The residents of a Firestone neighborhood are concerned about a new cost they could be taking on, thanks to new license plate readers in the town that the police are asking for help funding. The Town of Firestone said it began installing Flock license plate readers last year, 14 in total around the community. Now, […]
Video Doorbells in Community Associations: Privacy, Policies, and Legal Considerations (IL)
With the rise of smart home technology, video doorbells like Ring and Nest have become a common security feature for homeowners. These devices offer added safety and convenience, allowing residents to monitor visitors and deliveries in real time. However, in community associations where shared spaces and privacy considerations come into play, video doorbells can present […]
Strengthening HOA Data Security: A Guide for Community Associations
Homeowners associations (HOAs) handle a vast amount of sensitive information, from HOA data on residents to financial records and vendor agreements. With cyber threats on the rise and small organizations frequently targeted, community associations can no longer afford to overlook data security management. A breach not only compromises privacy but can also lead to financial […]
Not just for police: A Norfolk HOA plans to deploy Flock license plate cameras (VA)
Police departments across Hampton Roads aren’t the only organizations installing the controversial automated license plate readers that have attracted lawsuits and privacy concerns. A homeowner’s association in Norfolk’s Lochhaven neighborhood recently received city approval to install two of the cameras, made by Flock Safety, at neighborhood entrances. Read the article…………………………….
The Future of HOA Security: Smart Systems and Solutions
Homeowners’ associations (HOAs) have a responsibility to provide a safe and secure environment for their residents. As technology evolves, so do the solutions available to enhance community security. Traditional security measures such as gate guards, key-based entry, and security patrols are being supplemented – or even replaced – by smart security systems that offer real-time […]
Neighbors concerned after hidden camera found outside home (CA)
An alert resident in San Bernardino County called the sheriff’s department when they noticed a portable power supply device in their driveway. What deputies found was all too common these days: a hidden camera system installed by thieves. Read the article…………………………….
Software used by 50,000 HOAs updates privacy policy after man discovered ‘bad security practices’
Despite the curious wording of its privacy policy, a company used by 50,000 homeowners associations said it will never sell people’s personal information. In response to WCNC Charlotte’s reporting, CINC Systems, an HOA account and software management company, has pledged to better communicate its commitment to data privacy. Read the article…………………………….
Safety Advice for HOA Leaders
The February chapter meetings of the network have been featuring a presentation by Bob Penney, a retired police officer from Champlin who is making a great post-retirement career by training groups on personal safety. We asked Bob to attend our chapter meetings to provide HOA leaders with some insights about what to do in the […]
Cyber crime: Protecting your community’s sensitive data
Community association boards can use simple and inexpensive methods to protect sensitive data against cyber crime and breaches, according to an insurance expert. During “Cyber Threats: Claims, Risks and Protections for Community Associations,” a recent CAI webinar, Kevin Davis, CIRMS, president of Kevin Davis Insurance Services in Los Angeles, suggested community association board members and […]
Take a Bite Out of HOA Crime
Homeowners associations are often called on to provide security in some form or another. Some provide controlled entry gates or access, security guards, video cameras and other high-tech gadgetry. Others build fences and moats (you heard right — with volunteer alligators — in Florida). All of this is costly, but does it really do the […]
License plate reader bill clears the House, but privacy concerns persist (VA)
Virginia lawmakers are moving to regulate automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) for the first time, but privacy advocates warn that the legislation could expand surveillance rather than rein it in. Read the article…………………………….
Loda Homeowners Association wants added safety measures following accident (IL)
A Homeowners Association (HOA) in Iroquois County is calling for action after the latest crash on a road just outside their neighborhood. Last month, WCIA reported on 18-year-old Elaine Carmen-Loveless, who was driving on County Road 200 North in Loda when she lost control of her car and ended up in Bayles Lake. Now, people […]
Aurora condominium complex raising concerns after series of mail thefts caught on camera (CO)
Surveillance video at an Aurora condominium complex shows someone breaking into 19 mailboxes last week. The thefts happened at the Sunflower Condominiums last Monday and Wednesday mornings. The thief also broke into the postal service door and although the mailboxes have since been repaired, the repair costs totaled more than $2,000. Read the article…………………………….
