ASK THE CONSTABLES
Harris County Pct. 3 in Partnership with Summerwood Community
In partnership with the Summerwood community, Harris County Precinct 3 is dedicated to providing effective law enforcement services. Precinct 3 has a longstanding contract with Summerwood. Due to the pandemic, we have been unable to hold in person Crime Watch meetings, but every effort is being made to ensure that information is being shared between law enforcement and the community.
We are working to provide answers to your questions. Please stay informed as additional information is provided via the Summerwoodlife.com website and email. If you would like to report a crime online, please visit the Precinct 3 Constables website by clicking HERE
Click on “Report A Crime” Icon: Then enter your concern on the See Something Say Something Form. They may also be called at 281- 427- 4791.
Fireworks and celebrations go together, especially during the holiday season. But fireworks can be dangerous when used improperly, causing serious burn and eye injuries. That’s why the Harris County Fire Marshal strongly recommends that you: LEAVE FIREWORKS TO THE PROFESSIONALS! . If celebrating with fireworks is legal in your area, and you decide to use them, follow these safety tips HERE.
Summerwood Q & A May 2021 By Captain Ganey
Q. If I catch suspicious activity on my Ring cameras, how do I send that information to the police.
A. If a homeowner should catch any suspicious activity on ring cameras or other video surveillance, we encourage them to contact The Constable Office. We will dispatch a deputy to assist with reviewing and when needed, downloading any videos onto the appropriate device. Homeowner input regarding video surveillance has proven to be an asset in the identification and prosecution of several crimes committed in the area.
Q. Why do we have Precinct 3 in our community, and does it really make a difference?
A. Summerwood has Harris County Pct. 3 Constables provided through the contract deputy program. This affords Harris County to assign deputies to patrol strictly in the Summerwood contracted area. Without the contract deputies the law enforcement presence would be greatly diminished within the Summerwood area. This is due to the strain placed on all law enforcement agencies due to the overall growth and increased commercial and residential areas of unincorporated Harris County. This reflects in the overall response time to calls for service in the Summerwood area.
Q. There is a deputy that I always see sitting in the parking lot of our clubhouses or the elementary school. Wouldn’t the community be better served if the police were constantly in motion in our community?
A. The issue has been brought up about deputies sitting in the club house and at the elementary school. Pct. 3 Constable Office policy and procedures require all deputies to have their reports and related paperwork completed prior to the end of their assigned shift. We have taken steps to ensure the deputies also remain visible and in their assigned patrol districts. Reports can be time consuming and to have a deputy return to the station to complete a report and related paperwork would take the deputy out of their assigned area and thus reduce the response time should a call for service arise. The locations they choose offer them safety as they have a view in all directions should anyone approach their vehicle while they are completing paperwork. This also allows residents to see them and approach if they should need assistance. However, if this is an issue, we can have the deputies refrain from these areas.
Q. I’m experiencing harassment from my neighbor. What should I do?
A. Any issues which effect a homeowner’s quality of life on any law enforcement related issues we encourage them to call us. Homeowners can remain anonymous by simply having a deputy contact them by phone, just make the request when calling into dispatch. Residents can also call on our “see something say something” tip line. 832-927-8477
Q. My neighbor has a very aggressive dog that often is loose on our street. I’m concerned that my children will be harmed. Should I inform Precinct 3?
A. This comes in association with the above listed information. Homeowners also encouraged to contact Harris County Animal Control at (281) 999-3191.
Q. Is crime up in Summerwood or are we just hearing more about crime?
A. With the unlimited social media outlets, information regarding criminal activity seems to be more prevalent. This coupled with the continued growth of our communities magnifies the activity. Social media has also worked in assisting with making people aware of issues within their communities and assisting with combating these issues. I have pulled crime stats for not only Summerwood, but the surrounding areas and Summerwood shows less criminal activity than other comparable communities.
Q. Can the deputies in our community spend more time meeting homeowners? How do we make that happen?
A. Harris County Pct. 3 Constables’ Office strives to be community oriented and has always attended any events requested including the spring, fall, and National Night Out events. However, with the recent COVID 19 pandemic these activities have been limited. We have participated in Birthday Parades and other activities in compliance with Harris County Mandates put in place by Harris County Commissioners Court. Like everyone else, we look forward to restrictions being lifted and returning to attend these open events.
Q. What is the best safety tip you can share with those of us who live in Summerwood?
A. The best safety tip is to “BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS” get to know your neighbors and report all suspicious activity to local law enforcement.
Home Safety Tips from Lieutenant Simpson with Precinct 3 Constables' Office
Click HERE to view Home Safety Tips from Lieutenant Simpson with Precinct 3 Constables' Office.
