Cyber Monday and Holiday Safety Tips

HOLIDAY WATCH 2013 IS IN EFFECT!

From our friends at the Sheriff's Department:

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department works hard during the Holiday season to make sure you don't end up doing the criminals' Christmas shopping.

You can also help not to become a victim this Holiday season by following our tips. REMEMBER: Theft is a crime of OPPORTUNITY. Don't give crooks the OPPORTUNITY to steal your items. LOCK your vehicles at all times. DON'T leave valuables in sight; ideally, don't leave them in your vehicle AT ALL, especially purses and wallets. If you do, you just might be footing the bill for someone's gift list!









People are increasingly avoiding the stampeding crowds on Black Friday and are now opting to shop online, behind the safety of a laptop or smartphone.

What they don’t realize is that shopping online comes with its own hazards. Criminals are out there to steal your information and use it to shop for their own gift lists.

To ensure that your holiday season isn’t ruined by theft or identity fraud, read our tips on Cyber Monday Safety.

Burglary Information

We have had a couple of burglaries reported to us that have occurred at night-  while people are at home.  In two cases, there was no loss.  An active alarm scared off the suspect.   Fortunately, no one has been confronted or has seen the suspect. 

The suspect was able to open an unlocked window to get in.   Screens are not a deterrent to entry.  Please take the time to lock your windows and turn your alarm systems on.  If your alarm goes off while you are at home, communicate immediately to your alarm company and to us.  if you think someone set off the alarm, call 911.  Simply using the alarm and locks you have will be a good deterrent.  Exterior motion lights and leaving a couple inside lights on makes the crooks think twice if someone is home. 

If you see any strangers or vehicles, please give us a call.  If you think someone is on your property, call 911. 

Internet Fraud and Scams

Have you been a victim of an online crime?   Has your computer been hacked?  Or do you want to protect yourself?   Check these links out:

http://www.catchteam.org/filing_a_complaint.html

http://www.sdsheriff.net/documents/fraud.pdf

High Value Burglary, We need your help!

San Diego County Crime Stoppers and investigators from the San Diego County
Sheriff’s Department’s Encinitas station are asking for assistance from the public to
help identify and locate the suspects wanted in connection with a residential burglary
that occurred in June in Rancho Santa Fe.

Detectives said that sometime between 9:00 p.m. on June 17, 2013 and 6:00 a.m. on
June 18, 2013, unknown suspects entered a home in Rancho Santa Fe and stole
jewelry, paintings and other pieces of artwork valued in excess of $5 million dollars.
There were eleven paintings from various artists, one Monet print and one Pissarro
print stolen, all valued at more than $1 million, as well as four very elaborate gold,
tourmaline, diamond, cabochon, citrine necklace and bracelet sets valued at
approximately $100,000 per set.

Also stolen were Chinese sculptures, but the majority of the artwork taken were
sculptures by Andreas von Zadora Gerlof. A total of 20 pieces were stolen, valued at
more than $3 million.

Anyone with information on this case should call the Sheriff’s Department’s Encinitas
Station at (858) 966‐3500 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580‐
8477. Crime Stoppers is offering up to a $1,000 reward to anyone with information
that leads to an arrest in this case. Anonymous email and text messages can be sent
in via www.sdcrimestoppers.com.

Media inquiries about the case can be directed to Detective Brett Garrett at
(760) 966‐3519

Media inquires about Crime Stoppers can be directed to Deputy Adriana Uribe
at (619) 531‐1547

This is a picture of one of the pieces:

4th of July

Our Annual 4th of July Parade is tomorrow.  The parade starts at the RSF School parking lot at La Granada and Avenida De Acacias and goes through the village to end where it starts.   Form up for the parade starts at 12- 12:30.   The parade starts at 1:00pm.  There is a community BBQ immediately following in the south village park. To make the form  up easier, please keep this in mind:

1. Follow the marshals instructions for form up- they will be in red shirts. Cars go against the curb- don't take up the parking spaces!
2. Kids have to wear Helmets if they are on bicycles (good idea for skateboards too)
3.  Please, no candy in cars, floats. Throwing candy causes small kids to run into the moving vehicles.
4. Tell your children to stay in formation.  It is dangerous if they run ahead or through the parade.
5.  Antique cars overheat.  If the car has radiator or cooling issues, it may be best not to drive it. 
6. Horses are last.  Only well trained parade horses should participate.  The route is noisy with loud speakers, sirens and lots of people.  If the horses cannot be controlled safely we will ask them to move out of the parade.
7. Have Fun!

From the Sheriff's Department

A Message from the San Diego County Sheriff's Dept:

Summer is here. We will all take advantage of the sunny weather to do outdoor projects, take our families to fun places, relax and keep cool. For criminals, however, it is a very busy time of year.

It can be easy to forget to close a door or window, but if they are left open it creates an easy opportunity for a burglar. Criminals focus on easy targets; make it difficult for them to choose you. The San Diego Sheriff's Department wants to remind you of some tips to keep yourself, your family, your home and your valuables safe.

AT HOME
•Always lock your doors and windows especially at night and when you're away
•Close your garage and pet doors
•Secure ladders and tools so they can't be used to gain entry into your home
•Be wary of anyone who approaches your front door and don't let them take up too much of your time. Criminals work together; one will come to your door and distract you while the other sneaks into your home. Ask for an ID of a utility person.
•Be a good neighbor, lookout for one another.
•Excessive dog barking could be a sign of an intruder and may warrant a call to the Sheriff's Department.
•Report suspicious activity to the Sheriff's non-emergency line (858) 565-5200
•Sheriff's Crime Prevention Specialists offer a free security check to show vulnerabilities in your home. Call your local Station or Substation. For more information, http://goo.gl/gPXul.
•Sign up for alerts at http://www.crimemapping.com/.

WHEN GOING ON VACATION
•Lock up your home, activate your alarm
•Don't broadcast your plans on social media
•Hold the delivery of your mail and newspaper or ask a trusted friend to pick them up for you
•Buy a timer for your lights and set them in a random pattern
•Ask a neighbor to occasionally park in your driveway
•Sign up for a FREE vacation check so Sheriff's Senior Volunteer Patrol (SVP) members can keep an eye on your home. Visit www.sdsheriff.net. Look for "Vacation Home Checks" on our homepage.

RSF Patrol Does this, see post below----

CAR SAFETY
•Never leave your car running unattended, even to dash into a store
•Always roll up your windows and lock your car even in hot weather
•Never leave valuables in plain sight
•Park cars in well-lit areas
•Never leave any keys in the car or ignition

BIKE SAFETY
•Always wear a helmet
•Follow the rules of the road
•Ride with the flow of traffic, not against it
•Wear bright-colored or reflective clothing
•If you're not riding, lock your bike
•Parents, set parameters on where kids are allowed to ride

Stay safe.

Summer Vacation

Summer is here!  School is out.....  If you plan on leaving home for a couple of days or a longer period, call or fax your vacation check form to us.  We will be happy to check the house while you are away. 
Make sure you have an emergency contact if you leave-  lock the house- turn on the alarm (even if you are gone for 10 minutes).  Cancel the paper, leave lights on timers.  Tell your friends to check on your place too- the more eyes the better!!

Call us for a vacation home check (for other security issues too!)
Here are the ways you can let us know:
1. Call  858-756-4372   24/7
2. Call the Association Office 858-756-1174
3. Fax the request http://www.rsfassociation.org/pages/RSfe.pdf   858-759-8590
4. Stop by our office (Business hours are M-F 8am-5pm) 16936 El Fuego