8 Ways To Make Your Neighborhood Safer For Everyone (FL)
As a member of your HOA’s board, you want people to feel safe in the neighborhood. After all, this helps keep property values high, means that people want to maintain residence in the area, and is the right thing to do. Here’s how your board can make safety a priority. Read the article…………………………….
License plate reader use faces new scrutiny in Virginia
The General Assembly is gearing up to rein in on the growing use of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) by law enforcement, a move prompted by the Virginia Crime Commission, which voted Friday to pursue new regulations. ALPRs — cameras that capture a vehicle’s license plate along with its location, date and time — have […]
Tired of waiting for the city, neighborhood installs license plate readers (TN)
Three license plate readers (LPRs) now sit at the entrances to the Harborview community, monitoring every car that passes by. It’s a project months in the making after a shooting at their community pool started the conversation. Bart Smith is one of those behind the push to get them installed. “They’ve only been up for […]
DeLand residents claim better measures could have prevented fatal dog attack on 8-year-old boy (FL)
The entrance gates at Berry’s Ridge are wide open. This neighborhood is located just off County Road 15A. A neighbor, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that since he bought his home nearly 20 years ago, the gates have never been closed. “It was advertised as a closed, gated community with a security box that […]
Do Tenants Have a Right to Ring Cameras? Courts Are Weighing In
Certain amenities in a dwelling have evolved from being considered luxuries to becoming essential, exemplified by the increased reliance on technology in the home. One particular technology that has grown in popularity is the doorbell camera, which has raised questions of how much a homeowners’ association (HOA) may regulate their implementation and use. While related […]
Owners feel like ‘sitting ducks’ (AB)
Thieves continue to wreak havoc at Winagami Lake by robbing cottage owners of valuable property. The thefts continue despite pleas to local authorities for help. “We are starting to wonder what else needs to happen before enforcement efforts are ramped up, right now we are sitting ducks,” says Darcy Beach, vice-president, Winagami Lake Cottage […]
Kimberly residents speak out about constant neighborhood vandalism (ID)
Residents of Heritage Farms in Kimberly have reported for years that their property has constantly been vandalized and no culprits have been found. “Everybody thought it was the wind, but we’ve reinforced our fences. I’ve personally reinforced them, and we’ve had help here from the homeowners as well. But, they–kids or adults– we haven’t been […]
Video captures burglars ransacking Santa Monica condo complex during fumigation (CA)
Residents are distraught after burglars ransacked a Santa Monica condominium complex while it was being fumigated for termites. Surveillance cameras captured the suspects arriving at the 10–unit complex on the 400 block of Idaho Avenue while the building was evacuated from Dec. 27-30. Read the article…………………………….
Townhome residents frustrated after at least 6 cases of mail theft in a year (TX)
A community in the Champions area is left feeling hopeless after they say thieves have hit their cluster mailbox at least six or seven times in the last year. Jim Penn, president of the HOA for the Kings Row Townhome Community located on Champions Drive, said they do not know what to do about the […]
Arnold to accept applications for streetlight program (MO)
Arnold residents who live in subdivisions that do not have streetlights now have an avenue to get some funding for lights to be installed along their streets. City Administrator Bryan Richison said subdivisions with an active Homeowners Association (HOA) may begin applying in January for money to have lights installed, and city officials will start […]
Assiniboine condo residents, overwhelmed by encampment chaos, send SOS to Kinew (AB)
Some who liked the concept bought a condo at 390 Assiniboine along the Assiniboine River. The last thing they expected was a problem with the neighbours. But when the definition of “neighbours” morphed into allowing violent homeless criminals to occupy McFadyen Park, the problems proved an around-the-clock nightmare. Read the article…………………………….
Keep the Joy of the Holidays in and the Grinches Out with These Security Tips
The holiday season brings warmth, togetherness, and festive spirit. But while neighbors are exchanging cookies and celebrating, there’s also the unfortunate risk of unwanted “visitors” like porch pirates (people who steal packages from the intended recipient’s porch) and vandals. In bustling communities, package theft and holiday mischief tend to spike, especially as online orders increase. […]
Lake Murray condominium sees 3 vehicles stolen within 24 hours (SC)
One Irmo community is reeling after three vehicles were stolen and another was broken into within just three days. Yacht Cove is a community off Lakeshore Drive and River Road that has over 400 units and sits right off Lake Murray. Property management and residents sent WIS News 10 three videos that show stolen vehicles […]
Access Control & Securing Your Building: Who Goes There?
