Community Safety

To enroll in our emergency alert system, contact Tom Harding at 904.813.8513 or by email at smlalerts@comcast.net   Anyone interested in actively participating in our Safety and Security Committee/Neighborhood Watch,  please contact Tom or email the Board at smlboard@smlinfo.org.

!!! ALERT !!! 5/3/2011 - From the Sheriff's office, there was a home invasion in Ponte Vedra Beach....read more...

Crimes of Opportunity...
From Sheriff's Office:

"People really need to lock up their cars and houses, even when they are home. The majority of these burglaries are taking place during the daytime and they are entering through open garages, or using open cars to get garage door openers and going in that way. We really need people to be pro-active and make this victimization as difficult as possible, because right now it is too easy for the bad guys. People need to hide their belongings (and garage door openers) either in their trunk or under the seat and lock up the car."

Free Firearms Safety Kits avaliable....

Halloween Safety Tips:

Ghosts, goblins, and ghouls will soon be coming out all over St. Johns County. Halloween is a festive occasion that we need to celebrate safely. If your children are preparing to go trick-or-treating, take these safety precautions: 

1) Make sure all costumes are flame retardant. Most commercial costumes are made of flame-retardant material and you should ask your fabric shop for flame-retardant material if you make your own costume. 

2) Make sure your children can see and be seen. Expand the eye holes in commercial masks to improve peripheral vision. Add reflective tape to costumes to make them more visible to motorists. 

3) Ensure that each trick-or-treater has a working flashlight. 

4) Tell the children to remove their masks and look both ways before they cross a street. 

5) Never let a group of children trick-or-treat alone. Adult supervision is a safety “must” during Halloween.

 6) Trick-or-treat only at homes of people you know. 

7) Instruct children never to eat candy or treats until they return home. 

8) When your child gets home, inspect all the candies and fruits. Slice open the fruit to look for strange odors or any signs that the fruit has been altered or tampered with. Dispose of any treat that is unwrapped or appears to have been tampered with. 

Let’s keep all our gremlins, ghosts, and ghouls safe to enjoy another

Halloween celebration next year!

Home safety Tips....

http://www.sjso.org

Visit the St. John's County Sheriff's Office website for additional resources!

The Department of Homeland Security
http://www.whitehouse.gov/homeland

Citizen Corps
Volunteer for America
http://www.citizencorps.gov

Holiday Safety Tips

AT HOME:
Be extra cautious about locking doors and windows when you leave your house or apartment, even for a few minutes.

• Don't display holiday gifts where they can be seen from a window or doorway.
• If you go out for the evening, turn on lights and a radio or television. This will make the home appear occupied.
• *If you take a holiday trip away from home, have some interior lights activated by an automatic timer. Stop delivery of your mail and newspaper or have a neighbor pick them up. You can also have a neighbor park their vehicle from time to time in your driveway.
• Be wary of strangers soliciting for charitable donations. They may attempt to take advantage of peoples generosity during the holidays.
• Immediately after the holidays mark new gifts with identification number and record new serial numbers.
• Test your smoke detectors.
• Use only fire resistant ornaments, make sure electric lights are in good working order. Don't leave lights on overnight or when you are away from home.
• Avoid leaving boxes from purchases (especially TV's computers, etc) out on the curb for trash pickup.

SHOPPING:

• Shop before dark if possible. Possibly coordinate shopping trips with a friend or family member. Never park in an unlit lot or area, no matter how convenient it is.
• Lock your packages and gifts in your vehicle's trunk. Keep your vehicle's doors locked and windows closed.
• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Pay for purchases with a check, credit card, or debit card when possible.
• To discourage purse-snatchers, don't overburden yourself with packages, and keep your purse close to your body, and keep your wallet in an inside pocket, not a back trouser pocket.
• Teach children to go to a store clerk or security guard and ask for help if you become separated, they should never leave the store or go to a parking lot alone.

HOLIDAY PARTY SAFETY:

• Have non-alcoholic beverages available for party guests.
• Have alternative transportation for intoxicated persons. Don't let guests drink and drive.

These and other tips are available to you at the St. Johns County Sheriffs Office web site at www.sjso.org . The site offers other informative and helpful links and videos. Residential and personal emergency information cards can be printed on line. We wish you and yours happiness and safety this holiday season.

Halloween Safety Tips from the SJCSO...

email:  smlboard@smlinfo.org
10036 Sawgrass Drive, Suite 1 * Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 * (904) 273-9832