Have you seen the Woodlands roving patrol.….roving lately? Chances are you haven’t. Most sightings have been of them sitting in their patrol cars eating or talking on the phone under the shade of one of our six clubhouses. According to BSO, most of the crimes in the Woodlands have been to personal property including homes and vehicles. At this time, not one of our clubhouses have been burglarized.
Last month while patrolling in our Woodlands COPS car (which in case you don’t know is our volunteer Citizens Observation Patrol) both myself and neighbor Richard Gelman were in desperate need of our roving patrol. We had just spoken to the officer who was parked at the Section 5 Clubhouse. We left him and then proceeded on to the Commercial Blvd entrance of Banyan Lane where we saw two suspicious looking men with an empty backpack walking around checking out the residences. Because we are not allowed to confront suspects or even follow them, we called the officer who did not answer our Woodlands-Issued phone. We left him a message while still watching the suspects, growing more concerned after noticing that they did they seem to live here nor were they waiting to catch a bus. Richard called the Roving Patrol again and he finally answered. Richard explained the situation, gave him the address and told him to come immediately. We knew it wouldn’t take long as he was nearby in Section 5. Ten minutes went by and the suspects dodged inside the development from Commercial Blvd where we lost them. Finally, the officer came by and we asked him what took so long. He said he accidentally went to the Sago Palm entrance. We were floored as we couldn’t believe that he got the entrance wrong when we clearly gave him the address. The officer looked for the suspects and grew concerned as well because he said there was a robbery across the street from the Woodlands that very morning.
According to Steve Culotta, Manager for Ambassador Community Management, the Woodlands has paid Broward Sherriff’s Office $175,000 through the month of November. How this breaks down is that our Roving Patrol gets $35 an hour so this amount is equal to roughly about 5,000 hours. While doing auditing for the Woodlands, Steve has found questionable outbound calls on the Woodlands-issued cell phone. For instance, one call was to Tennessee which lasted over 30 minutes. He did some research and found it wasn’t even related to a residential issue.
Today while walking, I noticed the Roving Patrol sitting at the Section 6 clubhouse. I went by and it looked like he was deep into some sort of paperwork. Thirty minutes later I passed by again and noticed he was still sitting there. I walked over to the car and looked down to see what he was doing where I noticed he was doing his homework, complete with a textbook and highlighter. I asked him how he was and to please make sure other parts of the Woodlands get some coverage. He looked at me told me he had it covered. I left and wondered, how can you cover the Woodlands if you are studying in your patrol car?
I must add that most of these BSO officers are wonderful and friendly people. They will help you immediately if you call with a concern. The problem is they are rotated and we may get inefficient ones who don’t take our security seriously. The Woodlands HOA and residents need to stay on top of our biggest budget item and make sure we are getting our money’s worth.
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- Sharon Aron Baron is the Editor of Talk Media, which includes Margate Talk, Tamarac Talk, Coral Springs Talk, and Parkland Talk.
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44 comments
They were both in the gove compartment..but yes…my bad…I guess people think that it is ok to steal if givent the chance…I just moved in the Woodlands from a gated comunity and we had no robberies..so I was not used to being robbed..now, I know better!
With regard to BSO Patrol and Gating the Neighborhood
Are we getting our money’s worth from BSO? I am not sure, I doubt it though. Surpriseingly, I am a uniformed officer that just happens to work for the agency that provides our Patrol Service. I too have seen marked patrol cars just parked wondering just what they are doing. Though, I am not quite sure there is a better alternative. It is not as effective as most may think. There were a number of homes around me burglarized recently. The crime is a crime of opportunity. PEOPLE, you all need to take the opportunity to protect your home. I have. Invest a little something into your home. If the house looks week, you WILL be taken advantage of.
Since moving to the Woodlands 4 years ago, I have learned that most of my neighbors mearly exist in their homes, that they have no idea what the outside looks like, that they take no pride in the appearance of their home… I could go on about that subject for hours. I have neighbors on both sides of me who yards are nothing more than weed nurseries and I have to fight to keep them out of my yard. Most homes are deteriorating beyond belief. WHY?
