Neighborhood Safety – Fall 2024

I-485 Weddington Rd Interchange Update

  • The bridge over I-485 will be completed in the next couple of weeks but cannot be used until the asphalt is poured on the road in front of the Brace YMCA and Harris Teeter. That is expected to be completed sometime between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31, 2024.
  • Traffic lights at Plantation Rd & Weddington Rd. are scheduled to be installed in Spring 2025.
  • The switch to the final traffic pattern is expected to occur in May 2025.
  • The project completion date is scheduled for June 2025.

Crimes Report

I am pleased to report that as of October 15, 2024, reported crime has declined 23% when compared to the same time last year.

The following crimes were reported in Providence Plantation YTD in 2024 and 2023.

Crimes Reported20242023
Assault – non-aggravated53
Assault – Intimidation/Threat10
Burglary1*3
Unlawfully discharging a firearm1**0
Fraud58
Larceny from Auto23
Larceny – Other27
Vandalism30
Vehicle Theft02
Total Crimes Reported2026

*A vacant house was entered, nothing taken.

** On Oct. 12, 3:45 AM someone discharges 7 rounds from a rifle on Lancelot Dr. between Camelot Dr. and Celest Ct. Fortunately no one was struck and there have been no reports of property damage.

Fraud continues to be on the increase with over a third of American adults (approximately 120.2 million people) vulnerable to theft by responding to calls, texts, or friend requests from people they do not know.

Recently a staggering data breach at National Public Data put personal data, including the Social Security numbers, of billions of Americans in the hands of cybercriminals.

Data reaching back at least three decades is said to be included in the breach—and the inclusion of Social Security numbers has raised concerns.

Be Proactive:

Here is how you can find out if your Social Security number was part of the breach.

Pentester, a cybersecurity firm, has set up a tool to let you see if your data was part of the breach. Go to npd.pentester.com and enter your first and last name and birth year. You will see a list of breached accounts, including the last four digits of the leaked Social Security numbers.

When I checked I discovered my wife, and I was on the list of breached accounts.

Here is what you should do if your Social Security number was included in the breach.

Closely monitor your financial accounts including your checking, saving balances and credit card bills.

Fraud Alert
Place an alert on your credit file at Fraud Alert Center at Experian: https://www.experian.com/fraud/center.html or by calling 1-888-397-3742.

For added protection there is another option; A credit freeze, which prevents new credit from being issued without your direct permission.

Credit Freeze

You have the right to put a security freeze, also known as a credit freeze, on your credit file, so that no new credit can be opened in your name without the use of a Personal Identification Number (PIN) that is issued to you when you initiate a freeze. A credit freeze is designed to prevent potential credit grantors from accessing your credit report without your consent. If you place a credit freeze, potential creditors and other third parties will not be able to access your credit report unless you temporarily lift the freeze. Therefore, using a credit freeze may delay your ability to obtain credit. Pursuant to federal law, you cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on your credit report. Should you wish to place a credit freeze, please contact all three major consumer reporting agencies listed below.

Experian: https://www.experian.com/freeze/center.html, TransUnion: https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze & Equifax: https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/

It’s also a good idea to set up credit monitoring to ensure no one is using your personal information—and contact one of the three U.S. credit reporting agencies, to set up a fraud alert on your account, which will tell creditors to contact you before they open any new accounts or change your existing accounts. Once it is set up with one agency, it will go into effect with the others. It remains active for one year and can be renewed.

Credit Monitoring

Instead of signing up for expensive services that monitor your credit records for identity theft, do it yourself for free. You can now get a free copy of your credit reports at https://www.annualcreditreport.com/ from each of the three bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) every 12 months. Stagger your requests with each of the three bureaus so you get one report every four months. Review each one carefully for errors or unauthorized charges.

Review your credit report from all three bureaus and report any activity you do not recognize. Request a copy of your latest credit reports by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com.

Review resources available at the Social Security Administration online by visiting SSA.Gov/Fraud.

If you would like to be added to our email database, have changed your email address in the past year and/or have not been receiving emails from us and want to receive them, please send your email address to Nicole Russo at email@pp-hoa.org.

It is important to report all incidents of crime to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. The police would rather respond to a false alarm than not respond and have a crime committed.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: https://www.charlottenc.gov/cmpd/ePolicing-Resources/Report-A-Crime-Online

Also, please notify me at security@pp-hoa.org or call 849-9234 between 9am and 9pm.

Harvey Katowitz

Security chairperson