Technology and communication are advancing and evolving rapidly in today’s fast-paced world. Multifamily buildings—home to residents with diverse needs, expectations, and preferences—present unique security challenges. These buildings must manage a stream of visitors, multiple entrances, and all the everyday complexities of community living, where trust and awareness among neighbors can vary widely. Boards and associations […]
Armed break-ins at Scottsdale complex leave residents fearing for safety (AZ)
People living at a high-end Scottsdale condominium complex say more needs to be done to protect residents as police investigate armed vehicle burglaries and a stolen car. Residents of the Optima Camelview Village shared photos of what appears to be security camera footage from October 27, showing people breaking into cars holding what looks like […]
Donelson HOA Board holds meeting on installing license plate reader cameras (TN)
A Donelson Homeowners Association Board is trying to install their own license plate readers (LPRs). LPRs are cameras meant to capture and record vehicle license plates and the Harborview neighborhood wants to have these cameras installed throughout the area. Read the article…………………………….
The Guide to HOA Community Safety
Safety is every community association’s priority. Although homeowners associations were not created or designed to provide security for the neighborhood, HOAs typically do use lighting, security cameras, gate locks and electronic access cards to help keep their communities safe. However, there are additional precautions that an HOA can take that may sometimes be overlooked. Below, […]
2 people caught on camera opening Westminster mailboxes (CO)
Two people were caught on camera opening mailboxes in Westminster last weekend. FOX31 received a video from a Westminster resident of what appears to be two people opening mailboxes and looking inside along Reed Way, before 2 a.m. on the morning of Oct. 13. Read the article…………………………….
Security Camera Videos as Official Records of a Condominium or Homeowners’ Association (FL)
Condominium and homeowners’ associations frequently install security cameras at various locations throughout the association property. In some instances, the cameras are monitored live, and images are recorded, and in other instances the images are simply recorded and available for retrieval in the event circumstances warrant their review. In most cases, the videos are automatically overwritten […]
Surveillance company skirted regulations as it expanded across north Fort Worth HOAs (TX)
A private surveillance company has skirted local regulations by installing dozens of cameras on public property without approval from the city of Fort Worth, an investigation by the Fort Worth Report has found. Flock Safety, a $4 billion technology behemoth known for its automatic license plate readers, maintains hundreds of surveillance cameras in the city, […]
“They’re not cheap”-Vandalism destroys 14 beach umbrellas at Key Biscayne condo (FL)
Colony complex this weekend, snapping wood poles in two. Police were notified and officials are checking security records to determine who may be responsible. The 14 umbrellas were anchored in the sand near the south property line, said David McDanal, the president of the Key Colony Homeowners’ Association. Read the article…………………………….
Thieves target mailboxes at Henderson condo complex (NV)
A condominium complex in Henderson has been targeted twice by thieves stealing mail in less than two months, according to residents, and now the neighbors need help identifying the suspects. Read the article…………………………….
Texas DPS sends cease and desist to Flock Safety for camera at private homes and businesses
The Texas Department of Public Safety is ordering a surveillance company, Flock Safety, to stop operations in private homes and businesses after failing to obtain a private investigators’ license. The Texas DPS sent Flock Safety a cease and desist order for their cameras that are used to track vehicles’ license plates. Read the article…………………………….
Tips for speed bumps in the HOA
Question: Robert, can you please help with a hot topic at our homeowners association? There are those of us who have a serious problem with people speeding throughout our association. The board has put up speed limit signs and many residents add their own signage, mostly the type that say to slow due to children […]
‘I’m traumatized’: Masked man rips through bedroom wall at Woodforest Condominiums, woman says (TX)
It’s been a terrifying couple days for a northeast Harris County woman. She told ABC13 she was sitting in her condo when a man broke into a bedroom by tearing through the wall. This is just the latest incident that has left several tenants at the Woodforest Condominiums on edge. They told Eyewitness News that […]
7 Top Recommendations to Help Protect Your HOA’s Sensitive Data
Every Association has sensitive information that it needs to protect to ensure the safety of the association and its residents. Associations that have safe practices for keeping their residents’ information safe can protect their residents, avoid liability, and generally operate more smoothly. Read the article…………………………….
