Listening to all of the fireworks tonight, a thought for next year (and maybe even this next New Years) is perhaps set up teams to patrol the watch zones to remind people that they are illegal. We've been seeing them all around us, but I cannot pinpoint which streets. Closest I can see is at the end of the condos.

With kids out from school now, there is of course increased activity on the Pennsylvania St park/playground. With approx 3 ice cream trucks passing daily, the trash is accumulating even worse now. In addition, there's a lot more noise later at night (10 pm and even later at times). It's not pleasant when it's been warm out and we have our windows open. These are kids of all ages, as well as young adults.

Someone dug up two of our flowers, broke another one in half, put a rock in the middle of one and broke a branch of one of the bushes. I really wish people would leave our yard alone.

The amount of trash accumulating in the park on Pennsylvania St is getting worse. Even though the landscapers are contracted to clean it up, much of it is landing in areas in front of homes that aren't in their area. Perhaps we could join together and help pick up anything we see while visiting. If you have kids (and lately especially teenagers), I would like to ask if you could please speak to them about this issue. Those of us living right on the park would appreciate it. Thanks.

Not sure why it didn't include my name.

Just wanted to let everyone know, I noticed someone trying to get into mailboxes. After trying some of the mailboxes, the guy walked down the street to try another set. When he noticed he was being watched, he left. I tried looking for him after but had no luck. Just thought I would let you all know so you could keep an eye out.

Which street/area? Do you have a description? Thanks.

This was on 66th and Virginia. Also, the guy had brown curly hair and a beard.

Thanks. I'll keep my eyes open.

Children, woman bound during Lacey home invasion
CHELSEA KROTZER

A woman and two children were bound while three men robbed their Lacey home early Saturday morning.
No one was hurt.

The three men entered the home on the 6900 block of Inlay Street Southeast, and woke the woman and children who were asleep in an upstairs bedroom, according to a Lacey Police Department news release.

The release said the men displayed a handgun and demanded cash from the woman before tying her and the children up in the bedroom.

Police say the men ransacked the house then fled. After they left, the three victims were able to free themselves and call another family member who called police.

Police arrived on scene at around 4:18 a.m.

The woman said the only visible suspect was wearing all black clothing, a hooded top and a mask over his face.

Anyone with information about the robbery are asked to call the Lacey Police Department at 360-459-4333 or Olympia/Thurston County Crime Stoppers at 360-493-2222.

Read more here: https://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/04/14/v-lite/2107528/children-woman-bound-during-lacey.html#storylink=cpy

It was on Inlay not Axis.

Yesterday my husband went to the Horizon Pointe Park with our kids. I was home and inside. He left the garage door open, and our car was still in the driveway. Not long after he left someone tried to open the door from the garage that leads into the house. It is a lever handle. They yanked the handle down and tried to push the door open. Thankfully, I had locked the door from the inside. I called my husband to be sure it wasn't him or the kids trying to get in. It wasn't. Hopefully this doesn't happen to anyone else. Nothing was taken (that we could tell so far), and they left once they realized the door was locked. Please close your garage door even when you are home just to be safe.

I'm glad all was ok. What a great reminder. Thanks for posting.

Time for Spring Cleaning! The 4th Annual Garage Sale is on Saturday June 2nd from 8am-4:30pm.
Clear out your unneeded items and meet your neighbors. A permit is required by City of Lacey, but it's free. You can pick one up at the Lacey Police Department. The sale will be advertised in the local newspaper, on Craigs list, 2 Good to Toss, Rely Local and the Thurston Community page. Or you can place your own ads.

Celebrate Earth Day on Sunday April 22 at 2 pm, volunteering with fellow neighbors for our own community clean-up. Let’s make a noticeable difference for our home surroundings to help beautify our safe and peaceful neighborhood. People of all ages are welcomed to contribute, so bring your gloves and cool cleaning tools to pave the way toward a cleaner day. Trash bags will be provided.

Sign in at the covered section of Horizon Pointe Park where healthy snacks and refreshing refreshments will be available. A special thanks to Honest Tea for their generous donation. We look forward to working with everyone on Sunday, rain or shine!

Got this in an email from a friend. Hope it's helpful.

Something to consider - wasp spray and remote car alarm panic buttons.

Subject: THIRTEEN THINGS YOUR BURGLAR WON'T TELL YOU

This is definitely worth passing on! Please read.


THIRTEEN THINGS YOUR BURGLAR WON'T TELL YOU

1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator.

2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier.

3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste... and taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.

4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it..

5. If it snows while you're out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway.

6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don't let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it's set. That makes it too easy.

7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom - and your jewelry. It's not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too.

8. It's raining, you're fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door - understandable. But understand this: I don't take a day off because of bad weather.

9. I always knock first. If you answer, I'll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don't take me up on it.)

10. Do you really think I won't look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.

11. Here's a helpful hint: I almost never go into kids' rooms.

12. You're right: I won't have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it's not bolted down, I'll take it with me.

13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you're reluctant to leave your TV on while you're out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television. (Find it athttps://www.faketv.com/)

8 MORE THINGS A BURGLAR WON'T TELL YOU:

1. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook.

2. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors.

3. I'll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he'll stop what he's doing and wait to hear it again... If he doesn't hear it again, he'll just go back to what he was doing. It's human nature.

4. I'm not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?

5. I love looking in your windows. I'm looking for signs that you're home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I'd like. I'll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets.

6. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It's easier than you think to look up your address.

7. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it's an invitation.

8. If you don't answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in.

Sources: Convicted burglars in North Carolina, Oregon, California, and Kentucky ; security consultant Chris McGoey, who runshttps://www.crimedoctor.com/and Richard T. Wright, a criminology professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, who interviewed 105 burglars for his book Burglars on the Job

Protection for you and your home:

If you don't have a gun, here's a more humane way to wreck someone’s evil plans for you. (I guess I can get rid of the baseball bat.):

WASP SPRAY

A friend who is a receptionist in a church in a high risk area was concerned about someone coming into the office on Monday to rob them when they were counting the collection. She asked the local police department about using pepper spray and they recommended to her that she get a can of wasp spray instead.

The wasp spray, they told her, can shoot up to twenty feet away and is a lot more accurate, while with the pepper spray, they have to get too close to you and could overpower you. The wasp spray temporarily blinds an attacker until they get to the hospital for an antidote. She keeps a can on her desk in the office and it doesn't attract attention from people like a can of pepper spray would. She also keeps one nearby at home for home protection... Thought this was interesting and might be of use.

FROM ANOTHER SOURCE

On the heels of a break in and beating that left an elderly woman in Toledo dead, self defense experts have a tip that could save your life.

Val Glinka teaches self-defense to students at Sylvania Southview High School . For decades, he's suggested putting a can of wasp and hornet spray near your door or bed.

Glinka says, "This is better than anything I can teach them."

Glinka considers it inexpensive, easy to find, and more effective than mace or pepper spray. The cans typically shoot 20 to 30 feet; so if someone tries to break into your home, Glinka says, "spray the culprit in the eyes". It's a tip he's given to students for decades. It's also one he wants everyone to hear. If you're looking for protection, Glinka says look to the spray.

"That's going to give you a chance to call the police; maybe get out."

Maybe even save a life.

Put your car keys beside your bed at night

Tell your spouse, your children, your neighbors, your parents, your Dr's office, the check-out girl at the market, everyone you run across: Put your car keys beside your bed at night.

If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies. This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this: It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your driveway or garage. If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break into your house, odds are the burglar/rapist won't stick around. After a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that. And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there. This is something that should really be shared with everyone. Maybe it could save a life or a sexual abuse crime.

Would also be useful for any emergency, such as a heart attack, where you can't reach a phone. Carry your car keys when outside in case you fall outside. You can activate the car alarm and then someone will know there's a problem

I just noticed a decent size mess of firetrucks. The fire seems to be in an unoccupied house over in the dead end on 66 th way.. Just thought yall should know..

Someone stole the lanterns off our porch caps this past week. These thefts are getting really frustrating. I wish I could catch these punks.

Thanks for the update Shawn.

Just wanted to let the folks in the neighborhood know that someone is watching the houses and stealing packages after they are left on porches by the mailman, UPS, Fedex, etc... Please be on the lookout and when you order something, request that it be signed for by someone at your residence and not just left there for thieves to grab. Yesterday I had 2 packages stolen from my porch. I was home but the mailman did not knock or ring the bell, just left it there for the taking. And these were Christmas presents for my daughter. :(
Also, if this happens to you no matter what the value, file a police report ASAP.

Our mini van was broken into in front of our house on Wednesday. I talked to police and other neighbors and there is a specific group looking into breaking into cars from 10PM to 5AM. We left some valuables in the car so it was a great attraction for the thieves.

There is going to be a holiday event (Santa, music, refreshments) in the park on December 14th. I will be picking up the flyers at 10 am on December 3rd. Would my fellow block captains be willing to distribute to their sections?

Friday morning our van was found with a broken rear window. We had parked out in front of the house, which we have done several times. Nothing was stolen from it, but the damage is done. This is the second time in the 4 years we have lived here that we have had a car window broken. The first time there was something stolen. We plan on parking in our vehicles in the garage and driveway for now on and to get motion lights. Why would someone do this? It is so cruel. With it being Christmas time I am sure this will happen again. I urge everyone to watch out for eachother to help this vandalism and theft to stop. And please if you have any information at all let us know.

My son's Royal Blue Mongoose bike was stolen from Chambers Elementary yesterday. The bike has Royal Blue rims and Mongoose written in tatoo style lettering on the seat. I would appreciate it if you can keep an eye out.

$50.00 reward if someone locates the bike.

Thanks.

Tony
tnram16@gmail.com

Tony, Was the bike at the school locked up? We will be on the look out. I would alert the school as well if it happened there.

Well done Shawn sounds like Kate is right on the mark too. I liked the tips. Have installed halogen lights with motion detectors. Will keep an eye on the park.

Very good tips Kate. I never thought about the phone. Also, we plan on getting motion lights too.