It has never been easier to stay informed of news of importance to residents of Providence Arbours (and neighboring communities).

As of October 2011, the Providence Arbours HOA “Communications Committee“ offers the following 3 options to keep informed of breaking news, crime alerts, meeting notices, lost pets and other related news and alerts.

1. Email – Sign up for emails that you’ll receive with each and every update to the Providence Arbours website.  Simply visit the “FOLLOW PROVIDENCE ARBOURS VIA EMAIL” section located on the right side column of the website to sign up for email updates.  (NOTE:  This new website feature eliminates the need for e-Notices that were introduced a couple of years ago but proved to be very time consuming to manage from an email database perspective).
2. Facebook – “Like” the Providence Arbours Facebook page by clicking here.
3. Twitter – Follow “tweets” from Providence Arbours on Twitter by clicking here.

What You Need to Know About Door-to-Door Solicitors

Keep in mind that there are no laws or ordinances against door-to-door soliciting, even if we have a posted sign at the entrances to our neighborhoods. However, door-to-door sales representatives need to have a “privilege license” required for “peddlers” to solicit business in the City of Charlotte or Mecklenburg County.  The only ordinance in place is the one restricting hours (see below).

Sec. 6-438. – Restricted hours in residential areas.

It shall be unlawful to peddle any article of merchandise from any vehicle or on foot between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. in areas zoned for residential purposes within the corporate limits. However, during such periods that daylight saving time is in effect, these hours shall be from 9:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. (Code 1985, § 6-28)

Please do not hesitate to call 911 if the person gets aggressive or will not leave your property. CMPD will arrest solicitors who threaten homeowners.

In the past, the Charlotte Observer and the Better Business Bureau have reported incidents with various companies selling magazines in south Charlotte.  Crews are sent to communities to sell magazines, often without appropriate licensing. The young people are taught how to use high pressure tactics and emotional sales pitches.

Problems with door-to-door sales representatives are not new to the Charlotte area. The Better Business Bureau offers the following advice to avoid getting scammed by door-to-door sales:

•  Do not open your door to strangers. Instead, you should say through the door that you are not interested, and ask them to leave.

• Do not purchase magazines from door-to-door sales people because you will probably not receive the magazines.

• Do not give money to door-to-door solicitors, unless you know you are giving to local kids for local causes.

• If you feel threatened by any door-to-door sales representative, call 911 immediately.

• Check businesses out at www.bbb.org before making a purchase.

• If you are a victim of fraudulent sales or any other scam, file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org or local law enforcement.

A Providence Arbours resident reported that an unknown person removed a check from the resident’s mailbox.  The check was copied and used to make unauthorized purchases.  Avoid leaving checks in your home mailbox for the mail carrier to pick-up.  The red mailbox flag is a clear notice to crooks that there could be checks to steal in the mailbox.  The safest way to handle your bills is to drop them off at the post office or at a secure mail drop-off box.

Click here for some helpful tips to eliminate the risk of mailbox theft.

Click here to read CMPD’s email:  CMPD Email 02.02.10

Click here to view WCNC’s story on this crime spree:  http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/Police-warn-of-spree-of-car-break-ins-in-southeast-Charlotte-83410287.html

The newsletter goes on to state that no area of Charlotte is immune from Larceny from Auto, and “… in order to protect yourself from becoming a victim you need to remove all of your valuables from your car and remember to lock the doors.”  

To read the full newsletter which includes additional crime prevention tips and information, click below:

Response Area 3 Newsletter Feb 2010

To receive future newsletters, sign up for CMPD South Division Alerts through the Notify Me page on the CharMeck.org website at http://www.charmeck.org/departments/cmpd/notify.htm

Reminders:

• Lock all vehicles.
• Do not leave valuables of any type in your vehicle (GPS units & laptops are hot commodities!)
• Keep records of serial #s, especially for items that you may carry in your vehicle.
• Do not leave deposit slips or checks in your vehicles – they can be used the same as credit cards.
• Remove garage door openers from vehicles parked outside the garage.
• Remove personal identification from your vehicle.

Please remember to report all incidents to CMPD by calling 911 and report incidents to our Neighborhood Watch Chairperson, Patti Weber, at webpatti@gmail.com.

UPDATE:  The park is now open.

Thanks to a broken water pipe today in the Providence Arbours Community Park, there is an abundance of dangerous ice throughout the park.

Please note that the park is closed until further notice. The entrances have been blocked off with caution tape and emergency cones.

The latest issue of Providence Arbours Quarterly is being emailed today to all subscribers of the neighborhood eNotice program. 

For your convenience, archived copies of Providence Arbours Quarterly can be accessed via the “Newsletter” section of the website.