The following crimes were reported in Providence Plantation from January 1 through March 30, 2018:
All of the assaults involved family members or acquaintances.
**Auto Key fob left inside unlocked auto
Over the past twelve months, 16 homeowners in our neighborhood have become victims of fraud/identity theft. Here are some tips on how to protect yourself from fraud.
10 ways to protect credit cards
- Never leave your card unattended at work.
- Don’t leave your card (or anything of value) in your car.
- Do not write down your personal identification number (PIN). Memorize it.
- Always make sure your card is returned to you after a purchase.
- Always keep your card in a secure location, especially when traveling.
- Report lost or stolen credit cards immediately.
- Sign the back of new cards as soon as you get it with a permanent marker and destroy unwanted cards.
- Make a list of your cards and their numbers. This information is vital for reporting ;lost or stolen cards.
- Always check your monthly statements and report any discrepancies.
- Only give your credit card information over the telephone if you have placed the call to make a purchase from a reputable company.
Additionally, do not throw any documents with account numbers or your social security number in the trash without shredding it first. During our March HOA board meeting we discussed having a shredding day in our neighborhood where members of the HOA would be allowed to come and have personal paper work shredded using shredding trucks from a commercial shredding company.
The HOA will be taking a survey of HOA members to see how many members would be interested in this service. The HOA will pay for the service and depending on the response from HOA members, the cost would be $250-$500.
It is that time of year when our neighborhood experiences an increase of door-to-door peddlers. We have already had an incident where a peddler working for a magazine company with a shady history has been soliciting sales.
Do not open your door to strangers. Instead, you should say through the door that you are not interested, and ask them to leave.
Do not purchase magazines from door-to-door sales people because you will probably not receive the magazines.
Do not give money to door-to-door solicitors, unless you know you are giving to local kids for local causes.
If you feel threatened by any door-to-door sales representative, call 911.
Check businesses out at www.bbb.org before making a purchase.
If you are a victim of fraudulent magazine sales or any other scam, notify the police and file a complaint with the www.bbb.org.
Here is the local peddler ordinance as it pertains to our neighborhood:
Sec. 6-438. Restricted hours in residential areas. It shall be unlawful to peddle any article of merchandise from any vehicle or on foot between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. in areas zoned for residential purposes within the corporate limits. However, during such periods that daylight saving time is in effect, these hours shall be from 9:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. (Code 1985, 6-28)
It is important to report all incidents of crime to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
For crimes in progress and other emergencies, dial 911. For non-emergencies, and past crimes, call 311. You can also report the following past crimes using the Online Reporting System; Larceny, Harassing Phone Calls, Theft from Auto, or Property Damage. You can do so at a link from the CMPD website. Also, please notify me at 704-849-9234, between 9am and 9pm, or email me at hkatowitz@windstream.net
Harvey Katowitz, Security Chairperson