As far as gating the neighborhood, who are you kidding. There is a semi-public country club in the middle. How do you regulate who comes and goes from there? Who are you going to hire to man the gate house? Not anyone who will work for $10.00 and hour and be productive. We will end up with some non-english speaking islander who DOES NOT CARE. Trust me, I have been down this road before. That situation is just as hopeless.
With regard to BSO Patrol and Gating the Neighborhood
Are we getting our money’s worth from BSO? I am not sure, I doubt it though. Surpriseingly, I am a uniformed officer that just happens to work for the agency that provides our Patrol Service. I too have seen marked patrol cars just parked wondering just what they are doing. Though, I am not quite sure there is a better alternative. It is not as effective as most may think. There were a number of homes around me burglarized recently. The crime is a crime of opportunity. PEOPLE, you all need to take the opportunity to protect your home. I have. Invest a little something into your home. If the house looks week, you WILL be taken advantage of.
Since moving to the Woodlands 4 years ago, I have learned that most of my neighbors mearly exist in their homes, that they have no idea what the outside looks like, that they take no pride in the appearance of their home… I could go on about that subject for hours. I have neighbors on both sides of me who yards are nothing more than weed nurseries and I have to fight to keep them out of my yard. Most homes are deteriorating beyond belief. WHY?
As far as gating the neighborhood, who are you kidding. There is a semi-public country club in the middle. How do you regulate who comes and goes from there? Who are you going to hire to man the gate house? Not anyone who will work for $10.00 and hour and be productive. We will end up with some non-english speaking islander who DOES NOT CARE. Trust me, I have been down this road before. That situation is just as hopeless.
While I am venting let me tell you one more story….after my car was broken into, and I had only been living in the Woodlands for a couple of months…I am parking my car as up close to the house as possible. Well, call it bad parking, a narrow driveway, it was unintential, nor did I think anything of it I just parked my car in my driveway in front of my house…I see out my window a police officer squatting down in front of my house closely checking something out…he knocks on my door…now, my heart drops cause last time a policeman showed up at my door was to inform my myself and my family that my older brother was killed in an accident…so my knees are weak at this point… He says to me…why are you parked like that..and I’m like…parked like what, I’m in my driveway, I live here…Well, he says…one of your tires is in the grass…and I’m like “So”??….well…move your car or I will write you out a violation as you cannot be parked on the grass…I said, you got to be kidding me…no…move your car or I will write you a ticket…fine..no big deal…I am not one to break laws, cause trouble…I didn’t know…I will move my care immedietly.
So I said, while you are at it…there are squatters living in a vacent house around the corner and the neigbor’s are terrified of them…why don’t you do something about that..you are so concerned about a few blades of grass…his answer,,not my juridiction!…did you actually see them break into the house?? I know two rights don’t make a wrong..but, here I am getting put in my place for having a tire on a piece of my grass, on my property..but, you can break into an abandoned house…live there, and terrify the neighbors…but, nothing he can do…
Can’t make this stuff up…!!
PS…not to mention my fruit trees being totally stripped in the middle of the night, this past summer (even trees in my backyard not visible by the street)…who the heck was on my property!? CREEPY!
I bought a home in the Woodlands this past year. Within a month of living here, my car was broken into and my GPS and a camara were stolen. I did stop a BSO officer that I saw driving by and told him about the breakin…he said it was kids that walk around at night..make sure you lock your car doors and have bright lights focused on the car.
On top of that, you have the City of Tamarac harrassing you and putting violations on your door (for a crack in my driveway)..it has probably been cracked for 20 years and my tree is too big…etc…you have to cut it back..that is ok..but..when I bought this house it was sitting vacant for at least a year (and that tree took years to get that big), why suddenly now…all the code violations?
Well…between all the robberies in the neighhood and the city code violations, I will be putting my home up for sale soon as I don’t feel safe living here, nor do I like being harrased by the city, I feel like I am the criminal!
Why is your GPS any different that a digital camera or phone or your purse? Would you leave that in your car all night? Will the suction cup adhereing it to the windshield prevent it from being stolen? Not likely. Learn from your mistakes.
Christina, you should write a letter regarding your situation, to our Mayor, City Commissioner (both live in the Woodlands), our Chief of Police, and Jennifer Bramley Community Development and Code Enforcement and see who responds. I would hope that someone would have an answer about the squatters living next to you. Also, have you talked to Steve at Ambassador, he is a good source of information.
