Good morning,
Those of you who are members of the neighborhood Facebook group are aware of the recent mail and package thefts, vehicle entries, and even Christmas decoration thefts. However, many residents are not on social media and may not be aware of these incidents.
Outgoing mail is being stolen regularly from mailboxes. The thieves open the mail, remove any checks, credit card information, gift cards, etc. and then discard it. The HOA Board advises that you do not use your mailbox for outgoing mail. Here are some alternatives:
- There are four mail pods in Phase 6 of the Tiffany. Each has a secure outgoing mail slot.
- Drop your mail in one of the blue USPS mailboxes. You can use https://www.mailboxmap.com to find a convenient USPS mailbox.
When the mail is stolen, not only do bills become overdue, but the resident also becomes vulnerable to identity theft. If you find discarded mail near your home, please try to return it to the owner so that they are aware that it did not make it to its intended destination and can notify their financial institutions accordingly.
Residents have also reported missing packages. Here are several suggestions to avoid package theft:
- Have your packages sent to an alternate location, such as your job.
- Ask a stay-at-home neighbor to keep an eye out for your packages.
- Subscribe to tracking information provided by the delivery services. You can opt to receive a text message when packages are delivered.
Residents have also reported vehicle entries. This typically happens in the early hours of the morning and items are removed from unsecured vehicles.
- Ensure all valuables are removed from any vehicles parked outside.
- LOCK your doors.
- Leave your outside lights on.
Last year, Sgt. Zimmerman from the Houston County Sheriff’s Office spoke to our neighborhood. Several of his suggestions are included above. He also suggested that residents:
- Place your house on “house watch” when going out of town. This is a service where local law enforcement will check on your home.
- Call and report anything suspicious. Local law enforcement allocates their patrols based on the number of calls from an area. If crimes aren’t being reported from The Tiffany, there’s no reason for our neighborhood to be patrolled.
Below are the telephone numbers for reporting the crimes mentioned above:
Warner Robins Police Department: 478-302-5378 or 911
Mail theft – United States Postal Inspection Service: 1-800-ASK-USPS
These issues are not unique to The Tiffany — nice neighborhoods are always a target. But being vigilant and following the suggestions above can reduce the likelihood of you becoming a victim.
