Coronado Heights - Experience, Thoughts, etc.

[zookeeper]

I have guns, lots of them. Hidden in places around the house, but let me say a few things here.

Having a security system is much more safe than not having one.

Having guns will protect a lot more than a phone will(if you break in my house, I'm shooting you. I don't believe in killing unless it's absolutely necessary, but I will be putting a round into your leg first).

Secondly, that show that was mentioned, the chances of someone with that amount of skill breaking into your house is almost zero. Most criminals aren't exactly rocket scientist or they wouldn't be criminals in the first place.

Also, as with any crime, even murder is easy to get away if you do it right.

Did you read my sentence right after the one you bolded? I don't disagree, but when people use the gun as a reason for not having a security system, it makes no logical sense. They have to leave their house at some point and the guns will do no good when they're not home. I also agree about the security system - I guess that was really my whole point.

[stratosphere]

I would add (in addition to various weapons hidden around the house) that not only should you have an alarm system, make sure you have visible signs that announce that you have an alarm. Sure, people can get those signs very easily, and some have the signs but no alarm. Also, if you have an alarm system, make sure you use it everytime you leave the house. Its amazing when people forget to do that...

Also if the home has older windows, might be time to invest in some security windows and doors. Yes its expensive (ask me how i know) but they are also more energy efficient that the old windows and they give you some piece of mind. Plus they can be a deterrent.

I know a lot of people like to "upgrade" to those new lightweight aluminum garage doors, but im perfectly happy with my 16 x 8 wood door that was original to the house. I have painted it and decorated it to look newer, and upgraded the hardware when needed. The important thing is this door is so HEAVY, a potential thief wont be coming in that way.

[Plutonic Panda]

I would add (in addition to various weapons hidden around the house) that not only should you have an alarm system, make sure you have visible signs that announce that you have an alarm. Sure, people can get those signs very easily, and some have the signs but no alarm. Also, if you have an alarm system, make sure you use it everytime you leave the house. Its amazing when people forget to do that...

Also if the home has older windows, might be time to invest in some security windows and doors. Yes its expensive (ask me how i know) but they are also more energy efficient that the old windows and they give you some piece of mind. Plus they can be a deterrent.

I know a lot of people like to "upgrade" to those new lightweight aluminum garage doors, but im perfectly happy with my 16 x 8 wood door that was original to the house. I have painted it and decorated it to look newer, and upgraded the hardware when needed. The important thing is this door is so HEAVY, a potential thief wont be coming in that way.

Agreed... that and making sure your home is properly lit as well as having floods lights that activate on motion sensors can also go a long way.

[soonerguru]

We do all of the above. We have conveniently placed alarm company signs on three sides of the house, several windows, and both exterior doors. We use our porch light every night and have two exterior motion-detected lights. We have glass breaks in every room in the house, armed doors, and even some wired windows. We also have interior motion detectors. No one is getting in our house without the alarm system going off. Lastly, we have a large dog who will bark and would probably protect us if we were in danger.

We've had no problems.

[theilluminatedfirefly]

Any updates to this thread? I moved to this neighborhood two years ago. Homes and neighbors are nice, but I've been frustrated by the number of smaller crimes - car break-in's, things stolen out of yards, etc.

I'm wondering if the fact that there are some roads, like Tulsa, that make it easy to get in and out of the neighborhood quickly make it a good target for grab and go crimes?

[Pete]

^

It seems crimes like that are common pretty much everywhere.

I live near 50th & Penn in a similar type of neighborhood and have never had a problem because I park my car in the garage and don't leave things sitting out.

For the life of me, I'll never understand why people fill their garages with mostly useless crap then park an expensive and easy to break into asset (car) outside.

And areas with lots of cars on the drives and streets attract these types of criminals.

[LocoAko]

^

It seems crimes like that are common pretty much everywhere.

I live near 50th & Penn in a similar type of neighborhood and have never had a problem because I park my car in the garage and don't leave things sitting out.

For the life of me, I'll never understand why people fill their garages with mostly useless crap then park an expensive and easy to break into asset (car) outside.

And areas with lots of cars on the drives and streets attract these types of criminals.

We moved to Coronado Heights two years ago as well and within a few months multiple homes, including ours, had been burglarized. We had thousands of dollars worth of stuff stolen in broad daylight, door kicked right in. Nextdoor includes plenty of other suspicious activity and break-in attempts.... so it isn't just people being irresponsible and leaving valuables visible in their car. I know this stuff can happen anywhere and we were just unlucky, but I have to laugh that we lived for years near 23rd and Penn without issue and we move up here and that happens. A lot of it seems to stem from that awful apartment complex in the NW corner of the neighborhood... groan.

