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4 SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | APRIL 2021 By Teri Collett I would like to take a moment and thank all the residents that have reached out to me in my new role and offered either suggestions or words of encouragement. I appreciate the support and the advice; I look forward to working together with everyone. As the days get warmer and longer hopefully, we will find ourselves spending more time outside and enjoying the beautiful surroundings. Part of the responsibility of the Property Service Manager is to ensure that those surroundings stay beautiful. If at any point you receive a Compliance notice from me, I encourage you to please reach out to me with any questions or comments you might have on the matter. I hope to approach any of your concerns with compassion and understanding and look forward to helping resolve any concerns quickly and to everyone's satisfaction. This month I will be focusing on the sun faded items around the community. Please take an extra moment to look around and spruce up any faded items such as shutters, garage doors, address tiles and any other visible items that could use a little love. Property Service Manager's Report By Daniel Mendez, Chairperson The EPAC Committee is anxious to get our plans for this year underway. When we are able, we will conduct meetings and have hands-on drills for the community. Our motto, as well as the Boy Scout motto, is to "always be prepared." That does not just mean in case of an earthquake. There is much, much more we can be prepared for and reminded of. Examples would be home security, having your vehicle equipped with emergency devices, and some lessons in first aid. Due to some of the EPAC committee members moving away, there are currently two openings for membership into EPAC. Our committee meets once a month and does not require any special skills. Later in the year, we hope the Hemet Fire Department will once again have CERT training (Community Emergency Response Team). It is recommended, is free of charge, and the training takes place over just one weekend. I will send out a notification when these courses are available again for anyone interested. Contact me if you have any questions regarding this committee. Anyone interested in joining will need to fill out a Volunteer Interest Form and turn it in to the front desk personnel. Edith Reed left some very large shoes for me to fill and I will do my best with her guidance. Thankfully, she has agreed to stay on the committee as well. Stay alert, and stay safe. ~ danielfmendez@yahoo.com by Steve Day, Chair, SDV Neighborhood Watch Crime prevention has long been employed as an important strategy in deterring criminals from creating havoc in our personal lives. While not all incidents of crime can be stopped, it just makes common sense to not provide an opportunity for the bad guy looking for an easy hit. This phrase is still meaningful: Harden the target! To this end, our HOA board has invited the Neighborhood Watch to periodically submit crime prevention articles to the View. When you first got married you said, "I love you!" I'll bet your spouse didn't think that was the last time they would hear those important words. No, you have to repeat them now and then to be meaningful. The same with "crime prevention" strategy. You may have heard the words before, but they have to be repeated now and then to be effective. Just like our marriages, our property has to be protected to ensure its continuing value. Our first article deals with the security of our homes. Vigilance is the key to crime prevention. Really, sometimes you have to think like a crook. For instance, pretend you are locked out of your house. How would you get in? If you can identify a way to access your home without a key, then so can the bad guy. Think about your landscaping; are your grounds maintained well, with trimmed shrubs and open areas that make it hard for the unwanted element to find places to hide? If you have dark areas, consider opening them up with appropriate lighting. If you are going to be away, leave a light on to represent life in the home and consider having a neighbor park one of his cars in your driveway. Don't let the mail pile up. The post office will be glad to put a hold on your mail until you return. Ask a neighbor to keep an eye out for packages and unsolicited "throw aways" that might be left at your front door or driveway. Ensure that all doors and windows are shut securely. For sliding glass doors, a common stick can be placed into the door glide to prevent it opening even if someone forced the lock. The National Crime Prevention Center notes that more than 60 percent of suspects in completed burglaries enter thru unlocked doors. Don't tell the bad guy that you are on vacation by broadcasting you will be out of town thru social media. My experience in SDV is that most of the bad guys are opportunists, simply looking for an easy score. Don't help them by leaving valuables in plain sight in your car or visible by looking in your home windows. Monitored alarms are very effective in preventing home burglaries by way of deterring and/ or detecting an illegal entry. Remember, you are the key to your home security! Emergency Preparedness Advisory Committee Neighborhood Watch Update