I bought a home in the Woodlands this past year. Within a month of living here, my car was broken into and my GPS and a camara were stolen. I did stop a BSO officer that I saw driving by and told him about the breakin…he said it was kids that walk around at night..make sure you lock your car doors and have bright lights focused on the car.
On top of that, you have the City of Tamarac harrassing you and putting violations on your door (for a crack in my driveway)..it has probably been cracked for 20 years and my tree is too big…etc…you have to cut it back..that is ok..but..when I bought this house it was sitting vacant for at least a year (and that tree took years to get that big), why suddenly now…all the code violations?
Well…between all the robberies in the neighhood and the city code violations, I will be putting my home up for sale soon as I don’t feel safe living here, nor do I like being harrased by the city, I feel like I am the criminal!
Why is your GPS any different that a digital camera or phone or your purse? Would you leave that in your car all night? Will the suction cup adhereing it to the windshield prevent it from being stolen? Not likely. Learn from your mistakes.
They were both in the gove compartment..but yes…my bad…I guess people think that it is ok to steal if givent the chance…I just moved in the Woodlands from a gated comunity and we had no robberies..so I was not used to being robbed..now, I know better!
Christina, you should write a letter regarding your situation, to our Mayor, City Commissioner (both live in the Woodlands), our Chief of Police, and Jennifer Bramley Community Development and Code Enforcement and see who responds. I would hope that someone would have an answer about the squatters living next to you. Also, have you talked to Steve at Ambassador, he is a good source of information.
While I am venting let me tell you one more story….after my car was broken into, and I had only been living in the Woodlands for a couple of months…I am parking my car as up close to the house as possible. Well, call it bad parking, a narrow driveway, it was unintential, nor did I think anything of it I just parked my car in my driveway in front of my house…I see out my window a police officer squatting down in front of my house closely checking something out…he knocks on my door…now, my heart drops cause last time a policeman showed up at my door was to inform my myself and my family that my older brother was killed in an accident…so my knees are weak at this point… He says to me…why are you parked like that..and I’m like…parked like what, I’m in my driveway, I live here…Well, he says…one of your tires is in the grass…and I’m like “So”??….well…move your car or I will write you out a violation as you cannot be parked on the grass…I said, you got to be kidding me…no…move your car or I will write you a ticket…fine..no big deal…I am not one to break laws, cause trouble…I didn’t know…I will move my care immedietly.
So I said, while you are at it…there are squatters living in a vacent house around the corner and the neigbor’s are terrified of them…why don’t you do something about that..you are so concerned about a few blades of grass…his answer,,not my juridiction!…did you actually see them break into the house?? I know two rights don’t make a wrong..but, here I am getting put in my place for having a tire on a piece of my grass, on my property..but, you can break into an abandoned house…live there, and terrify the neighbors…but, nothing he can do…
Can’t make this stuff up…!!
Dear Karen, thank you for the explanation and I just might take up that offer of driving in the New Year….Ben Damian
PS…not to mention my fruit trees being totally stripped in the middle of the night, this past summer (even trees in my backyard not visible by the street)…who the heck was on my property!? CREEPY!
There was a robbery in my neighborhood yellow pine lane last night. My night lights were stolen. We thought it may have been some young kids but then I found out my neighbor’s car was stolen as well. He had it parked outside!!! These robberies have to be stopped at any cost. We are constantly hearing and reading places that have been robbed. It’s ridiculous!!! I don’t see anything that says we caught so and so. Why are we paying so much money for if we don’t feel protected? A gated community in my opinion would create more security to all of us as these criminals wouldn’t be able to come in as easy as they do. Maybe cameras around the community would also help. For any emergency, can’t there be a “special” button for them to press and just simply come in. We hear all the time who got robbed and then we simply wonder who will be next or when will I be next and what will they take. We shouldn’t live like this. These are our lives our families we need to protect NOW. Actions must be taken in each lane with each neighbor to control who comes through our streets. We must unite to protect ourselves rather than just waving hi and bye and don’t even know each other’s names. If we don’t know who lives in our neighborhood then we can’t stop crime.
