Renters: Wimbledon Glen/Arnel Properties Robbery

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I don't know if anyone lives at The Cape, but I feel pretty safe with the empty security booth at the front and the cops flying through the complex at 2 or 3 in the morning at least once a week. It's ridiculous. I have lived there for a year and have never seen a security guard...I don't even know how they manage to tow away vehicles parked inside the gates. There's no one to call it in! Not to mention 24 access to the hot tub. There are people there at all hours on any night of the week. Thank goodness I'm out of there in a matter of weeks.



KD_B, I'm sorry for the stress you've gone through. It really does feel like you've been violated. As far as your security deposit, the person who referred me was supposed to get an extra $300 when I moved in as a referral bonus. She never got it. I called Arnel Corp for 2 weeks straight and was always promised a call back or "check in the mail." As far as her security deposit, she got it back 2 months after she moved out and it was NO WHERE near what she put down initially. Arnel has the reputation of being horrible. So many residents are unhappy. Not to mention I almost made the mistake of moving into another apt in the same complex. Thank goodness my sister saw that someone moved into the unit they promised me THAT SAME DAY! I don't know how this Prop. Mgmt. Co. is still around...
 
dvs1422:



Wimbledon Glen also used to have a security guard at the gate, but to cut costs, they eliminated that. They boast that it is a safe, gated community, but in all honesty, you can follow anyone in through the gates.



When we first moved in, a lot of our neighbors had lived there for multiple years. By the time this happened, only two of our original 7 neighbors surround us were still living there and the two who are left are also thinking about leaving.



They used to have a great manager named Joe, but he left because the property was going down hill. He was the best manager that place had. As bad as some people may think the Irvine Company is, there are worse places such as Arnel properties.
 
<p><em>The burglar even shit in my toilet before he left</em></p>

<p>Ah yes, the thieves that are inclined to leave a "calling card". I don't care to mention how many burglaries I've investigated where the lovely fellow had decided to get ...err...."frisky" with himself.... I guess something about committing the crime turns them on. Perhaps it frightened your fellow bk.....</p>

<p>BTW, when someone breaks into your unoccupied home or car, the crime is called burglary. When someone sticks a gun in your face and says, "give me your money", that's called a robbery. (I know, semantics) To take it one step further, if someone breaks into your occupied home AND sticks a gun in your face.....that's called a home invasion robbery. There will be a test at the end of this post.</p>

<p>My vote for best security approach is a large dog (and be sure to leave a few of those huge, stinking piles around in the back yard for all to see...crook will move on to the next house with the cat). Safes are good too, but definitely bolt it to the floor...and get a big enough one that is too heavy to carry. Monitored alarms (ADT, etc.) are ok, but by the time the alarm company gets the notification, calls your house to see if it's you by mistake, calls the police dispatcher, who then generates a radio call, which eventually gets assigned to a busy patrol unit, who has to drive 10 mins to your house.....you are already cleaned out. (Burglars know this fact too). Don't waste your money on any monitoring. I wouldn't, and that says something. ISB, those cheapy audible things you installed on the windows are perfect. Any noise will usually make the crook run (or have to take a sh*t), or at least only grab one or two things on his way out the door. It also makes your neighbors look out their windows and see what's up.</p>

<p><em>Our place was broken into while we were at work last Thursday, in broad daylight.</em></p>

<p>99% of burglaries happen during the day. Burglars are somewhat smart. They know that people work during the day and are not home.</p>

<p><em>and maintenance staff, who usually drives by every 15 minutes, claims they didn't see anything suspicious. </em></p>

<p>One of them could be your suspect.....I'm just sayin'.....</p>

<p>A burglar will usually try and blend in with his environment. It's not uncommon for them to don a DWP or UPS uniform, dress like a gardener, construction worker....complete with tool belt.... They are also known to break in, open your garage door so the 2nd suspect can pull their car in, close the door and load up the car sight unseen. Voila.</p>

<p><em> </em></p>
 
Wanna see something that really drives home how vulnerable you are?





<a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7849885287713677821&q=bump+key&total=829&start=0&num=20&so=0&type=search&plindex=3">http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7849885287713677821&q=bump+key&total=829&start=0&num=20&so=0&type=search&plindex=3</a>
 
<p>(I wish I saw this post when you posted it, but...)</p>

<p>@KD_B: Do you have any pictures of what was stolen? Maybe a detailed description of valuable items? I know we all visit craigslist/ebay daily... search for the deals, etc.</p>

<p>You know damn well, your items are going to be sold (if they haven't been sold already). We could keep an eye out for them, but once again, my post might have been too late. You never know. One of us here on our daily search of furniture (you know most of us do it) might come across something of yours.</p>
 
Since we're on the subject of crime. Let me share you a few of my stories. Twice a burglar broke into my brother's bedroom while our family was in the living room watching TV. That was scary.



Another time, we heard the police helicopter hovering over the neighborhood. We heard someone knocking at the front door. Of course, I opened the door. And the suspect ran right through our house and exited the back door. He was caught hiding in the back shed.



Lastly, on a quiet Sunday afternoon while I was in the front yard relaxing. 2 vehicles drove up and down the streets and the occupants were shooting at each other.
 
<p>ism,</p>

<p>Bumpkeys have been around as long as I can remember, they are just getting more attention because the internet has taken them out of the shadows. Without going into too much detail, you are just as safe now as you always have been. I know from personal experience that the majority of homes either use Kwikset or Schlage locks and they were made for bumping. There is no way to prevent your home from being burglarized by a determined professional, but there are several things you can do to make it less attactive as a target.</p>

<p>Outside: Motion detecting lights, metal cover plates for the door locks, thorny bushes under the windows, a good dog that barks at strangers, axle grease along the top of any block walls, and combination locks on any gates.</p>

<p>Inside: Laminated windows, window seperation alarms as recommended by ISB and Trooper, sound activated bark box for the front door if you don't have a dog, timers to your table lamps set to random on/off times, some sort of rod in the lower track of sliding glass doors, and never leave your garage door open unless you are standing in it.</p>

<p>The goal isn't to make your house a prison, just not as easy as the one next door. But never assume that your home is actually secure. Short of posting Trooper on perimeter patrol, if I want in there is no security that I cannot defeat given time and opportunity.</p>
 
<p><em><strong>and maintenance staff, who usually drives by every 15 minutes, claims they didn't see anything suspicious.</strong> </em></p>

<p><em>One of them could be your suspect.....I'm just sayin'.....</em></p>

<p>That was my first though Troop, but I didn't want to rub salt into a fresh wound.</p>
 
<p>.<a target="AmazonHelp" onclick="return amz_js_PopWin(this.href,'AmazonHelp','width=700,height=600,resizable=1,scrollbars=1,toolbar=0,status=1');" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B0002YUX8I/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=228013&s=hi"></a></p>
 
@CalGal: That show is great. I can't help feel bad when the burglar is just making a mess of their home and grabbing valuables/collectibles that are on display. They're on display for a reason and this guy just throws it into his bag.... that would piss me off even though it wasn really stolen.... but still....
 
Where can you get one of those $10 alarms for your windows? I'm thinking about moving out soon and that seems like a really good investment.
 
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