OLYMPIC RIDGE ESTATES COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
MINUTES OF THE CRIME WATCH INFORMATION MEETING



TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2008
PARADISE BAY CLUBHOUSE
41 W. ALDER STREET, PORT LUDLOW, WA

MEMBERS PRESENT: Sandine #1, Ueda #5, Brooks #6/19, Peters #7, Hillman #8, Dickson #9, Wagner #14, Krotzer/Tompkins #16, Cable #17, Myhre #20, Brady #23

GUEST SPEAKER: Jefferson County Deputy Sheriff Charles McCarty

Call to Order
President Kat Brady called the meeting to order at 7:10 P.M.

ORECA members met to discuss establishing a neighborhood crime watch. Deputy McCarty began by showing crime statistics for the county and in particular, for our portion of the county, Patrol District N6. He told us that the Sheriff’s Office solved the break-ins and car prowls that happened in this area in early 2007. Because of the easy access across the Hood Canal Bridge, the Sheriff’s Office works closely with Kitsap County law enforcement to share information and solve crimes.

Neighborhood Watch
The program includes knowing your neighbors, observing the area and noting and reporting suspicious people, sounds and vehicles. Subjects covered at the meeting included:

Mail Theft
If you see or suspect that someone is stealing mail, or if you’ve been a victim of mail theft, contact both the Post Office and the Sheriff’s Office. Give as much information as you can, including description of the people and description and license number of the car. The license number is the key information to have.

Deputy McCarty suggested locking mailboxes as a deterrent to mail theft.


Crime Deterrents and Security Measures
Lights:
Motion sensor exterior lights
Light timers for interior lights
If someone is checking your house during a vacation, ask them to turn lights off and on in different rooms.

Radio or TV playing
Neighborhood Watch window warning signs.
Keeping a record of serial numbers or other ID numbers for your electronics, power equipment, etc.
Outside alarm speaker for neighbors to hear
Telling neighbors when you’re gone and leaving contact information
Contacting the Sheriff’s Office for short-term vacation checks on your property

Everyone knows about calling 911 for an emergency, but Deputy McCarty also suggested calling the Sheriff's Office direct number, 385-3831, then #1, to report suspicious activity or to report crimes.

To learn more about the Sheriff’s Office, including crime statistics, vacation checks and other info, see http://www.jeffersonsheriff.org/ . There’s a link to the website on http://olympicridge.org/.

Meredith Wagner recently learned of a suggestion that would be especially good for times when you’re home alone. Keep your car keys by your bed at night and if you hear a suspicious noise, activate the car alarm by pushing the alarm or panic button on your keys.

National Neighborhood Watch Institute
The NNWI, http://www.nnwi.org/ , publishes a Participants Handbook and several forms to use in maintaining a watch program. We received some handbooks and forms at the meeting and will be providing them to all residents.

What’s Next?
We need a resident to take the lead in organizing the watch program, including assembling contact information and holding periodic meetings. Deputy McCarty is available to attend the meetings if necessary.

If you’re interested, contact ORECA President Kat Brady.

Motion to adjourn: Meeting adjourned at 8:15 P.M.

Submitted by Cindy Sandine