Interesting ...

Here's some interesting information to be aware of especially with the Holiday shopping season approaching ... WARNING FROM POLICE THIS APPLIES TO BOTH WOMEN AND MEN BEWARE OF PAPER ON THE BACK WINDOW OF YOUR VEHICLE--NEW WAY TO DO CARJACKING (NOT A JOKE) Heads up everyone! Please, keep this circulating.. You walk across the parking lot, unlock your car and get inside. You start the engine and shift into reverse.. When you look into the rearview mirror to back out of your parking space, you notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle of the rear window. So, you shift into Park, unlock your doors, and jump out of your car to remove that paper (or whatever it is) that is obstructing your view. When you reach the back of your car, that is when the carjackers appear out of nowhere, jump into your car and take off. They practically mow you down as they speed off in your car. And guess what, ladies? I bet your purse is still in the car. So now the carjacker has your car, your home address, your money, and your keys. Your home and your whole identity are now compromised! BEWARE OF THIS NEW SCHEME THAT IS NOW BEING USED. If you see a piece of paper stuck to your back window, just drive away. Remove the paper later. And be thankful that you read this e-mail. I hope you will forward this to friends and family. Remember a purse contains all kinds of personal information and identification documents, and you certainly do NOT want it to fall into the wrong hands. Please keep this going and tell all your friends and family ...

Let's be careful out there ...

It has come to my attention that auto burglaries and break-ins are on the rise. This doesn't coincide with schools being back in session however it does make sense that certain nefarious characters need shopping money for the holidays, drugs, alcohol, etc. At least one of the unfortunate auto owners had kept their mailbox key in the car for convenience and that was taken as well. Outside of the extra effort required with the Post Office, plus the expense, it's highly possible that some mail might have been removed from their box. This unfortunate situation is a great reminder for all of us to keep and eye on our property AND our neighbor's property. If you see someone acting suspiciously, you can: a) call your neighbor; b) hit the alarm button on your car if parked outside to get some attention; c) *carefully * walk out front and let them see you noticing them; d) taking down any license # or physical description; e) call the non-emergency number of (760) 836-3215 ext 5; and f) if it appears to be a more dire situation, of course 911 Remember that it doesn't need to appear to be a suspicious individual ... many times, these people pose as pool guys, landscapers, air conditioning repairmen and anything else that might not attract attention ... so if you don't recognize that so called vendor you've probably seen next door or across the street 100 times, it's likely to be a problem waiting to happen ... Whatever you do, be careful ... your safety is first and foremost ..."

Home Safety Update August 2014

Here's an update to previous posts with some amendments !!! Don't be a victim - Keep Alert -watch out for strange or new activity not only at your home but your neighbor's too! ... and keep your garage door(s) closed or at least only open enough so that no one can get under it, especially a small unattended child. Anyone can slip out of a car, into a garage and snag golf clubs or something else of value then sling it into the back of a truck and be gone in less than 10 seconds ... and this includes a purse, etc... while you carry the groceries into the house. Many people think keeping the garage door open at the bottom relieves the garage of some of the heat while their car cools ... Considering that heat rises, there may be no significant benefit anyway. You'd be better served installing a vent high above the existing vent(s) in your garage to allow a flow of air, getting an attic fan or whole house fan ... some have mentioned they open the side door to the backyard because the side gate is locked - I mentioned this at one point but after further consideration probably only makes sense if you have a dog ... Here's a few other suggestions that could help you feel safer in your home or sleep better at night when you're away ... 1) Installing a switch in the house to control the electrical outlet for your garage door controller(s). Should you need to leave your house for an extended period, all electrical power for the garage door(s) is shut off by the new switch; and when you return home ... a flip of the switch returns the operation to normal. 2) If your garage door(s) do not already have them, manual slide bar(s) can be installed for additional security. These are installed and slide into one of the door(s) track slot openings. If worried about damaging your door(s) when these are installed, you can paint them red as a reminder to disengage prior to opening when you return to your home. 3) Padlocking the referenced manual slide bars could be an additional precaution of preventing the garage being used as an exit way and/or removing any furniture, golf carts or vehicles. 4) Install a peep-hole viewer in the door from the house into your garage just like the front door. If you are in the habit of leaving your garage door open for convenience or venting while your car cools down, even if you think you don't leave it open enough for someone to get in - be careful. 5) Always look and listen before you open the door to the garage and then turn on the lights inside the garage before you open the door and look and listen again before opening. If you do not have a switch for the interior garage lights inside the door within reach of your view from the newly-installed peephole, call an electrician and install one or move the existing one closer ... and finally 6) You can install brackets on either side of the door to the patio and then insert a properly measured and cut two-by-four for added support ... I can't image anyone being able to kick that in ... I hope you find this information helpful ... As always, Keep the faith !!!

CVWD Water Restrictions

If you haven't heard the news, here's what the District is imposing to help the severe drought situation we are facing: Water restrictions adopted by the Coachella Valley Water District 1. Irrigate lawns and other landscaping only after sunset and before 10 a.m., except when "overseeding" or doing maintenance. 2. Use CVWD drought watering guide to irrigate: www.cvwd.org/conservation/wateringguide.php. 3. Repair broken sprinklers within 24 hours of being notified. 4. Do not wash down driveways, sidewalks or other hard exterior surfaces. 5. Wash vehicles and windows only if using a hose with a shutoff nozzle. 6. Prevent runoff onto a neighbor's property or sidewalks or roads. 7. Fountains or other water features must recirculate water. 8. Restaurants should serve water to customers only upon request. 9. Hotels are being asked to place messages in guest rooms promoting water conservation. More information: http://www.cvwd.org/news/news246.php As always, Keep the faith !!!

La Quinta Crime Reports

Are you curious about the crimes reported in La Quinta? Check this out by cutting and pasting into your browser: http://www.laquintapolice.org/Crime-Stat-Graph

CPTED - La Quinta Police are committed to help us

The Police Department has a new program to which I became aware at the City of La Quinta's Birthday celebration this last Saturday at City Hall ... A fine time was had by all ... Officer Curia will make an appointment to visit your home to review, discuss and instruct on the fine points of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design. Officer Curia can be reached at (760) 250-1388 ... Keep the faith !!!

Household hints ...

You've stripped a screw ... Now what do you do? If you have a hacksaw, you can cut into the top of the screw to create a new groove for your screwdriver ... Eazy Peezy !!! Do you have a little one doing their best to reproduce their version of the Mona Lisa on your wall(s)? ... grab some old fashioned (non-gel) toothpaste and a scrub brush or sponge and wipe until the marks are gone (gingerly, please) ... Are you out of Drano or Liquid Plumber and can't go to the store? ... try dropping three Alka-Seltzer tablets down the sink followed by a cup of white vinegar and let it sit for approx. 15 minutes which is when you should be able to clean the drain with boiling water. (DO NOT TRY THIS IS YOU'VE ALREADY USED A COMMERICAL PRODUCT like DRANO or LIQUID PLUMBER) ... Best of luck with your chores ... and Keep the Faith !!!