Shavano Ridge Homeowner's Association

Security Plan

Background

January 1999

The purpose of this information paper is to outline security options that are currently available and established in the Shavano Ridge subdivision as well as options that were considered by the Shavano Ridge Homeowners Association.

Shavano Ridge's Security Program

Currently Shavano Ridge has the following programs in place which provide a degree of security for our neighborhood that continues to be acceptable to the majority of residents.

1. Cellular on Patrol (COP) Program.

Shavano Ridge currently has 14 trained COP members who patrol our neighborhood on an unannounced basis both on foot and in vehicles. These patrols are not an organized effort, but they could be if a particular crime problem plagues our community. We have a cellular phone on loan from the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) for use by our COP members.

2. Neighborhood Watch/Good Neighbor Program.

Shavano Ridge also has an active Neighborhood Watch/Good Neighbor Program with 30 block captains throughout the subdivision representing all streets within the community. Shavano Ridge participates in an annual National Night Out Program and won the 1996 San Antonio Council District 8 Award for best community participation in this event. It has numerous Neighborhood Watch/Good Neighbor Program and COP signs posted at the entrances to our neighborhood and on the streets throughout the subdivision that identify our community as proactive against crime. A series of three security meetings and refresher courses have been conducted by the SAPD's Crime Prevention Unit for all streets.

3. "Shavano Ridge" (SR) Vehicle Bumper Stickers.

Shavano Ridge (SR) stickers can be obtained from block captains for placement on the left rear bumper of their privately owned vehicles (POVs). These stickers help residents identify vehicles that belong in our neighborhood.

4. Home Security Inspections.

The SAPD Crime Prevention Unit has conducted many home security inspections for residents. New residents can request these security inspections. For homes which pass the inspection, certificates are issued that can be submitted to insurance companies for 5% discounts on the homeowners insurance.

5. Operation Identification and R.I.T.E. Protect.

Homeowners can obtain an engraving tool from the SAPD's Crime Prevention Unit for marking valuables with their Texas driver's license number. The Crime Prevention Unit will upon request inspect and certify these markings and provide window/door security stickers that identify participation in this program. R.I.T.E Protect (meaning Record, Inventory, Tracing, and Enforcement) is an initiative by the SAPD and the City of San Antonio to decrease property crimes and increase the recovery of stolen property. In the event of property theft, the resident should provide the SAPD investigating officer descriptions, serial numbers, etc., of stolen items from the aforementioned inventory. The police will enter this information into a Stolen Property Database, which is electronically linked and cross checked with Pawn Databases that pawn shops file electronically with the SAPD daily. If there is a match based on the resident's R.I.T.E numbers, the police can recover stolen property from pawn shops. To obtain an engraving tool or more R.I.T.E. information, contact the SAPD Prue Road Substation (207-7169) or visit web site: http://www.ci.sat.tx.us/sapd

6. Help End Auto Theft (H.E.A.T.) Program.

Residents can obtain H.E.A.T. decals for their POVs with proof of insurance, driver's license, and car registration. H.E.A.T. is a voluntary statewide vehicle registration program designed as a theft deterrent. Participating vehicle owners sign an agreement that their vehicle may be stopped between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. If peace officers observe the participating vehicle being driven anywhere in Texas during those hours, they may stop the vehicle and verify ownership. Owners can grant additional authority at the time of registration to have their vehicle stopped any time of the day it is being driven from Texas into Mexico.


Registration is for a period of four years and can be accomplished at the SAPD's Prue Road Substation, 5020 Prue Road, San Antonio, TX 78240, (210) 207-7169.

7. House Alarms.

House Alarms are a security feature which exist in all Shavano Ridge homes. They should be used with care to avoid false alarms. Applications for house alarm permits can be obtained from any of the SAPD substations. Shavano Ridge is served by the aforementioned Prue Road substation. Once the homeowner has obtained the house alarm permit application, he/she needs to complete and mail it along with a $10 fee to the city's SAPD Alarm Unit, (210) 207-8282.

8. San Antonio Crime Incident Reports.

These reports can be downloaded from Internet Site: www.ci.sat.tx.us/sapd/
The steps to access these reports are:
Click on……….Neighborhood Calls for Service.
Click on……….Go Directly To The Neighborhood Reports (scroll to bottom of screen).
Click on……….001.
Click on……….038.
Enter mm and yyy (numerals for the month and year and disregard the middle box for dd (days).

Security Options

These are the security options that were considered by the Shavano Ridge Homeowners during the course of a general membership meeting in 1995.

1. Security Patrols.

There are a number of alternatives for security guards/patrols that include armed/unarmed, random versus dedicated, alarm response, night or day, etc. Generally costs for these patrols range from $25,000 to $50,000/year and can be as high as $90,000 depending upon the level of desired security protection. Thus, the homeowner costs would range from $125 to $500/year in additional dues. Shavano Ridge employed Ranger American to patrol our neighborhood, however, there was no significant decrease in crime with this security patrol and it was deemed ineffective for the cost.

2. Closed Circuit TV.

Closed circuit television (CCTV) is used extensively in commercial applications, but it is new to neighborhood security. CCTV serves as a deterrent only if it is known that cameras are employed in the neighborhood. It would cost approximately $8,650/camera setup with a recommended two cameras per entrance. The drawback to cameras is that they do not prevent crime. They merely "may" help identify the thief or vandal by the POVs that come into or go out of our neighborhood. Additional costs would be involved with servicing the cameras and videotapes. Generally speaking, this option is not considered a major solution to our security problems.

3. Electronic Gates.

Many residents consider electronic gates as the best solution for neighborhood security. However, there are many negatives associated with this option. Shavano Ridge does not have the necessary five-car length entrance access distance required by the city for the gate particularly at the Shavano Ridge Street entrance. Land would have to be purchased from at least two homeowners at this entrance, in addition to obtaining city approval for gates at one or both of our two entrances. For this option to be most effective a guard would be required for the entrance(s). The cost of guard(s) will cause the homeowners' due to increase by a significant amount. There are, of course, alternatives to this option, e. g. gates but no guard(s), gates that are open during the day but closed at night, etc. Unfortunately for gated communities, the cost of street maintenance and garbage pickup becomes the responsibility of the homeowners because the streets are "privatized." Gated communities must also address easy access for fire and emergency medical services, which in some of the noted alternative cases could affect their fire and property insurance rates. Lastly, Texas State law requires every single lot owner in the community to personally agree to a gated community. In Shavano Ridge there are some retired homeowners on fixed incomes who are not willing to accept the higher Homeowner Association yearly dues associated with gated communities. In summary, gates do not guarantee security because many crime incidents are committed by residential family members and/or friends even in these communities, and they are cost prohibitive to residents who do not want higher homeowner's dues.

Homeowners' Decision.

After these options were briefed to the Shavano Ridge Homeowners during the course of a general membership meeting in 1995, members were unwilling to make the financial commitment necessary to pursue any of the discussed security solution options.