On Friday night 12/17 My neighbors car window was broken and their GPS was stolen. They live across the street from me! Yes, gates and cameras will be the first thing on the agenda of our new DISTRICT. Unfortunately nothing can be done until the neighborhood votes on it. When it becomes a “referendum” we will need a large group of people to knock on doors in the Woodlands so the proposal will pass. I will notify Sharon when they have their meeting in January. In the meantime all of us need to install cameras around our homes, and in our cars.
CORRECTION: In regards to the “District”. Gating and Cameras SHOULD BE on their agenda. The best thing to do is to contact our District Board Members adk them to put it on thier agenda for January.
You Go Gal!!!! I agree with you Marie about a gated community….Did you read my comments a few weeks ago about now “they” are stealing Plants right out of the ground….I lost $125.00 so far in new plantings….Ben Damian
There was a robbery in my neighborhood yellow pine lane last night. My night lights were stolen. We thought it may have been some young kids but then I found out my neighbor’s car was stolen as well. He had it parked outside!!! These robberies have to be stopped at any cost. We are constantly hearing and reading places that have been robbed. It’s ridiculous!!! I don’t see anything that says we caught so and so. Why are we paying so much money for if we don’t feel protected? A gated community in my opinion would create more security to all of us as these criminals wouldn’t be able to come in as easy as they do. Maybe cameras around the community would also help. For any emergency, can’t there be a “special” button for them to press and just simply come in. We hear all the time who got robbed and then we simply wonder who will be next or when will I be next and what will they take. We shouldn’t live like this. These are our lives our families we need to protect NOW. Actions must be taken in each lane with each neighbor to control who comes through our streets. We must unite to protect ourselves rather than just waving hi and bye and don’t even know each other’s names. If we don’t know who lives in our neighborhood then we can’t stop crime.
On Friday night 12/17 My neighbors car window was broken and their GPS was stolen. They live across the street from me! Yes, gates and cameras will be the first thing on the agenda of our new DISTRICT. Unfortunately nothing can be done until the neighborhood votes on it. When it becomes a “referendum” we will need a large group of people to knock on doors in the Woodlands so the proposal will pass. I will notify Sharon when they have their meeting in January. In the meantime all of us need to install cameras around our homes, and in our cars.
CORRECTION: In regards to the “District”. Gating and Cameras SHOULD BE on their agenda. The best thing to do is to contact our District Board Members adk them to put it on thier agenda for January.
You Go Gal!!!! I agree with you Marie about a gated community….Did you read my comments a few weeks ago about now “they” are stealing Plants right out of the ground….I lost $125.00 so far in new plantings….Ben Damian
Ben, I am happy that you agree with gating this community. In regards to your comment “Also I have to say that I get a kick out of seeing the empty patrol car at nite sitting in the driveways of different houses…..” I believe you are referring to the Citizens Observation Patrol car (COP’s). I started the COP’s program in the Woodlands. I had to beg 5 of my neighbors to take the class so we, in the Woodlands, could get a car. We now have 18 of your neighbors who volunteer to take the car and drive when they can. We rotate the car every week, and yes it does stay parked in their driveway while they are in possession of the car. Our ages range from 30 to 91, and we welcome anyone who will help us drive the car. About half of us work, and drive the car in the early evenings. But if you would like to drive the car in the evenings, please join us. We keep applications in the car, or let me or Sharon know and we will email one to you.
My house was burglarized last month in the afternoon. I wonder if the patrol could have stopped the theft if the car had been sweeping the neighborhood instead of parked somewhere? I vote for gates, or some other security arrangement. We would get the same coverage from the BSO without the added separate expense.
My house was burglarized last month in the afternoon. I wonder if the patrol could have stopped the theft if the car had been sweeping the neighborhood instead of parked somewhere? I vote for gates, or some other security arrangement. We would get the same coverage from the BSO without the added separate expense.
If you see an officer not doing what he is supposed to, write down the date & time and the license tag of the vehicle. If you observe the vehicle to be stationary for a long period of time (and you didn’t go someplace else during that time) write down the time you stopped watching and report it to your section president and to the WHOA president.
