Condos destroyed by fire

 

Courtesy WDIV

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. -
Firefighters battled flames at a condo complex Tuesday evening on Oakmonte Boulevard, just south of Silverbell Road and west of Adams Road in Oakland Township.
The flames spread to several units, but no serious injuries have been reported.
It's not known how this fire started.  Firefighters from Rochester and Rochester Hills were helping fight the flames.

Link to WDIV video.

Suspicious person & vehicle

A suspicious person and vehicle was observed in the vicinity of Lexington West between N. Central Park and Lexington South at around 1:25 AM, Friday, June 6, 2014. The car was either an older model Mercury Sable or Ford Taurus of undetermined color.  The driver was a man of slender build and about 6 foot tall. The Shelby Twp. Police Department was notified and they will step up patrols in the area.

Below is a summary of all Shelby Twp. Police incident reports within all of Central Park for the first five months of 2014.

Police Reports in Central Park for first five months of 2014

Map of incident reports Jan. 1 through May 31, 2014
(scroll down for map of prior year incident reports)

According to  Crimedar.com, these are all of the Shelby Township Police Department incident reports within Central Park that were filed during the period of January 1 through May 31, 2014.  Click on the links below to read the incident report summary (street number addresses are approximate).

Anderson Ct.

Blackwell

E. Central Park
April
March

Haymarket

Moore Ct.

N. Central Park
April
March
January

N. Central Park
and Lexington W.
N. Central Park
and E. Central Park

Regent
May
March

St Nicholas

S. Central Park

Tottenham

Watling

W. Central Park

W. Central Park
and Haymarket
W. Central Park
and Baker

Map of incident reports Jan. 1 through May 31, 2013

New light bulbs were installed today

The new light bulbs were installed in all of the exterior garage light fixtures today at Units 16 through 167.

Tilt feature on your double-hung windows

Did you know that you can clean both sides of the glass on the lower sash of your double-hung windows without having to remove the screen and going outdoors?

Simply raise the lower sash and use your window's tilt feature to clean the outside glass surface from inside your house.

Click here for photos and instructions on how to properly use the tilt latches and security locks on your double-hung windows.

Smoke Alarm Maintenance

Are your smoke alarms "chirping"?  If so, they are trying to tell you that their back-up battery needs to be replaced!

Slide open the Battery Door to remove and replace the 9 volt battery (the thin plastic was removed at initial installation)

[Please note that co-owners are responsible for the maintenance and replacement of the smoke alarms that were supplied with their unit.  The following information is provided as a courtesy to the co-owners of the Manors at Central Park Condominium Association.]

Most of the units at the Manors came equipped with FIREX Model FADC smoke alarms.  They run on 110 volt alternating current (house current) and and use a 9 volt "transistor" battery for back-up in case there is a power failure.

The FIREX Model FADC features two Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) that shine through a single clear light guide that is located next to the test button in the center of the device. The green and red LEDs provide the important following information about the status of your smoke alarms and any actions you must take to stay protected:

Power outage

Wednesday night at about 10:05 PM, an electrical power failure affected all of the units on Watling as well as those on the west side of Lexington East and the east side of Regent.   All of the other units in the Manors had uninterrupted service.  When I called to report our outage, I was given an automated estimate that the power would be restored by sometime between 2 and 4 AM Thursday morning.

Three DTE trucks arrived at around 11:00 PM and a few minutes later I walked down to where they were parked on Lexington West near Lexington South and spoke to one of the workers. He said they were aware of the isolated outage within the Manors and mentioned that there were also a group of homes without power in the Meadows sub to our south.

Power to the affected units in the Manors was restored at 2:38 AM.

Here is a link to DTE's Outage Center, from which you can use your computer or smart phone to report an outage on-line and also view an interactive map of reported outages.  Electrical power outages and downed lines can also be reported by calling (800) 477-4747.

Protect yourself!

Sgt. Cazabon of the Shelby Township Police Department was unable to attend the annual meeting of the Central Park Master Community Association on April 18th.

Click here to learn what he had planned to present that evening.

