Winter Park City Talk

Safety message from WPPD

Winter Park, and Central Florida in general, is currently experiencing daytime burglaries to both residences and vehicles. The Winter Park Police Department would like to keep you informed and aware of what precautions to take, what to look out for, and how to keep your property and loved ones safe.

RESIDENTIAL:

Burglars are working together in groups (multiple perpetrators), canvassing specific neighborhoods in the early morning hours and targeting a specific residence or group of residences. They knock on doors to determine occupancy of the residence and they leave the area. The same group returns a short time later and either backs into the driveway or parks on the street in front of the residence and usually makes entry into the back of the residence. These groups of burglars have been known to use “look-outs.” The suspects are usually dressed appropriately for the neighborhood in attempt to minimize others noticing them and deeming them “out of place.”

Common items being stolen are jewelry, high-end electronics, firearms (in some cases) and vehicles (keys left out for easy taking). Suspect vehicles include a blue BMW, a blue Mini Cooper, black Escalade, and the use of rental cars has been noted as well.

VEHICLES:

Vehicles being targeted are often parked at playgrounds and parks, athletic fields and parking lots where the driver will most likely be gone for a period of time (medical-related businesses, gyms, grocery stores, etc.). Items that are left out in plain view are being stolen after the suspect smashes the window. Items commonly taken are purses, small electronics (GPS, cell phones, laptops) and money.

Even if you’re “only gone for a few minutes” remember to always:

• Lock your residence & vehicles

• Use your alarm systems and lighting

• Close your garage

• Secure all valuables, especially items of significant value, in non-moveable safes and/or safe deposit boxes

• Immediately report suspicious activity, vehicles and people in your area by calling 911 or Winter Park Police Department’s Non-Emergency line at 407-644-1313.

Do not approach any vehicles or suspects, but be prepared to provide detailed information to the 911 operator.

Police department resources

Free residential and commercial security surveys: 407-599-3664

Updates & specific crime trends: wppd.org

Crime mapping: wppd.org under Public Info > Crime Mapping

April 25 City Commission meeting highlights

There was a City Commission meeting held April 22 in City Hall Commission Chambers. Below are a few highlights from that meeting:

Mayor’s Report

• Two proclamations were presented celebrating the First Baptist Church of Winter Park’s 100th anniversary, and North American Occupational Safety and Health Week.

• Sam Cruz was presented the Employee of the Quarter award.

Non-action items

• The Financial Report – February 2013 was accepted.

Consent Agenda

• The minutes of 4/8/13 were approved.

• The various purchases, contracts and solicitations were approved (for a full listing, please visit cityofwinterpark.org under What’s New > City Commission Agenda).

• The membership of the Development Review Committee for Ravaudage was approved.

Action items requiring discussion

• The concept to offer a Notice of Disposal for the Blake Yard property was denied.

• The properties at 741 and 751 Minnesota Ave. were approved to be placed on the next City Commission meeting agenda for discussion.

Public hearings

• The request of Trustco Bank for Conditional Use approval to add a drive-through bank teller lane to the existing office building at 950 N. Orlando Ave. was approved.

• The requests of the Jewett Orthopedic Clinic for the first readings of the ordinances to change the future land use designations and zoning of the properties at 930, 950 and 960 Minnesota Ave. were approved.

• The resolution executing a Local Agency Program Agreement with Florida Department of Transportation for the design of the Brookshire Elementary School neighborhood sidewalks was approved.

• The second readings of the two ordinances related to amending various sections and chapters of the Comprehensive Plan were approved.

A full copy of the April 22 City Commission minutes will be available at cityofwinterpark.org the week of May 13, pending approval by City Commission.

Winter Park veterans travel to capital to see memorials

Three separate Central Florida Honor Flight “hubs” of the National Honor Flight Network are working diligently to put the final details in place to assure a safe and meaningful visit to Washington, D.C., by 75 veterans later this month. Winter Park residents joining 72 other Central Floridians to be honored for their military service include Earl Brow who served as First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army; George Salt who served in both the U.S. Army and Navy; and Robert Lyon who served in the U.S. Army with the 40th Infantry Division in Korea.

The veterans will be accompanied by 75 volunteer guardians and a staff of additional volunteers to ensure their safe travel to see the national memorials erected in their honor.

Central Florida area veterans in their 80s and 90s who have served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Merchant Marines will have a full day where they can bond and reminisce on their personal memories of their service to our country.

Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization created solely to honor America’s veterans for all their sacrifices. They raise funds to transport our heroes to Washington, D.C., to visit and reflect at their memorials. Since the inaugural Honor Flight in May 2005, which included taking 12 World War ll veterans on a visit to their memorial in Washington, D.C., Honor Flight has flown more than 100,000 veterans to Washington from cities all over the country. Today, Honor Flight is a national network of more than 150 non-profit organizations (hubs) that fulfill the Honor Flight mission. Honor Flight Central Florida has five additional Honor Flight mission trips planned in 2013. For more information regarding Honor Flight Central Florida, please visit honorflightcentralflorida.org or call 407-203-7010.

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