8 Essential HOA Security Tips to Enhance Community Safety
Imagine living in a community where safety is not just a priority but a way of life. Where every resident feels secure and protected within the confines of their neighborhood. HOAs play an important role in creating such an environment by implementing effective security measures. Read the article…………………………….
HOA Security Essentials Every Board Member Must Know
For many people, buying a home in an HOA community means an added sense of security. As a result, board members must prioritize safety and security within their communities. In reality, however, this is often easier said than done. Some boards may not know where to begin when it comes to taking the proper security […]
Bellevue neighborhood uses LPRs to tackle crime as mayor withholds citywide funding
License plate readers have been approved by the city, but the mayor is withholding citywide funding for the time being. Meanwhile, a neighborhood in Bellevue is paying for it themselves and residents say it has been successful. This is to add onto yet another neighborhood, Haynes Park in Bordeaux, who also saw the same success. […]
Brazen car break-ins leave Carolina Forest condo owners shocked (SC)
Several condo owners in Carolina Forest woke up to troubling news Friday morning: their cars had been broken into overnight. The sound of a neighbor banging on the door of his condo at The Fairways at River Oaks got Tyler Cole out of bed as he learned his new car was broken into and one […]
Greensboro neighbors concerned about speeding in neighborhood (NC)
Residents of the River Hills Plantation neighborhood in Greensboro are worried after their once peaceful street has become a hotspot for speeding and reckless driving. Recent footage captured by community members shows a green muscle car speeding down Cardinal Ridge Drive, ignoring the 25 mph speed limit. The video highlights a troubling trend of high-speed […]
Family of assistant principal fatally shot in Loop high-rise last year demands answers and expands its civil lawsuit (IL)
The family of Abnerd Joseph, an assistant principal who was shot and killed inside a residential building in the Loop last year, has filed a civil lawsuit against the building’s homeowners association, the family and their attorneys announced Monday…..The family’s complaint alleges that the building staff at The Legacy at Millennium Park building “freely allowed […]
12 arrested in Santa Clara mail theft investigation (CA)
What started as a mail theft investigation at a condominium complex in Santa Clara has resulted in 12 arrests. Santa Clara police say their investigation led them to bust a major fraud and theft ring. On August 5, a person using a postal service key was captured on security video opening all 130 mailboxes at […]
Thief Raids Santa Clara Condo Complex’s Mail Room (CA)
Police are still searching for a ring of thieves who stole a master key to plunder mailboxes at a Santa Clara condo complex. Around 3:30 a.m. Aug. 5, video footage shows a masked thief entering the mailroom at Boulevard Condominium complex in Santa Clara, near El Camino Real and Scott Boulevard. Armed with a postal […]
‘People can get in’: Building where Michael Jordan, Cam Newton and LaMelo Bell own condos has security lapses (NC)
Michael Jordan, Cam Newton and LaMelo Ball all own luxury condos valued at millions of dollars inside an exclusive Uptown building, yet a WCNC Charlotte investigation found The Trust has serious safety gaps that have allowed people who don’t live there to easily gain access. In response, the building’s management company is pledging significant security […]
After battle with regulators, Flock Safety can install surveillance cameras across NC
The company that supplies the most surveillance cameras to continuously record details about vehicles driven across North Carolina is now licensed to install more. Atlanta tech firm Flock Safety secured a business license last month to install and maintain compact cameras across the state, after a years-long battle with state regulators. The cameras automatically capture […]
Thief hits all 130 mailboxes at Santa Clara complex (CA)
Thieves have been using stolen master keys from the U.S. Postal Service to steal mail from apartment complexes, a crime that is becoming alarmingly common. A recent incident at the Boulevard Condominium complex in Santa Clara, near El Camino Real and Scott Boulevard, where all 130 mailboxes were burglarized. Read the article…………………………….