New Signs at entrances to the Private Access Drives

"Private Drive - Residents Only" signs have just been installed at the six entrances to the private access drives that service Units 1 through 32 along North Central Park.  The Township wanted the developer of the Manors to minimize the numbers of driveway curb cuts along North Central Park so they designed and built access drives to link those driveways to the side streets of Lexington West, W. Broadway, Walter and E. Broadway.  These access drives have been provided for the use of the owners of Units 1-32 and their guests and are not intended to be used by others as a shortcut or for parking and standing.

Recently, a handful of people who do not live in Units 1-32 had been using the private access drives to park their vehicles while dropping off and picking up their children from the UCS School Buses.  The congestion was impeding the resident's use of the access drive, so in response to their complaints and acting on behalf of the entire Board of Directors, I politely informed those non-residents that they were parking on private property and asked them to please park on North Central Park in the future.  Several of them vehemently challenged the right of the Board of Directors to deny them the use of the private access drive, particularly since there were no signs saying they couldn't use the private access drive.  Rather than listen to any more verbal abuse, the Board ordered the purchase and installation of the signs that are now in place.

Please let the Board know if you see any non-residents parking or standing their vehicles on the private access drives or using them as a shortcut to get around the school bus stop.

Vehicle and garage break-ins

Nearly a dozen vehicle and garage break-ins have been reported this past week in the Central Park community, mainly in the Gardens and Meadows subdivisions.  They have been occurring during the daylight hours around 4 PM as well as in the 10 PM and later time ranges.  Most of the vehicles were not locked.  Access to some of the garages was gained by using the garage door opener they found once inside the vehicle.  The perpetrator(s) also watch for open garage doors and make a quick getaway with valuables from the garage and the unlocked vehicles parked inside the garage.  One of the daylight thefts involved a purse that was left in a vehicle that was briefly parked in the driveway while the owner went back inside the house to get something. The Shelby Twp. Police ask that you please be vigilant and proactive.  ALWAYS LOCK YOUR VEHICLE when it is parked in your driveway or on the street and keep your garage door closed unless you are actually in the garage, the driveway or front yard.  Also, it is best that you do not leave your garage door opener or other valuables in plain sight within the vehicle.

UPDATE: On Feb. 28, 2012, a local man plead guilty on charges of larceny from a building and receiving and concealing stolen property in connection with these break-ins. He was sentenced to 30 days in Macomb County Jail and 1 year probation. More details can be found here and here.

Exterior garage lights

The other night I counted about 20 exterior garage light fixtures that were dark so the next day I purchased some more 40 watt incandescent replacement bulbs on behalf of the condo association. Tonight I inspected each of the dark fixtures and found that 15 of them had burned-out bulbs (6 of these were compact fluorescent bulbs, which makes one wonder about the claims for their superior longevity). The remaining dark bulbs had been partially unscrewed and I twisted them fully into their socket so that they are providing light again.

The condo association is responsible for the maintenance of the exterior garage lights and their photocell switches while the co-owners are responsible for providing the electricity to light the bulbs. The light from the exterior garage fixtures enables emergency responders and your own visitors to quickly and easily find your address at night and they also serve as a deterrent to vandalism. Keeping the bulb in your garage light fixture completely screwed-in not only helps keep the Manors safe and well-lit, it also assists the Association in identifying photocell switch failures so they can be repaired.

We have already experienced a half-dozen or so photocell switch failures and the only way for the Association to identify them is when bulbs are known to be good and completely screwed into their base. Tonight's inspection and maintenance showed that none of the fixtures were dark because of a photocell switch failure in the "off" state. The photocell switches can also fail in the "on" state and they are easier to detect because they no longer turn the current on and off at the right time. If you notice that your exterior garage light is burning during the daytime, please contact me and I will arrange to have the photocell switch replaced.

UPDATE - why not install compact fluorescent (CFL) instead of incandescent light bulbs?

The Association is installing long-life (2,000 hours), 40 watt incandescent bulbs that cost 60 cents each and which put out 455 lumens of light. Using the DTE residential billing rate from my last bill, I calculate that it costs me $2.12 per year to keep a 40 watt bulb light burning for the 12 month average of 12 hours per night. For $1.80 I can purchase a compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb that is rated at 8,000 hours life, 13 watts and 450 lumens. The CFL will use only one-third the energy of that 40 watt incandescent bulb, which means that a CFL will save me about $1.40 per year in electricity costs. Since it will last longer than the incandescent bulb, I also need to compare the bulb purchase and replacement costs to estimate the total savings.

