ANNOUNCEMENTS
Download
the minutes of the meeting
SNA Meeting
Saturday, Dec. 3 at 10 am
El Pueblito United Methodist Church, El
Prado
Agenda:
Introduction of Officers
Security Concerns – Disadvantages of Gates
High Desert Investigative Services – Tune Patrol?
SNA Dues Collection - $ 20 p.a. voluntary (please bring a check)
SNA Listserve
The SNA Listserve is an email forum for the exchange of ideas
and information
about life in the SNA among SNA landowners and renters.
To sign up go to http://lists.laplaza.org/mailman/listinfo/stagecoach
and the webpage will tell you how to subscribe.
Your signup will be dependent
on the listserve manager, Anne-Marie Hillings, verifying that you are a
current SNA landowner or renter.
If you need to contact Ann-Marie, her email is sitstay@mac.com
Once you are approved, you
can send emails to the list using this address: stagecoach@lists.laplaza.org
Putting it in your email address book will make it easy to use.
To change your list preferences
and to look at the archive go here: http://lists.laplaza.org/mailman/listinfo/stagecoach
Each month laplaza.org will send you an email containing your password.
Keep it in a place where you can find it again.
Most people do forget their password, so ... :>)
Protecting
yourself and your home
Hi
Neighbors----
Regarding the break-in in our neighborhood (July, 2010), here are some practical
ideas to protect yourselves from intruders at your home----
1. Know your neighbors -- Set up an agreement with a few neighbors to allow
you to call them at any time of the day or night if you are feeling threatened.
The neighbors should be instructed to call the Sheriff's Department or "911"
if this happens, reporting that a possible break-in is occurring. The neighbor
should not try to confront the intruder themselves, but wait for the police
to arrive. The neighbor should tell the Sheriff's Department that they will
meet them at a close entry point to the location of the incident.
2. If you are going to be gone from your home for an extended period of
time, ask your neighbors to keep on eye open for intruders.
3. Have the Sheriff's Department's phone numbers handy. They are in the
telephone books distributed every year here in Taos, or know you can just
call "911" for help.
4. Have a dog (if you can). They will warn you of strange noises around
your home.
5. Lock your doors and window at night.
6. Lock your garage, if you have one, especially at night.
7. Be observant, notice your surroundings when your outside, or leaving
or getting out of your car, especially at night. Be prepared to fend off
an attacker, set off your car alarm. Do anything you can to scare an intruder
off, and, if someone trys to force you into your home pretend to faint.
Once he gets you inside your house, anything can happen.
8. Install an alarm system in your house. You can quiry the website http://www.homesecuritystore.com
for wireless alarm systems.
The wireless system that is recommend can be installed in your house for
approximately $185.00. It is the Powermax Plus, and is easy to install.
Also, order an outside siren for for $18.00 which requires a wire run to
the roof, or a wireless siren which is more expensive. If you order the
optional smoke alarm for $80, and, hook up to a central station you will
save about $250 per year on your homeowners insurance. You could use Watchlight
Corp., the cost is $125 per year. They can be reached at 619 442 9595, and
are very reliable. If your alarm goes off they will immediately call your
home to see if you need help, or if there is no answer, they will call up
to four of your neighbors and the local police. The alarm system comes with
a remote, similar to your car alarm, and has a panic button which immediately
notifies the monitoring company, and sets off the siren. If you have any
questions or need advice as to installation you can contact Tony Palma by
email tonypalma@taosnet.com
9. Use your alarm system if you install or have one, especially at night.
10. If you are a woman, you might want to attend a self -defense class.
11. Have a can or two of wasp spray available. Keep one by the bed, and
one by the door, to use if an intruder is in your house. It is better than
pepper spray because it will shoot approximately 20 feet, so, you don't
have to be as close to a person when you spray it to be effective. It will
temporarilly blind the intruder and give you time to escape or call 911
12, Run----Get away from the scene. Go to a neighbors and call the police.
Don't try to confront an intruder yourself.
13. If you purchase a firearm, attend a safety course, and learn how to
use it, and under what circumstances you can legally use it. Remember, if
you are going to own a gun you have to be able to take someones life. This
is not an easy decision to make, and if you hesitate or cannot do it, you
will be supplying the intruder with a weapon that he can use on you or someone
else. Also, make sure you have a secure place to store it in your home when
you are not there, so, it will not be stolen and end up in the hands of
a bad guy.
14. If you are attacked try to get a good description of the attacker. Any
distinguishing marks scars, tattoo's, height, weight, color of eyes and
hair. Anything, that will help the police identify the suspect is good to
notice. If possible, try to see how the intruder escapes, on foot, by car,
or whatever.
Let's hope we never have to use any of these suggestions but it is always
best to be prepared.
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