If you call the patrol car, write down the time you called, the result and if you had to call again. If there was a problem, report it to the same people. We have to police our own neighborhood first. We have to be the eyes and ears, since even if the police officer is alert and moving, he or she can only be in one place at a time.
Don’t just complain on this web site. Report problem when they occur. Use the phone and follow up via e-mail if possible. If that doesn’t work, send the information to the mayor’s office.
If you see an officer not doing what he is supposed to, write down the date & time and the license tag of the vehicle. If you observe the vehicle to be stationary for a long period of time (and you didn’t go someplace else during that time) write down the time you stopped watching and report it to your section president and to the WHOA president.
If you call the patrol car, write down the time you called, the result and if you had to call again. If there was a problem, report it to the same people. We have to police our own neighborhood first. We have to be the eyes and ears, since even if the police officer is alert and moving, he or she can only be in one place at a time.
Don’t just complain on this web site. Report problem when they occur. Use the phone and follow up via e-mail if possible. If that doesn’t work, send the information to the mayor’s office.
Being an employee of a police dept myself, may I recommend that the person in charge of coordinating BSO here at Woodlands speak directly with the BSO detail coordinator and address these concerns. It is easy to relay the names of the deputies who we feel may not be doing the job they are paid for instead of complaining about them in a newsletter. Request that cetain deputies work the detail and not the lazy ones. I do NOT agree with the idea of gating the community and the first resident to have a medical emergency in which EMS cannot respond to because they are stuck at the gate will agree with me. The same with police response. Many times I am stuck at an entrance to a gated community frustrated while dispatch attempts to find the gate code or contact the security officer who is sleeping. At least the person who responds to the call can take immediate, arrrestable action if needed. Guess who security guards call? THE POLICE. So why insert a middle man? Trust me, none of the deputies that enjoy working here want to lose the extra money because of the lazy ones. So maybe this is best addressed by telling them the extra money could be in jeopardy because of the slackers…just a thought. And no I don’t work for BSO. I just wanted to interject some food for thought. Thank you for reading.
Dear Stacy, this in response to comments “I do NOT agree with the idea of gating the community and the first resident to have a medical emergency in which EMS cannot respond to because they are stuck at the gate will agree with me. The same with police response. Many times I am stuck at an entrance to a gated community frustrated while dispatch attempts to find the gate code or contact the security officer who is sleeping.”
Just this morning I asked a BSO officer if there would be a problem if this community were gated. He said “there are a lot of gated communityes, and they have no problem getting into them” he also said this “This community is being hit hard; it’s like a free for all in here. Burglers just drive in and take what they want! We have caught a lot of them, but they can’t catch all of them.”
My number one question to you is; are you really a BSO Officer? I seriously doubt it.
Karen, if you quote me, please quote correctly. I stated very clearly that while I work in law enforcement, I do NOT work for BSO. I work for a different agency in tha area which is quite obvious when you see the two vehicles parked in my driveway (my husband also works for the same agency I do!). I merely stated my experiences with gated communities. I see that you are the type of person who is critical and attacks people who do not agree with you. I’m sorry that you cannot read another opinion and take any valuable knowledge from it without being rude. (Ie:question if I really work for BSO when I stated I did not). I’m only hoping the people in charge of determining whether or not we gate our community and a little friendlier and open minded than you. I would love to discuss your aversion to keeping the BSO detail in our community and maybe I can get you to at least acknowledge another viewpoint on the matter. So an answer to your question: again, NO I’m not a BSO deputy nor do I work for that dept but yes, I have had multiple bad experiences with getting into gated communities trying to respond to calls. Respectfully, Stacy section one
Being an employee of a police dept myself, may I recommend that the person in charge of coordinating BSO here at Woodlands speak directly with the BSO detail coordinator and address these concerns. It is easy to relay the names of the deputies who we feel may not be doing the job they are paid for instead of complaining about them in a newsletter. Request that cetain deputies work the detail and not the lazy ones. I do NOT agree with the idea of gating the community and the first resident to have a medical emergency in which EMS cannot respond to because they are stuck at the gate will agree with me. The same with police response. Many times I am stuck at an entrance to a gated community frustrated while dispatch attempts to find the gate code or contact the security officer who is sleeping. At least the person who responds to the call can take immediate, arrrestable action if needed. Guess who security guards call? THE POLICE. So why insert a middle man? Trust me, none of the deputies that enjoy working here want to lose the extra money because of the lazy ones. So maybe this is best addressed by telling them the extra money could be in jeopardy because of the slackers…just a thought. And no I don’t work for BSO. I just wanted to interject some food for thought. Thank you for reading.