If the CFL actually lasts for the 8,000 hours rated life, then over a two-year period we would use (1) CFL versus (4) incandescent bulbs. At $1.80 versus ($0.60 x 4 = $2.40), the CFL purchase savings over two years is about $0.60. When you add that to the $2.80 savings in electricity over two years, I estimate that using a CFL bulb will at most save a grand total of $3.40, or $1.70 per year.

However, based on what I'm seeing here in the Manors, I don't believe that the CFL bulbs in the exterior garage lights are lasting anywhere near the rated 8,000 hours (about two years) because of having to operate in the cold temperatures during the winter. If I assume that they last only 4,000 hours (about one year), the grand total savings over two years is only about $1.60, or 80 cents per year (because the CFL bulb replacement costs are now higher, the savings is all in electricity usage).

Therefore, based on my analysis I believe that:
a) the Association's bulb replacement costs over a two year period is about the same or even slightly lower if we use 40 watt incandescent bulbs instead of 13 watt CFL bulbs
b) the co-owner's cost for the additional electricity to burn a 40 watt bulb over that two-year period is at most $2.80
c) until either the CFL purchase cost comes down and/or their outdoor life expectancy improves, the Association will purchase 40 watt incandescent bulbs for the exterior garage light fixtures.

13 Things a 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 at faketv.com)


And the other 8:

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 runs 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.

Reader's Digest Contributing Editor Janice Lieberman shared these and more tips on the Today Show and in her blog.

("Hat tip" to Manors co-owner Jackie Colonnesi)

Disappearing flowers & plants

Residents on Regent and Lexington South have reported that during the first two weeks of this month, someone has been stealing flowers and plants from the mulched areas in front of their units. Some of these were neatly uprooted from the ground and others were in growing in planters, which the thief or thieves also took. These were all taken under the cover of darkness over four different nights. Please keep an eye out for suspicious activity on our streets after dark.

As a result of this, some co-owners have indicated that they wish to replace the exterior light fixture by their front door with one that includes a motion detector. Since these fixtures are common elements, an Alteration/Modification Request must be made out and the new fixture must look similar to the existing one that is used throughout our development. Once I find some comparable fixtures with motion detectors and where they can be bought, I will post the information here. I already know of four co-owners who wish to purchase a motion detecting light fixture and I will be writing up a single Alt/Mod Request to cover them and anyone else who would like to go this route.

UPDATE: Exterior lantern-type lamp fixtures with built-in motion detectors that are comparable to our existing type of fixture can be found at Lowes and Home Depot. I also stopped at the Ray Lighting Center on Hall Road and the House of Lights across from us on Van Dyke and could not find anything comparable.

Lowes carries the Portfolio Wall Lantern, Motion-Activated, Item # 253841. The motion sensor is mounted at the end of the support arm under the fixture and it has independent right and left sensitivity adjustments. It sells for $48.98.

Home Depot sells the Hampton Bay Motion Sensor Exterior Lantern, # 248 593 for $39.97. Its motion sensor is located on the wall plate and it features 2-level accent lighting. When this feature is enabled, the light bulb burns with a reduced intensity that increases to normal when motion is detected. The reduced intensity accent lighting can be controlled to burn for various lengths of time after dusk. If you choose not to enable the accent lighting feature, it operates like a regular motion-activated fixture and the light bulb burns at its regular wattage.

Both fixtures have a maximum bulb rating of 100 watts and the sensor on the Hampton Bay model is advertised as having about a 30 foot range.

However, several resident's experience with both models shows that when installed and set at the maximum sensitivity adjustment, the sensors detected motion only in the 4 to 6 foot range. This is probably due to the narrowness of the front porch and the "tunnel effect" created by the front bedroom and garage exterior walls.

A single Alt/Mod Request was submitted on behalf of (10) co-owners and it has since been approved. All ten co-owners should have received a copy of it in the mail by now.