August 2009 Safety Committee Report

National Night Out on Crime Preparations Underway
FSR Safety is joined by members of the Welcome and Social Committees for National Night Out (NNO) festivities to take place Tuesday, 6 October. Block parties are scheduled 7:00 - 10:00 pm.

According to the National Association of Town Watch, "NNO has proven to be an effective, inexpensive and enjoyable program to promote neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships..." The hope is the "benefits [Finesilver Ranch] will derive from NNO will...extend well beyond the one night."

Please call AMS (829-7202) if you wish to be a block party host, or keep an eye out for signs and fliers announcing the party near you.

Houses "Rolled"
An anonymous comment on the Safety Committee Blog indicated two young men had littered yards with toilet paper and committed other mischief and vandalism in Finesilver Ranch, early Saturday, 22 August. Apparently the complainant witnessed the act of "rolling," though no locations were provided in the post. A COP volunteer conducted a drive through the neighborhood the following day but saw no evidence of mischief.

Subsequently, a monthly review of police records revealed an officer was indeed dispatched to a "criminal mischief" incident on Willow Heights shortly after midnight, 22 August. The officer reported the complainant caught two people applying toilet paper to his car. The subjects were followed to another FSR residence and were later contacted there by police. The pair admitted responsibility and were left with their parents to clean up the mess they had made in the neighborhood. According to the police report, no property damage was evident.

The ages of the subjects in this case were not confirmed, but the incident presents an opportunity to remind parents: Ensure children under 17 are home by 11:00 pm in accordance with the City of San Antonio curfew.

Suspicious House Calls
Two residents, one on Ferris Branch, another on Cove Creek, reported their doorbells were rung around 3:30 am 10 August. The intentions of the "visitor(s)" are unknown, with one family concerned of stalking and the other wondering if the incident was prelude to a break in. A white four door Honda was observed departing one of the residences. SAPD was called and a report filed. Blue Armor increased vigilance the following few nights.

Similar incidents occurred last April. Use caution when unknown visitors are at your door.

Salesman Informed of Covenant Prohibiting Soliciting in FSR
During 28 August a solicitor promoted door-to-door meat sales from the bed of his Toyota pick-up. One resident refused the offer, advised the salesman of the covenant prohibiting soliciting in Finesilver Ranch, and requested a security patrol. A COP volunteer patrolled the neighborhood shortly thereafter to direct Blue Armor's response, but the solicitor had already departed FSR. Blue Armor was cancelled before arriving on scene.

Soliciting in the City of San Antonio is allowed by permit only. Experience informs that SAPD will remove solicitors when the purveyors use questionable sales tactics. Otherwise, some SAPD officers hesitate to interfere with door-to-door sales. In such cases, solicitors, whether holding permits or not, may be escorted from FSR by Blue Armor Security.

As a general rule, residents should not engage with door-to-door salespeople. See an indepth post on magazine sales crews and the June 2009 Safety Committee Report "Solicitors Return."

Cellular on Patrol
Volunteers provided "as needed" coverage and conducted routine patrols on a weekly basis. There was nothing significant to report except as noted elsewhere in this report.

Blue Armor Patrol Summary
On Sunday evening, 1 August, a resident complained of children driving a go-cart(s) recklessly on FSR streets. A security officer responded and talked to the children's parents; no further action was necessary.

At 2:55 am, Wednesday, 5 August, an officer noticed a vehicle near Edgecreek and Bedford Oaks whose two occupants behaved suspiciously as the patrol drove by. The officer approached the driver to learn the two were returning from a date.

A security officer observed a suspicious vehicle, also with two occupants, at the community center at 1:15 am, Thursday, 27 August. They left the area at the officer's request.

Finally, Blue Armor investigated a suspicious vehicle at Finesilver and Willow Heights, Sunday afternoon, 23 August. The vehicle is registered to an FSR resident, so no further action was taken.

SAPD Responses
Police responded to 19 calls for service to Finesilver Ranch. This is five calls above last year's monthly average and almost twice the number of calls compared to August 2008.

Significantly, one of seven burglar alarms was apparently activated by an actual burglar on Branwood, Monday afternoon, 31 August. The alarm was dispatched at 2:30 pm, and a burglary report was subsequently logged by SAPD at 3:46 pm at the same address. The Safety Cmte awaits details.

In other police activity, there were three criminal mischief calls (one being the house "rolling" incident), two disturbances (one of them the doorbell incident), three "miscellaneous" reports, and a complaint of telephone harassment. Also, police responded to a suspicious vehicle at Sweetwood and Finesilver, Sunday morning, 16 August.

Finally, a minor accident was reported at Braun and Finesilver, Tuesday, 25 August.

The Greenbriar neighborhood near Nichols ES also recorded a minor accident on Braun Rd, this one at Lockspring. Plus, SAPD took a miscellaneous report and checked for a suspicious vehicle.

Greenbriar, with about 1/4 the number of homes of Finesilver Ranch is the closest gated community and, presumably, has similar demographics for crime reporting comparison purposes.

Sex Offender Watch
No registered sex offenders live in Finesilver Ranch as of this post.

SAFD Responses
This month's data is not yet available.

Follow FSRsafety on Twitter
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This month, FSRsafety issued five "tweets" on public safety interests occurring in and immediately surrounding Finesilver Ranch.

Subscribe to the FSR Safety Committee Blog and follow on Twitter for updates throughout the month.