Weddington Chase question... (Charlotte: HOA, crime, houses)

[U120]

I hate to even open up this can of worms in a forum like this in fear of over reaction and unwarranted fear, but a friend of mine made me aware of a pattern of Burglaries that has taken place inside of Weddington Chase as of recently. I was advised that during a HOA meeting that a Union County Sherriff was present to discuss these matters and prevention techniques. He also said that he thinks they were daytime Burgs and that the perp would possibly knock or ring first and if no answer would force the door open.

Unfortunately this is 3rd hand information and I am wondering about the accuracy surrounding this. I live extremely close to Weddington Chase and If this is valid information I would like to pass it along to my community. So I am hoping someone of knowlege can shed some light on this and help the rest of the community by sharing some facts. Obviously knowledge of these situations is extremely important in preventing and hopefully prosecuting these slime bags.

[MJPost32]

probably true it has been a problem everywhere lately....not sure where you are coming from but suburb crime is a real problem down here. I keep my alarm on at all times and don't answer the door unless I know the person.


Ballantyne-area neighborhoods on alert
KIRSTEN VALLE
kvalle@charlotteobserver.com
Residents of at least four Ballantyne-area neighborhoods are on alert after a string of home invasions this month.
Police say three suspects have broken into five houses since Jan. 2, stealing thousands of dollars worth of valuables.
The men pull up to the homes in a burgundy SUV, knock, and if no one answers, kick the door in, police said. They dash inside and spend about 10 minutes grabbing items such as laptops, DVDs and Nintendo Wiis.
If you see anything suspicious in your neighborhood, call 911.

[Burgi]

Sad but true.

Neighbors on alert after Ballantyne break-ins 2:50 PM | Local News | News for Charlotte, North Carolina | WCNC.com | Top Stories (http://www.wcnc.com/news/topstories/stories/wcnc-010908-ah-breakins.587b123.html - broken link)

[par4]

So far it seems as if the most affected communities have been in the Blakeney Area (Somerset, Hunter Oaks and Providence Country Club) That, unfortunately, does not mean people in other communities shouldn't be concerned. Burglars like this tend to move swiftly from one area to another to avoid being caught. The best thing you can do is be vigilant: Make your neighbors aware, notify HOA to send out a cautionary letter/email, and use your alarm, even when at home. Sad, but we must be wary.