Improving Community Security

I'd like to start this thread on ideas for improving community security.

One idea is putting up wireless cameras and feeding images to our community website. Questions that would need answers for this:

- How many would we need, where would they be placed?
- How much would they cost? Initially and annually.
- What contractors install them?
- Are there concerns for privacy?

Another idea I have heard in the past is setting up a signup database for citizen community watch.

Another I heard long ago was turning Broadlands into a gated community with guards like other communities have.

Any other ideas, comments or suggestions?

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Got Broadband?

 

I think the cameras are a good idea; I'm not concerned about the privacy aspect. I would think that if you are trying to see who is entering and exiting the community, you would need them at all major entrances: both ends of Waxpool, Claiborne, Broadlands Blvd, and North Ridgeway (when it opens).

I don't think the gated community would fly, however. It seems to me that Broadlands has far too many access points to enclose with gates (and there will be even more when North Ridgeway opens up). Plus, I bet a lot of non-residents utilize Waxpool/Claiborne to navigate the county - can we just shut these county roads down? Broadlands is just too large -- I don't think you'll find too many gated communities with 3000+ homes.

 

A camera on the new saul center building would cover the North entrance.

 

I agree with the camera locations. Anyone coming in and exiting would be taped. I also agree that the gated community would not work. Broadlands is too large and spread out. With the schools and shopping and people passing through, probably wouldn't fly.
Do we currently have a neighborhood watch? It seems if not, maybe now is the time to get one up and running. I personally moved here 7 years ago, mainly because of the schools and the so called "safe" neighborhood of Ashburn Va.
Also, Hornerjo as far as privacy concerns go, IMO the only people that would have a problem with this are probably the ones you need to watch out for.

 

neighborhood watch info:

How do I start a Neighborhood Watch?

To begin a NW, merely form a small planning committee of neighbors to discuss the needs of your community, gage the level of interest and potential problems, decide on a date and place for an initial Neighborhood Watchmeeting, and contact your local police department or sheriff's office, and notify them of your interest to start a NW. You will then be assigned a crime prevention officer who will attend your first meeting. It's that simple. For more information and educational materials related to starting a Neighborhood Watchor to register your Neighborhood Watchin the National Neighborhood WatchDatabase, click onto the Register / Start Watch on this website.

and here is the site:

http://www.usaonwatch.org/faqs.aspx

so i guess we need to see if we have interest in starting this (i assume we do, but let's hear from others) and some people for a committee, count me in! we need a coordinator as well, someone with the free time to devote to this.

 

I believe Broadlands already has a community watch. I remember seeing the sign-up form in the community center several months back.

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Got Broadband?

 

No, I don't think cameras all over the place are the way to go. Some people do have privacy concerns, and even if a home owner is not one of the people with the concerns, what about the people that visit them? I'm sure there are many people who would have a serious issue knowing that they are being taped when entering our community.

I would nix that idea and definitely vote against it. I will protect my home with a security system, and rely on the police and the law to find perpetrators that perform criminal acts in our community.

M.

 

not according to the neighborhood watch website we don't. maybe it's something similar the HOA setup?

 

Cameras won't work (I'm against them anyway), but maybe signs to the entrances of the community saying we have them would be enough of a deterrent. It really boils down to neighbors looking out for one another. Is that so difficult?

 

BTW, there was an effort to institute a neighborhood watch a year and a half ago, but somewhere along the line it kinda died. I don't even remember who was trying to organize it, but it didn't get off the ground.

 

i found this in an old thread. it seems the reason we don't have a watch currently, is because we don't have the 1,000 signatures needed to start one. i read one old post that said it's at the nature center and another with a link to a broadlands resident trying to get signatures:

http://www.millerhousehold.com/nw.html

maybe if we had a couple volunteers to sit up at the safeway for a shift or two, or at one of the broadlands live events to help get some more signatures??? i'd be up for that.

 

1000 people at the Safeway? Good luck!

 

I would suggest that these issues be posed at an upcoming HOA meeting and invite a representative from the sheriff's department as well who I am sure could give additional suggestions. I am in favor of a neighborhood watch program and not against having cameras at strategic points in the community.

As an aside, I think that neighbors should also be watchful of our walking trails; especially those that traverse immediately behind one's backyard.

I believe we still live in one of the best communities but it's common sense to also remain watchful.

 

I don't think cameras would be a bad idea. But access should be limited to someone who has had something happen (accident, stolen car, etc.) and then someone could scan the picture/video archives with them to find whatever it may be they're looking for.

But, I don't think we need them yet... but if things get worse, then yeah...

 

Good one! Should camp outside: ABC, Starbucks, Blockbuster's instead.

And at the other center at the new pub!

 

Neighborhood watch is a great idea, but to jump on this bandwagon because a couple of cars were stolen won't keep it from happening in the future. These guys (professionals) would have seen a neighborhood watch car drive by them in the act and they would've just waved hello. Having been in a neighborhood watch for 10 years where I used to live involved looking out for each other all the time. The cars driving around with magnetic "neighborhood watch" signs on them were just for visibility, and was required in order to get the "neighborhood watch" signs installed in the community.

 

Really! LOL..

 

To me cameras are too Orwellian.
Guarded gates are a bit anthropophobic. Not to mention expensive and snobbish.
Neighborhood watch is most likely the best way to go. Another suggestion would be to alert residents of problems that have taken place to be on the lookout for suspicious activity.
But that's just my $.02

 

Cameras around the community was discussed some time ago, but my understanding is that the cost would be prohibitive. We are trying to start a neighborhood watch for our community and there is a petition (Nature Center) to show need/want, which I believe needs to be sent to the sheriffs office to show neighbors are in agreement, and that a watch program should be started in Broadlands. Also, at our HOA meeting last night a police officer from the sherriffs department was in attendance, he will be our community liaison and will be reporting statistics and information we need to be aware of. I will ask him what else we can do to get our watch program underway.

 

i don't think people are jumping to find a solution soley because of this car theft. it's not like the first crime to ever happen in broadlands. we've already had a murder in our neighborhood, i can remember a robbery on frame square over a year or two ago, and it seems we've had vandals in the area since the beginning. it's just something like this happening that wakes people up to the importance of having a neighborhood watch or something like it. it's much easier to protect a relatively safe neighborhood than to try to fix one with riddled with heavy crime already.

after all, for those who have been in the area long enough, i'm sure we don't want to see broadlands turn into another Sugarland (a.k.a. crackland)! That neighborhood was very affluent at its inception and was the place "everyone wanted to live" much like ashburn is now. you couldn't pay me to live there with my family today!