Blockwatch info
If you would like to receive information regarding the Ray Manor Block Watch via e-mail, please send an
e-mail to rmblockwatch@cox.net with “add me to email list” in the subject line. Please include your name
and lot number or address.
You are also encouraged to send the Block Watch Committee any information regarding safety concerns to rmblockwatch@cox.net. Any pertinent information will be brought up to the Block Watch Committee, at the Home Owners Board meeting, posted on this website, and forwarded to those emails the Block Watch Committee has collected.
If you are suspicious about anyone in the neighborhood or on your property do not hesitate to call the police.
If you ask someone to remove themselves from your property and they refuse to do so, contact the police.
City of Chandler’s Tips for Keeping Your Children Safe From Potential Threats:
The Chandler Police Department would like to offer tips for parents, when speaking to their children about stranger-danger and other potential threats to their safety:
· A child should never walk alone. A group of children offers safety in numbers.
· If your child walks to and from school, church, or any other location on a regular basis, establish a route for your child to take. Make sure your child knows the street names of their route, and ensure they use the same route on a daily basis.
· Discourage your child from using alleys, greenbelts, or less traveled roadways for getting around. Walking or riding on a well-traveled neighborhood street allows the greatest visibility.
· Safety requires constant vigilance. Children should be aware of their surroundings at all times. This includes suspicious people, vehicles, or uncomfortable locations they may pass by.
· Encourage your child to act on their impulse to run away if their gut feeling tells them to.
· If your child finds themselves in a threatening situation, let them know it’s okay to run, yell, and attract as much attention upon themselves as possible.If your child walks to and from school, church, or any other location on a regular basis, establish a route for your child to take. Make sure your child knows the street names of their route, and ensure they use the same route on a daily basis.
· Discourage your child from using alleys, greenbelts, or less traveled roadways for getting around. Walking or riding on a well-traveled neighborhood street allows the greatest visibility.
· Safety requires constant vigilance. Children should be aware of their surroundings at all times. This includes suspicious people, vehicles, or uncomfortable locations they may pass by.
· Encourage your child to act on their impulse to run away if their gut feeling tells them to.
· If your child finds themselves in a threatening situation, let them know it’s okay to run, yell, and attract as much attention upon themselves as possible.
Burglary Prevention Tips:
The following burglary prevention tips will help to make you and your family safer and
deter potential burglars.
Keep all doors and windows closed and securely fastened. Thieves are also quick to spot
weak locks that may be easily forced open. Doors should have good deadbolt locks
and all windows should have window locks.
Keep shrubbery trimmed away from entrances and walkways.
Marked personal property is difficult for a burglar to sell. If a burglar is caught with marked property, it is evidence of stolen goods. Engrave an identification number on an area that is not easily dismantled or seen. Once property has an owner applied number, create a list of the property and coordinating numbers and keep the list in a secure location.
Make your home appear occupied using lights or television on a timer.
Do not hide spare keys outside your home; instead, give a spare key to a trusted neighbor.
Keep your garage door closed at all times. Pick up newspapers and solicitations left on your door or driveway.
If you have children, discuss home security with them, such as not talking with others about their home, its contents or family schedules.
If you belong to a social network, such as Facebook® be sure NOT to mention that you will be away on vacation at a particular time. Do not mention your work schedule, and be careful about saying the whole family will attend a particular event. Instead, wait until you get back home, and then post photos and notes about the great time you had.
Whose Responsibility is The Safety of Our Community?
The safety and security of all of the residents in Ray Manor (young and old and everywhere in between) is of the utmost concern of our Community. But whose responsibility is it?
A. The Homeowners Association
B. The Chandler Police Dept.
C. Each and every resident of Ray Manor
D. All of the above
The answer is D.
Each plays an important role in the continued safety and security of our Community, but each in very different ways that are important to understand because each has limitations and restrictions
You are the first line of defense in ensuring the safety and security of our Community. With 180 homes and over 350 residents, you are the eyes and ears of Ray Manor. Please do not be afraid to get involved when it comes to the safety and security of our Community. Don’t assume “someone else will take care of it” because they are probably thinking the same thing. Always go by the motto, “If it does not look right or feel right, it probably isn’t”, that is the time to react. But NEVER put yourself in a position of danger by confronting someone, call the police!
There are many small things you can do to also help deter crimes in the Community. For example, lock you car doors if they are parked outside, put away bikes and other valuables overnight, keep your outside lights on at night (lighting is the number one deterrent to crime – no criminal wants to be seen), be visible and get to know your neighbors (friends look out for friends, so make a new friend).
The Ray Manor Block Watch Committee will continue to look for ways to improve or add security measures that make sense for the community, but it starts with YOU!
More Home Security Tips
1. Get an alarm system that is monitored (permit required from City). If you cannot afford a monitored system, get one with an external and internal alarm. The police will not respond immediately to a home burglary alarm (due to the high incident of false alarms), but burglars don’t like them and will go to a home without one first. Make sure your alarm system has various alarms, such as intrusion, glass breakage and movement.
2. Try to make your home look the same every day. This means keeping your blinds closed, or open, whichever (I recommend closed), cars parked the same every time, preferably in the garage, and exterior lights on at night (you can purchase inserts for your exterior lights that are light sensitive and will come on at sundown, whether you are home, or not).
