Bulletin Board

Protect Your Breaker Boxes…

In 2012, there were several instances of power being shut off in several homes. It turned out that someone had opened their power control boxes and shut off the main breaker. The police indicated that this sort of thing had happened in other neighborhoods and it was believed to be kids performing a prank.

The first line of defense is LOCK YOUR ELECTRICAL BOXES — and secondly, please spread the word to your neighbors to prevent further activity. It has helped that neighbors have been looking out for each other, which also discourages this sort of activity. Please be diligent and look out for your neighbor(s), and if this should happen to you, contact Scottsdale police.

Note that since this problem was reported and neighbors started keeping an eye on adjacent properties, we have not had a similar instance since then, but it still pays to take the precautions to prevent any more in the future.

Also, consider locking any gates you have into the back yard, as a further deterrent to pranksters.

Home Security Checklist Y/N Note
Exterior Doors Metal or solid core wood?
Exterior Doors are secured with a single-cylinder deadbolt?
Arcadia doors are secured by installing a pin, Charlie bar, dowel, or foot-lock?
Doors and Windows are locked at all times?
Garage door stays closed even if at home or working in the back yard?
Insure there is adequate lighting at every entry point? **
Rear Patios and yard are well lit? **
All shrubbery is trimmed below window heights and away from doorways?
Mature tree limbs are trimmed to eight feet to ensure visibility and to prevent roof access?
Home address is clearly visible and illuminated at night? **
Valuables are video/photographed, inventoried annually, marked for identification and kept in a secure location?
Lights are left on during evening hours to deter criminal activity? **
Ask a trusted neighbor to collect any mail, newspapers, and door hangers when out of town?
Request the trash and recycle bins be put out and retrieved on designated collection days when out of town?
Lights, radios and television are set on timers when out of town?
For a more complete home survey, please contact your District Crime Prevention Officer.
District 3
200363 N. Pima Road (480) 312-8802

For a more complete home survey, please contact your District Crime Prevention Officer.

District 4
200363 N. Pima Road
To file a report: 480-312-5000

Commander:
Bruce Ciolli
480-312-5714

Lobby (480) 312-8802

You can access the Scottsdale Police Department on the city’s Web site at: http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/police

All police Department locations can be found at: http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/police/contact

** Any external lighting must comply with the dark skies provisions of the Environmentally Sensitive Lands Ordinance and Carriage Trails CC&Rs and Policies and Guidelines.

In addition to the above listed items, we would add that if you are not a full-time resident, we would suggest you have an alarm system and that it is advertised outside the home. Also, please pick any maintenance personnel and service companies very carefully, as they are the most likely source of people who know when you are away.

Wildfire Prevention

As the temperatures heat up, the desert grasses that grew with spring rains are drying out, creating a fire danger. Protect your home from wild land fires by:

  1. Creating a 30-foot defensible space around your home,
  2. Remove perennial grasses and thin over-grown bushes.
  3. Remove dead branches from living trees and all dead vegetation from the ground, and
  4. Keep a rolled-up garden hose with a nozzle attached to an outside hose valve connection.

For safety tips and general updated information, you can request The Scottsdale Fire Department email updates to be sent to you regularly from the Department’s website at www.Scottsdale.gov/fire.

Want more help? Schedule a free safety inspection! Scottsdale’s firefighters will inspect your property and advise you of ways to protect your home and property from a brush fire. Fire department representatives can also provide information about low and high risk vegetation. You can schedule a free brush safety inspection or report an unsafe construction site, by calling the Scottsdale Fire Department at 480-312-1855.