Tips for Parents
Be proactive – make a backup plan in case the group gets separated during a family outing and have a scheduled meeting place and time.
If your child or teen will be alone a significant amount of time, have him/her check in with you if they plan to leave the house and when they arrive back home.
Monitor Internet and social media activity to establish children and teens are visiting appropriate sites and following guidelines.
Car Safety Tips
Always lock your doors and roll up your windows when you leave your car.
Do not leave valuables in the car. If you must leave prized possessions in your vehicle keep them out of sight or hidden in the trunk.
Before you get into your car, check the backseat and around the car. Lock your doors once inside the car.
Be proactive – make a backup plan in case the group gets separated during a family outing and have a scheduled meeting place and time.
If your child or teen will be alone a significant amount of time, have him/her check in with you if they plan to leave the house and when they arrive back home.
Monitor Internet and social media activity to establish children and teens are visiting appropriate sites and following guidelines.
Car Safety Tips
Always lock your doors and roll up your windows when you leave your car.
Do not leave valuables in the car. If you must leave prized possessions in your vehicle keep them out of sight or hidden in the trunk.
Before you get into your car, check the backseat and around the car. Lock your doors once inside the car.
Lock Crime Out Of Your Home
Making your home safer from crime doesn’t always mean having to install expensive alarms—effective home security starts with properly locked doors and windows and visible, well lit entryways.
Lighting
Lighting is one of the most cost-effective deter- rents to burglary. Indoor lighting gives the impression that a home is occupied. If you are going to be away from your home, consider using automatic timers to switch interior lights on and off at preset times.
Outdoor lighting can eliminate hiding places. Install exterior lighting near porches, rear and side doorways, garage doors, and all other points of entry. Entryways to your home always should be well lighted. Place lights out of reach from the ground so the bulbs cannot be removed or broken. Aim some lights away from the house so you can see if anyone is approaching, or install motion- sensing lights, which turn on automatically as someone approaches.
Shrubs and Landscaping
Your home’s walkways and landscaping should direct visitors to the main entrance and away from private areas. The landscaping should provide maximum visibility to and from your house. Trim shrubbery that could conceal criminal activity near doors and windows. Provide light on areas of dense shrubs and trees that could serve as hiding places. Cut back tree limbs that could help thieves climb into windows, and keep yard fencing low enough to avoid giving criminals places to hide.
Exterior Doors
All exterior doors should be either metal or solid wood. For added security, use strong door hinges on the inside of the door, with non-removable or hidden pins. Every entry door should be well lighted and have a wide-angle door viewer so you can see who is outside without opening the door.
Locks
Strong, reliable locks are essential to effective home security. Always keep doors and windows locked—even a five-minute trip to the store is long enough for a burglar to enter your home. Use quality keyed knobs as well as deadbolts— deadbolts can withstand the twisting, turning, prying, and pounding that regular keyed knobs can’t.
When choosing a deadbolt, look for such features as a bolt that extends at least one inch when in the locked position, to resist ramming and kicking; hardened steel inserts to prevent the bolt from being sawed off, and a reinforced strike plate with extra-long mounting screws to anchor the lock effectively.
Most deadbolts are single-cylinder; they operate from the outside with a key and from the inside with a thumb latches. Double-cylinder deadbolts require a key to open the lock from both outside and inside your home. These locks are especially effective for doors with glass within 40 inches of the lock—an intruder cannot break the glass and unlock the door by reaching through.
Security glazing can be an additional layer of protection applied to glass panels in or near the door, or shatterproof glass can be installed, though these options can be expensive.
Sliding Glass Doors
Sliding glass doors can offer easy entry into your home. To improve security on existing sliding glass doors, you can install keyed locking devices that secure the door to the frame; adjust the track clearances on the doors so they can’t be pushed out of their tracks; or put a piece of wood or a metal bar in the track of the closed door to prevent the door from opening even if the lock is jimmied or removed.
Windows
Most standard double-hung windows have thumb turn locks between the two window panels. Don’t rely on these—they can be pried open or easily reached through a broken pane. Instead, install keyed locking devices to prevent the window from being raised from the outside, but make sure everyone in the house knows where to find the keys in case of an emergency. Some jurisdictions have restrictions on this type of lock—check with your local law enforcement before you install them.
An easy, inexpensive way to secure your windows is to use the “pin” trick. Drill an angled hole through the top frame of the lower window partially into the frame of the upper window. Then insert a nail or eyebolt. The window can’t be opened until you remove the nail. Make a second set of holes with the windows partly opened so you can have ventilation without intruders.