Dear Stacy, this in response to comments “I do NOT agree with the idea of gating the community and the first resident to have a medical emergency in which EMS cannot respond to because they are stuck at the gate will agree with me. The same with police response. Many times I am stuck at an entrance to a gated community frustrated while dispatch attempts to find the gate code or contact the security officer who is sleeping.”
Just this morning I asked a BSO officer if there would be a problem if this community were gated. He said “there are a lot of gated communityes, and they have no problem getting into them” he also said this “This community is being hit hard; it’s like a free for all in here. Burglers just drive in and take what they want! We have caught a lot of them, but they can’t catch all of them.”
My number one question to you is; are you really a BSO Officer? I seriously doubt it.
Karen, if you quote me, please quote correctly. I stated very clearly that while I work in law enforcement, I do NOT work for BSO. I work for a different agency in tha area which is quite obvious when you see the two vehicles parked in my driveway (my husband also works for the same agency I do!). I merely stated my experiences with gated communities. I see that you are the type of person who is critical and attacks people who do not agree with you. I’m sorry that you cannot read another opinion and take any valuable knowledge from it without being rude. (Ie:question if I really work for BSO when I stated I did not). I’m only hoping the people in charge of determining whether or not we gate our community and a little friendlier and open minded than you. I would love to discuss your aversion to keeping the BSO detail in our community and maybe I can get you to at least acknowledge another viewpoint on the matter. So an answer to your question: again, NO I’m not a BSO deputy nor do I work for that dept but yes, I have had multiple bad experiences with getting into gated communities trying to respond to calls. Respectfully, Stacy section one
Re: Officer Studying – I would have snapped a photo, gotten his credentials and reported it to BSO. We should not be in the business of paying the deputy for his education. That’s an insult to the Department and the Woodlands.
Frankly, I don’t see much of them around here and when I do, they are parked somewhere loking down at something. Maybe they are all working on their homework. I say we get gates and stop paying that kind of money.
I agree with gating the Woodlands. It adds another level of security. Decreases the traffic that is unwanted. The cost would not be that much. This is such a great area to live in.
I agree with the gating or a full time guard at entrance. Also I have to say that I get a kick out of seeing the empty patrol car at nite sitting in the driveways of different houses…..If I know it is a empty police car don’t you think the experienced criminal also knows?
Frankly, I don’t see much of them around here and when I do, they are parked somewhere loking down at something. Maybe they are all working on their homework. I say we get gates and stop paying that kind of money.
I agree with gating the Woodlands. It adds another level of security. Decreases the traffic that is unwanted. The cost would not be that much. This is such a great area to live in.
I agree with the gating or a full time guard at entrance. Also I have to say that I get a kick out of seeing the empty patrol car at nite sitting in the driveways of different houses…..If I know it is a empty police car don’t you think the experienced criminal also knows?
Ben, I am happy that you agree with gating this community. In regards to your comment “Also I have to say that I get a kick out of seeing the empty patrol car at nite sitting in the driveways of different houses…..” I believe you are referring to the Citizens Observation Patrol car (COP’s). I started the COP’s program in the Woodlands. I had to beg 5 of my neighbors to take the class so we, in the Woodlands, could get a car. We now have 18 of your neighbors who volunteer to take the car and drive when they can. We rotate the car every week, and yes it does stay parked in their driveway while they are in possession of the car. Our ages range from 30 to 91, and we welcome anyone who will help us drive the car. About half of us work, and drive the car in the early evenings. But if you would like to drive the car in the evenings, please join us. We keep applications in the car, or let me or Sharon know and we will email one to you.
Dear Karen, thank you for the explanation and I just might take up that offer of driving in the New Year….Ben Damian
Re: Officer Studying – I would have snapped a photo, gotten his credentials and reported it to BSO. We should not be in the business of paying the deputy for his education. That’s an insult to the Department and the Woodlands.
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