Smile, you are on candid camera! Well, sort of. You may have noticed that we have installed security cameras!
Why have we done this? Over the past couple of years we have had several instances of people who shouldn’t be in our building, using our parking lots as bathrooms, and doing damage to cars. We want you to be safe and to feel safe. We think cameras will help.
What else are we doing to ensure our security? The key used to open exterior doors has been in use for over 15 years. It is in the possession of some who should not have it. In the near future we will switch to a FOB system. A FOB system is a door entry system used to control access to the FSH building through exterior doors. You simply wave a small FOB over a strike pad next to an exterior door and the door opens. It is easier than a key and can be programmed. When we are ready to implement this you will get more information.
If you have any questions or comments please ask Joe or a Board member.
I just found out last week about 2 incidents in the parking lot that occured lastweek that got me worried and thinking. Apparently, during the day, someone was parking illegally in the lot and was engaged in some ‘dicey’ activity with his girlfriend. On the other evening, apparently whoever was on duty heard a young woman yelling for help from the parking lot. I believe a police report was filed on this although I don’t think anyone was apprehended.
So my first question is, how do we, as residents, get informed about these kind of security breaches in a systematic way? If I hadn’t happened to see one of the maintenance people that day, I would not have heard about either event. Forewarned is forearmed as far as I’m concerned and I would think others might feel the same way.
But this also brings up another concern. Has anyone discussed the advantages to gating the parking lot? While we were looking into buying the condo, one of our neighbors went to a neighborhood Police Watch meeting and was told that our parking lot has apparently been a hub for drug activity. This is an additional reason that gating the parking lot, along with other security options, should be discussed and considered. I know you have security cameras which are fairly new, but if someone is not watching the cameras at all times, they don’t provide much protection. I think an additional layer of security could be very helpful.
I have also emailed Dick about this, but I’d appreciate hearing back from the Board about this. Thanks!
Sue
Thanks for the comments, Sue.
The Board is aware of 2 incidents. One was the hit and run on 11/14 at 10:23 PM. We have viewed the video and can see exactly what happened. This incident is reported to the police. The other incident occurred a couple of weeks ago. One of our staff found a couple engaged in ‘dicey’ behavior as you put it. The staff member promptly addressed the situation and threatened to call the police. The couple left immediately without further disturbance.
Regarding the yelling woman – A staff member has informed me that this occurred on Murray Blvd, not on FSH property, a couple of weeks ago. Owners and residents who hear (and are disturbed by) noise not on FSH property can call the police directly.
The Board has never heard of any drug activity on FSH property. Our staff is quite vigilant and knowledgeable about what happens on FSH property and they have not seen drug activity. We do not believe it is a problem but are open to any evidence that shows otherwise. Perhaps the neighborhood watch group was referring to activity in the Whitepoint Garden or around Murray Blvd?
Our property is sometimes used as a bathroom. There are no public facilities nearby and this has been an issue for many years. The cameras and surveillance signs have already helped with this. A police car is often parked during the daytime on the Murray parking lot, which I think also helps deter bad behavior.
The board has discussed the idea about gating the parking lot entrances before and concluded that the cost is too much for the benefit derived. I will suggest that we discuss this again, and decide whether or not to add this as an item on the maintenance list. We will also discuss how to keep owners/residents better informed when incidents do occur. Thanks. –Beth
Thanks much for the info, Beth!