[pw405]

I've been here for 3 years now (I'm the thread OP) and haven't had any issues. I've followed the discussions on Nextdoor and was pretty surprised about some of the crimes, especially when that guy went around on 60th street breaking in to houses in broad daylight and then escaped by motorcycle. I grew up in OKC Oakcliff though (SE 44th & Bryant), so these things don't really unsettle me. I've taken precautions such as exterior lighting, reinforced doors & strike plates, and an alarm system. I do really like the area, I'm in the NW section of the neighborhood and all the neighbors seem like quality people. I don't feel that I should stay off the streets for safety or anything like that.

You are right though LocoAko - the apartments at 63rd and Meridian seem to have a radius around them that increases your chance of having something happen. With all the development happening a few blocks east, as well as the proximity to NWXY & Hefner parkway, I would think this land will eventually be bought and the apartments demolished. Meanwhile, we need to continue to file complaints for any code violations, etc using the OKC Connect app or the Action Line. I'm pretty surprised at how good responses are if you issue a code violation using OKC Connect. There is a house near me that appears to be vacant, and when the grass gets tall, a report on OKC Connect results in action in 3 days or less.

IlluminatedFireFly - I think you are right in that the ease of access of Tulsa Ave, as well as Meridian Ave allows any would-be thief easy in and out access. I've tried to communicate with Stuart Chai, the OKC Traffic engineer: (stuart.chai@okc.gov, (405) 297-2003)) about putting in stop signs or some form of traffic control, because the volume and velocity of traffic is too high on Tulsa Ave. He has mostly been a dick, and acts perplexed that cars would possibly disobey the speed limit on a neighborhood street that has 0 stops for an entire mile. Essentially says that speeding is a police problem, not an engineering problem.

However, after a very long email thread, he did FINALLY offer a solution to have the electronic speeding signs put in, but I've failed to follow up with the correct parties. Here is what he said:

The first step in developing a solution to any given problem is gaining a clear understanding of the problem.

Since speeding, the degree to which has not yet been ascertained, is your primary concern, at this time I am going to direct you to contact Ms. Mary Coyne, Engineering Aide II. Ms. Coyne, who works with me in Traffic Management, is the first point of contact for citizens seeking the temporary placement of driver speed feedback carts in their neighborhood.

These devices bear a sign with the posted speed limit and have a lighted display that tells drivers their actual speed. These devices also collect speed data so that a basic speed assessment can be done after their removal.



To explore their temporary use in your neighborhood, contact Ms. Coyne at 297-1926. She has more details about this service and can tell you about what you’ll need to do to arrange for their placement, which is critical. The carts cannot be left on the roadway so we rely on persons or neighborhoods seeking their use to obtain permission from residents in whose front yard the signs will temporarily reside. I have attached a picture of one of the carts so you’ll have a better understanding as to why they have to be placed off the street and beside someone’s residence in most cases. Typically they are used in pairs on a two-way street so consent from two residents is needed. Due to staffing, gaining resident consent for their placement falls to the requesting party. Ms. Coyne can provide you with all the information you need to get started. She can also tell you what kinds of physical features to watch for and watch out for when scouting locations for their placement. Because the carts are mobile, they need to be chained to a substantial feature such as a tree or utility pole, etc., and need to be placed at locations where clear visibility of approaching traffic (unobstructed by parked cars, landscaping or other physical features) exists.

In reply from

Stuart Chai, P.E.

[gopokes88]

I used to live in this neighborhood on the far western border. Had my car broken into and the house attempted to get robbed. (alarm went off) I liked living in the neighborhood and made a nice chunk of change on my home sale. My wife was the one who wanted to leave for various reasons.

[rezman]

The house I lived in for a while after I was born is over on the east side of the neighborhood on 58th terr between Portland and Roff. My Dad had it built brand new in 1958 and it still seems to be a nice area. We looked at buying in that area when we moved back into town, but we wanted our daughter to finish out school in Edmond. I was too young to remember anything about the place, but I have lots of slides my dad took of when the house was being built and after it was finished. Even a few with a brand new shiny white '58 Rambler parked in the driveway.

[billokc]

I grew up in that area. Parents still live on 54th just east of Meridian. I live not far away from that. It's a good area.