being committed in the Riverview area from Panther Trace to Pavilion Estates. In light of the fact that we have also recently become victims of such crimes, all residents need to be especially vigilant since these events seem to occur during daylight hours.

Please make sure your home is secure. If you have an alarm make sure it is armed when you leave. If you don't have an alarm, GET ONE! I have enclosed information regarding the Pavilion incidents.

PAVILION BURGLARIES

On Tue Sep 8th there was a burglary, and an attempted burglary, both on the 9300 block of Hidden Water Circle. The events were separated by about 14 homes.
- The first crime occurred between 8:30 am and 3:30 pm today when a rear sliding glass door was pried open and damaged. The house was ransacked with drawers dumped; beds turned over, and closet clothes strewn about. The victim is still determining the value of items taken. The alarm system was not turned on.

- The second incident occurred at 3:15 pm. An elderly resident was home when one suspect started continuously ringing the front doorbell. The resident viewed through the peephole and elected not to answer the door, apparently leading the burglars to believe the house was unoccupied. While the doorbell was constantly ringing, a second suspect went through the fence gate, into the lanai, and up to the rear sliding glass door which he tried to pry it open, until he saw the resident inside. The suspects were two teenage black males with large backpacks. They may have parked a car nearby and entered the south side of Phase I on foot.

- Other burglaries may have occurred and not been discovered yet, if the residents were not home. These MOs match those of incidents earlier this year in all three Pavilion Phases, and a string of burglaries in communities to the south of us. It is possible these ‘entry methods" are used by several small groups of burglars.

MOST PAVILION BURGLARIES OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS OCCUR BETWEEN 9 AM - 4 PM.
MOST ENTRIES ARE THROUGH REAR SLIDING GLASS DOOR.
THIEVES ARE BECOMING MORE BRAZEN AND HAVE EVEN HIT OCCUPIED HOUSES RECENTLY.

CLOSE GARAGES, EVEN IF YOU ARE OUT OF SIGHT FOR A FEW MINUTES. We have recently lost about 10 bikes from garages.
LOCK DOORS. Many people do not lock their rear glass doors, or just use the small door catch.
SET YOUR ALARMS. You can set it up as unmonitored "audible only" with no monthly fees.
CALL THE NONEMERGENCY 247-8200 FOR ANY SUSPICIOUS PERSONS OR ACTIVITIES.
(Of course call 911 for crimes in progress.)

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has recently issued a security alert for a woman working the Riverview area claiming she is selling magazines.

Thus far, she has visited several communities including Panther Trace and South Pointe. Residents are claiming that she aggressively obtains consent to use the resident's facilities while in the home. Upon later inspection by the resident, they find an unlocked bathroom window.

Residents are also claiming the window was locked prior to this person's visit to the home. HCSO has not yet directly linked known burglaries to this person, but safety precautions need to be taken by residents visited by this woman to prevent a potential crime such as a burglary or robbery. DO NOT LET THIS WOMAN INTO YOUR HOME!

Immediately call HCSO or your Neighborhood Watch if you encounter her.

Well, our fledgling Neighborhood Watch is about three months old. We have the beginning of a great little community in Eagle Palms, and it will ultimately be 650 townhomes strong.

As I get out and have the opportunity to talk to more of my neighbors I am filled both with pride and disappointment in our results. In many ways we have accomplished so much in a very short time, and yet we have failed to reach some very important goals.

I don't know how many in our community remember the problems we were having in our community when our Neighborhood Watch program was started, I know I do, and we were having several issues every week ranging from vandalism, disturbances, drug issues(yes I said drugs), property theft, unwanted solicitations and even break-ins. Today, these types of issues have been substantially reduced.

What disturbs me however, is it also appears that we as a community are becoming too complacent since many of our initial problems have become almost non-existent. It appeears apathy is beginning to rear its ugly head in Eagle Palms. I will tell you we have some terrific people who are fully dedicated to the success of Neighborhood Watch and work hard to make our community a safer place. These folks are not looking for kudos and praise although they certainly deserve it. I know who you are, and I WILL say thank you because no one person can make this program a success.

What about the rest of you. Are you going to continue to "let the other guy do it", or are you also willing to be an active participant in the well being of your community. Its very easy to become involved. Call Don Maidlow @ (813) 741-1328.

Here's a letter I recently received from one of our residents:

This morning was a trash pickup day and when I left Eagle Palms for work the trash had not yet been picked up. Ahead in the neighborhood I saw a mid-90s silver Toyota Forerunner on the side of the street and a man picking something out of a recycling bin. I slowed down and waited to see if the action was repeated as the vehicle did not register in my mental database of neighbor's cars. Sure enough the guy crossed the street and began going through another person's trash. I pulled up and asked the driver "Do you live here?". She replied "No, we are just picking up cans". I told her I understood her motivation but that we just cannot have that in our neighborhood. Despite that they continued to do what they had been so I indicated to them that I was just going to have to call the Sheriff. Well that did it. They were in their vehicle and out of the neighborhood within 30 seconds.

Having picked up cans for the recycling money more than once in my life I understand theirs and others' plight. However, you have to realize that picking through someone's trash is just a tiny "baby step" away from looking for private documents for identity theft purposes. And not too far away from checking to see if side doors are locked either. No one should have to worry about such things while they are out striving to make a living - especially these days.

My hope is that everyone here, whether involved directly in the Neighborhood Watch or not, will keep aware of things that are out of the ordinary or suspicious, and never feel scared to call someone else's attention to the situation. It doesn't "take a village" to raise a child, but it does "take a neighbor-hood to keep a neighborhood safe".

"Laws, like houses, lean on each other", a quote by Edmund Burke who also said "The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing"


- Anonymous Eagle Palms Neighborhood Watcher

By Chris Knight, Neighborhood Watch Block Captain

There is not much that is more traumatic than becoming the victim of a crime. Here are some tips that might reduce your possibility of being someone's next target.

1. Never leave your garage door open when not at home. Upon entering your garage, close your garage door prior to exiting your vehicle

2. Never leave your sliding glass doors unlocked or open at night.

3. Never leave your vehicle doors unlocked whether you are in, or out of your vehicle. Do not leave valuables or packages visible when not in your car.

4. If you have an alarm system, make sure it is turned on when at home. Lock your doors even when at home. Do not leave your blinds open enough for others to look in your windows.
5. Do not open your door when someone unknown to you knocks or rings your bell. Install and use a door viewer. Make sure you know who is at your door. Always ask for identification prior to admitting strangers into your home.

6. Never give personal information about yourself to phone callers. Always ask for identification prior to admitting strangers into your home.

7. Keep emergency phone numbers readily available in the event they are needed. Don't leave messages on your voice mail indicating you are not at home.

8. Finally, do not walk or exercise in or out of the community without proper identification, a cell phone or personal protection device. Carry a flashlight at night.

Do's to make your life and activities safer

1. Become an active member of your Neighborhood Watch.
2. Call your Neighborhood Watch Block Captain or the Hillsborough Sheriff Dispatch number(813) 247-8200 if you see or suspect any suspicious activity in your community.
3. If you see or suspect any suspicious activities that might be of an emergency nature, immediately dial 911.
4. Always be aware of your surroundings when exercising or just walking.
5. If you plan to be away from home for an extended period, leave an itinerary with phone numbers where to reach you in an emergency with someone you trust. Personally notify the person should your return plans change.
6. Become aware of happenings in your community. Utilize your Neighborhood Watch Website. There is a wealth of information to help you live safer including the phone numbers of your Block Captains.
5. Get to know and communicate with your neighbors.