Hello LMJ Neighborhood Watch Residents,
Join us for a Neighborhood Watch Meeting about SPEEDING in our community.
SAVE the DATE – Monday June 3rd at 6pm in the pavilion at the Isle of Pines Neighborhood Park (13694 S. Lake Mary Jane Rd – by Flo Rd and before Nell Rd)
All residents from the communities along LMJ Rd are encouraged to attend (Live Oak Estates, Lake Mary Jane Shores, Roberts Island, Lake & Pines Estates, & Isle of Pines.)
There is a large covered pavilion – so if it’s raining we will still hold the meeting. (If there is a dangerous storm I will send an email to reschedule.) The park has a playground – so if you need to bring your kids so you can attend – that is ok. (please do not allow your kids to swim in the lake during this meeting – thanks.)
There have been a lot of complaints lately about residents speeding in our community, so we are having a special meeting with Deputy Melissa Belmont from the Crime Prevention Unit and a Sergeant from the motor unit. We have also asked for someone from the Commissioner’s office to attend as well. We will discuss ideas on how to stop or report speeders, radar, possible areas for speed humps etc.
I strongly encourage residents to attend! We need a big turnout to show the Sherriff’s office how concerned we are about this issue!
Please come with a positive attitude & ideas so we can work as a community to improve this problem. Thank you for being part of the solution!
Suzanne Arnold
LMJ Neighborhood Watch Coordinator
LMJ Neighborhood Watch
Other Safety items:
1) HUGE Cotton Mouth Snake in IOP possibly near Sheba Rd. A cat was bit and died last week, and the vet said that from the size of the fang marks it was a cotton mouth with a head the size of a large fist. Please be careful and check the area before you have small children or pets outside. Cotton Mouth snakes are very aggressive.
2) There was an attempted theft of a riding lawn mower in Roberts Island last week. The item was on a back porch – not visible from the street.
3) There was a car driving around late last week taking pictures and writing down addresses etc on a clipboard. When approached they claimed to be working for an insurance company. When the resident checked on this insurance company – it turned out that they don’t even have offices in Florida. Please question people like this. Take their photos and ask for ID and get TAG numbers!
4) If you have kids that you don’t know from the neighborhood selling magazines or bins full of stuff – don’t buy anything. They will use your neighbors names and make up stories about special trips they have won or sports team competitions – but it’s all lies and they do not live in our community.
5) A Live Oak resident asked me to pass on a HUGE THANK YOU to the motorists that are courteous to us bicyclists who have to use LMJ and Moss Park roads. Most drivers from this area are so awesome and completely move into the other lane when they go around me (us). THANK YOU! I appreciate their safe and respectful driving.
6) A 3 month old Sandhill Crane baby was hit by a speeding car on Sunday on Moss Park Rd & LMJ Rd. and 3 other cars behind it just kept speeding down the road too as bicyclists stood by watching.
7) Beware of home alarms sales scams. Details below:
You will soon be seeing an increase of alarm companies hiring traveling sales agents to go door-to-door making unsolicited “cold calls” on homeowners. In some cases, the salespeople use high-pressure or deceptive sales tactics to get potential customers to buy expensive and sometimes substandard, systems or equipment they don’t need.
Before you let anyone inside your home, ask for identification. Get their name, the name of their business they represent, and the goods or service they wish to sell.
Signs of Security System Scam:
They make a time-limited offer, and claim you need to act now. For example, they may try to get you so sign a contract by telling you the equipment is “Free”. More than likely strings are attached like a long-term and expensive monitoring contract
They may pressure their way into your home and then refuse to leave. Just say “No” at the door step and if they refuse to leave, call the Sheriff's Office.
They may use scare tactics. For example they may talk about a rash of supposed burglaries in your neighborhood.
Some sales agents target homeowners who have signs on their property for other security companies. The sales agent my state or imply that they are from your existing company and that they’re there to “upgrade” or “replace” you current system. Once inside they install a new security system and have to sign papers that include a costly contract for the monitoring system.
They may claim your security company has gone out of business, that they’ve taken over the accounts, and that you have to buy new equipment and sign new contract. If this happens contact your current monitoring company to confirm.
Ask the following questions:
Who will perform installation and monitor the system? Some companies subcontract this work to a third party.
What is the contract period for monitoring?
Are there penalties for early termination?
What happens if you move before the contract term is up?
How much does the monitoring costs?
How often will you be billed?
Does the company call you before notifying the police?
How soon after the alarm sounds will you notify?
What happens if the alarm company can’t reach you when the alarm is sounding? Is the
alarm reset? Are the police called? Are alternate numbers called?
What happens if the power goes out? Is there a back-up battery system?
What does the warranty cover, and for how long? Who is responsible for repairs or upgrades to the system?
Does the company offer interactive services like smoke and fire detection, remote control, video surveillance, email notifications and special apps for smart phones?
Contact Attorney General www.naar.org
Local Consumer Protection Agency www.consumeraction.gov
Better Business Bureau www.bbb.org
National Assoc of State Contractors www.nascla.org
Florida Trade Commission www.ftc.gov