3. Use light timers to simulate activity when you are away from home. Lights left on all the time are a key indicator that you are gone, as are no lights all the time. Make the light timers simulate your normal, everyday activity.
4. Have the Chandler Police Department conduct a home security evaluation of your home. You will be surprised at the tips they will provide you for improving your home security.
5. Stop newspaper delivery, or have a neighbor pick them up for you each and every day. Have a neighbor, or friend come by your house every day and take down any flyers, or other advertisements that have been left in your driveway, on your front porch, or on your door.
6. You can’t do a lot about broken windows, except have a glass breakage alarm, but install double key dead bolts on all exterior doors. This will make it harder for anyone to get large items out of your house.
7. Secure all your windows with locks and set screws to prevent them from being removed from the outside.
8. Install security screen doors where appropriate, usually the front door.
9. Padlock your garage door shut and unplug your garage door opener. Take car key with you, or lock them in a safe.
10. Let your neighbors know that you are going to be gone. That way someone will be at least aware that there should be no activity at your home for a certain period of time.
A burglar, who wants to get in, will get in. All you can do it make it harder for them with some basic security measures. Good luck!
Sex Offenders Living In Maricopa County:
The Arizona Department of Public Safety provides a link of where registered Sex Offenders are living throughout the state.
Follow this link and be aware of these predators. http://az.gov/app/sows/home.xhtml
Observations:
We have found residents leaving their garage doors open overnight in the past. Please be diligent about remembering to close and lock all entrances. If you notice that a neighbor’s garage has been left open, give them a call and ask if they are aware of the situation. They will thank you for the heads-up.
Remember: If you see something, say something. if you see any thing suspicious, do not hesitate to call the Police. If they are made aware - even if it seems insignificant, they may see a reason to patrol our neighborhood more because of your call.
If you wish to report something suspicious to the Ray Manor Block Watch Committee, or you would like to join the committee, please send an email to rmblockwatch@cox.net
For Your Safety: Put your car keys beside your bed at night. If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies.
Curfew:
The City of Chandler curfews are: 10pm for 16 yrs. & younger, Midnight for 18 yr. olds.
Birds- 153 Species, Just 10 Miles from Home!
Did you know that Veterans Oasis Park is now considered one of the premier birding spots in the Valley? With its recharge basins, riparian areas, 5-acre lake and abundance of native vegetation, this 113-acre park is a natural draw to birds of many varieties. From the tiny Burrowing owls to stunning Vermilion flycatchers, over 153 species have been sighted at the park! Stop by the EEC to pick up a bird list, and join the many people flocking here to spot some of these feathered wonders for themselves!
Go Fish!
The lake at Veterans Oasis Park is stocked with fish every two weeks from mid-September through June,
with species including Channel catfish, Rainbow trout, Sunfish, and Largemouth bass.
The weeks in which stocking will occur are published on the Arizona Game and Fish Department
website https://www.azgfd.com. Only the weeks are given; specific dates are not published by the
AZGFD nor are they released by Veterans Oasis Park staff. You must purchase a fishing license,
available at Walmart or Big 5 Sporting Goods.
Water Conservation Rebates
Visit this link to learn more https://www.chandleraz.gov/residents/water/water-conservation/rebate-and-incentive-programs
Workshops For Landscape Design, Maintenance & Water Use
The City of Chandler offers many FREE workshops to Chandler residents.
They have some: “Smart” Landscaping, Pruning & Maintenance, Basic Yard Makeovers,
and Water Smart workshops. Click here for more information on city events, or visit their website at www.chandleraz.gov.
Free Brochures for Landscaping & Watering Tips
Receive WaterSaver brochures - sign up today! Our goal is to provide you with useful information to help you create a beautiful landscape that uses less water and saves you money.
The City of Chandler Water Conservation Office provides free literature about ways to conserve water in your home and in your landscape to Chandler utility customers. Please allow up to 10 business days for delivery.
Check the documents page for some water saving tips, or visit www.amwua.org for more information.
Get To Know Your Firefighters
The job of a firefighter is one of the most personally rewarding careers an individual can have. Whether it is rescuing people from a burning building, caring for their medical needs, extinguishing fires in a home or businesses, this profession is all about helping others.
To learn more, or to schedule a tour of a Chandler fire department,
visit https://www.chandleraz.gov/residents/fire
Please Slow Down!
The posted speed limit within our community is 25 MPH. Please watch for children playing or
people walking, and make it a safer place for all of us to live.
How to Put Out a Kitchen Fire
Turn off the heat, then cover with a wet cloth. If it is an oil fire, NEVER use water, flour or sugar! If it is not an oil fire, baking soda may work. The best thing is to have a small kitchen fire extinguisher. Click here to watch a 30 second video on putting out an oil fire.
Security Alarms- Permit Required
Did you know that a security alarm system in your home needs to meet specifications with the City of Chandler Police?
In Pursuant to City of Chandler Code, Chapter 24 - Alarm System Regulations, all alarm users must obtain an alarm permit from the Chandler Police Department. To obtain a permit, complete an Alarm User Application and submit it with the $10.00 fee to the Chandler Police Department Alarm Unit.
*Alarm users over the age of sixty-five (65) may receive a fee waiver. Permits must be renewed annually.
If you have any questions regarding alarm systems or permits, please contact the Alarm Unit at 480-782-4201
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