One Day - Two Break-Ins

Two residents reported break-ins to their properties today. Both were end units; both times the criminal or criminals popped the rear sliding glass doors off with a crowbar.

From accounts I have heard, that is the entry point for all these crimes. When we met with a Hillsborough County Sheriff's Deputy earlier this year at the Riverview library, either he or someone else there mentioned a device that you can attach to your sliding glass door that makes it much more difficult for someone to pry it out of its frame. If anyone remembers what that was and where you can buy one, I'll mention it on the community blog.

These crimes have happened during the day, mostly between 10am-2pm. One of the affected residents suggests hiring security to patrol the community during that time.

The idea was broached at a previous HOA board meeting and the advice we got was that hiring someone every day would probably be cost prohibitive, even at just 10am-2pm.

However, we may not need someone every day. We could hire someone to work 2-3 days a week -- making sure that they aren't the same days every week so that criminals can't predict when we're unprotected.

I have asked that we address this issue at the next board meeting. If this is something you have ideas about and want the board to hear them, please plan to attend. The meeting has been moved to October 27. It will also be our annual budget meeting.