Greetings, neighbors! A few quick words from Neighborhood Watch this spring.
Based on reports from FCPD, our neighborhood and surrounding areas of our county continue to enjoy safe conditions with no concerning crime trends specific to the neighborhood. This is backed up by our observations on volunteer patrols. It’s generally very peaceful after the sun goes down, and night observing brings a good possibility of a fox, deer, or owl sighting. Thanks to our volunteers who exercise vigilance and perform our patrols on weekends, as this helps provide evidence to anyone watching that we look out for ourselves and each other here!
Driveway Paving Scammers
I do want to share some timely spring advice from FCPD’s Financial Crimes Unit warning community members of driveway paving scammers looking to take advantage of homeowners. There’s very good info in the article highlighting what to look out for, and what to do if you encounter this. There are also some good tips to consider when hiring a contract tor, which many of us may be doing as we head into the warmer months. Here’s the web address for the article: https://fcpdnews.wordpress.com/2024/03/04/driveway-paving-scams-fcpds-tips-to-avoid-fraudsters/
The main takeaway….if a contractor knocks on your door, take these recommended actions:
- Ask for his or her soliciting license.
- If they do not have a valid license, ask them to leave.
- Close and lock your door.
- Immediately call Fairfax County Police (non-emergency) at 703-691-2131 to report the violation.
These actions would be effective with any contractor offering to sell you their services; not just pavers. Hopefully we won’t see too much of it, but this is the season we’d see an increase so it pays to be careful. Always check a provider’s license and insurance!
Summer Travel Preparation
A final thought for you as we approach summer travel months. Do you know that you can call FCPD if you’re planning to be away from home for an extended period, and they’ll send officers by periodically to check for any suspicious activity? Well, you can! Just call the FCPD non-emergency number (703-691-2131) and let them know. They stated this at a recent community engagement meeting, so I wanted to advise our neighbors of this option. I’d also recommend letting trusted neighbors know your plans and whereabouts too. The people most familiar with your immediate area will often be the first to notice something that doesn’t seem right or might be suspicious.
As always, if you have any concerns about security or NW that you would like to discuss, feel free to reach out. My email is linked on the MCA webpage (Neighborhood Watch section) and my contact info is in our directory. And if you’d like to be added to our volunteer roster, do let me or an MCA Board Member know. We can always use a few additional volunteers, and your contributions can be whatever you’d like. We have our driving patrols, but observant joggers or dog-walkers (or anyone) can play a part!
Here’s wishing you a safe and enjoyable spring,
Bill Pryor
Middleridge NW Coordinator