ISSUE: Rio Vista Security

Over the course of the past six months, RVCA has received many letters, notes, suggestions and comments from members and Rio Vista neighbors on a number of issues and topics. With the great majority of unsolicited feedback directed to the RVCA ‘Protect Rio Vista’ Security Patrol program, the Board and the RVCA Security Committee felt it was time to pass along these comments to the entire neighborhood so that you can see what our Rio Vista residents have to say about the program. (Authors' names have been withheld by request of the Committee)
Click Here to submit your comments

“What would you think of putting together some type of award through the RVCA and Security Committee for vigilant residents who provide tips that lead to significant arrests? It might encourage everyone to play a part it neighborhood security. Just an idea...” (Editor’s Note: The Security Committee would like to hear from you on this idea. Email us your thoughts to RVCASecurity@riovistaonline.com and let’s see if there’s some support for this idea.)
“Thank you for all of your correspondence. My spouse, being a retired federal agent, is much better suited for security updates! I am so pleased with what we have done for security here in Rio Vista. The signs, the police officers I have encountered, the "vacation watches" have all added to an already superb neighborhood. If there is another committee (or event) you need assistance with I am available most weekends (I still work full time) and can definitely lend a hand. Thank you for all of your time and effort.”
“We just received your notice of the new patrol program. It's great!”
“Thank you again for setting this up and it's great that we have it started.”
“Thanks to all who brought the security patrol to fruition.”
“This is great. Thanks to you and the RVCA for doing all the leg work.”
“Thank you. We really do appreciate the new security program. We have been robbed twice and it is getting old. In fact, we are making plans to sell our home and leave Rio Vista, which we love, and one of the primary reasons is the very serious security problem. My business is primarily international and I have become very concerned about leaving the country with (my wife) at home in this area.”
“…Thanks for all the efforts of those who put this program together. We participated in the last security program......hopefully this one will have more tenure. Any and all added security will be helpful.”
“Thank you. You ALL are doing an excellent job for the Rio Vista residents. It is sincerely appreciated.”
“This program is a great idea and anything we can do to help encourage more participation (to get us up to 24/7/365) would be great. Let us know how we can help.”
“Thank you so much for your attention to and the frequent patrols of my home and property while I was away. It is a fine service you are providing and it is worth more than we are paying. I spoke with Officer Hancock this morning and I'm impressed with the professionalism and his dedication. Thank you very much.”
“Just wanted to say thank you for keeping an eye on our house while we were away, and particularly for the card left at our door from Sgt. Scelfo with the note written on it "Just wanted to let you know we've been checking by..." Very thoughtful and reassuring.”
“We are very excited about the new security and looking forward to our yard sign. …Thank you for putting this together”
“I just want to say a really big THANK YOU for keeping such good watch over my home while I was away. My neighbors always keep an eye on things when I'm gone, but it was a nice secure feeling knowing that "official" eyes were watching too.”
“Last week my neighbor down the street returned to encounter a burglary in process in her house, she alertly called 911, and because a Rio Vista patrol officer was on duty the culprit was caught before he was able to leave Rio Vista. Imagine the result had there been no patrol on duty. My hope is that more neighbors will participate in the security initiative so that there is a 24 hour patrol. This is a no brainer to increase both our property values and peace of mind…”
“I spoke with (name withheld) tonight regarding her burglary. She was thankful to learn of the out of town checks that we can provide her in the future, and overall she seemed happy with our response. She expressed some concerns over fraudulent accounts being set up with her stolen banking information. Officer Hancock is heading over to her house now with an identity theft pamphlet to help her get her financial information fixed. We'll also keep an extra eye out for her property. On a positive note, I received a letter from (name & address withheld) for Officer Garcia's response to a burglar alarm at their residence. She was immediately on scene for the alarm, checked the premises, and informed the Stewart's that things were OK along with providing security tips for their property. Mr. Stewart wrote a nice letter commending her efforts. Just thought I'd pass it along...” (comment rec’d by Sgt. Steve Scelfo and passed to the Security Committee.)
“Please add my wife's e-mail to the e-mail distribution list for PROTECT RIO VISTA. Please keep my e-mail on the list as well. We are very happy with the new patrols. Thank you very much.”
“Thought you should know some good news. Today I was outside and noticed a couple of guys (1 black/1 white) driving slowly by the house. They actually stopped and said they were looking to do some maintenance work because of the storm. I said no thanks and they left. I knew they did not look legit and I called Rio Vista Security. I gave the make of car (Green Explorer) and their Connecticut license plate. One hour later RV Security called and said they had found them and arrested them for prior burglary charges, they had burglary tools in the car along with narcotics for distribution. Apparently there had been a look out for these guys and the tip helped catch them right away. RV Security called me to also thank me and to keep up the good work. The point here is we all need to be vigilant and keep our eyes open for people or things that don't seem right. I hope others in the neighborhood will do the same.” (Editor’s note: Please see our ‘Orchids & Onions’ feature for more on this arrest based on the tip from a resident.)
“I am a resident of Rio Vista at (address withheld). I am also a board member of the RVCA. My wife and I were in Connecticut, and I sent an e-mail asking that our house be monitored for the two weeks that we were both away. We neglected to remember that on Thursday, August 28, our housekeeper would come to the house in the afternoon. Whoever was patrolling that day noticed a car in our driveway. When he tried the door bell and there was no answer, he immediately telephoned us on my wife's cell number. We (besides being embarrassed at forgetting that the housekeeper would be at the house) told the officer that the car belonged to her. She was in the back cleaning the patio. The professional manner in the way this was handled just reinforced our commitment to the program and our sense of well being when we are away or are at home. Please extend our thanks to the officer involved.”
“Approximately a half hour after I wrote to you yesterday, while my wife and I were working in the yard, Officer Hancock stopped by. He said that while he was checking our house when we were away, he noticed that the lock on one of the back French doors was not a tight as it should be. He accompanied me to the door and showed me how the locking mechanism was not properly engaged. He then assisted me in getting it to work to fully secure the door.”
“To me, this is extraordinary service. Officer Hancock, your program and the whole department should be commended.”

If you have any comments, ideas or suggestions you’d like to express, please email them to us at editor@riovistaonline.com. For more information on the ‘Protect Rio Vista’ Security program, please contact the RVCA?Security Committee at riovistasecurity@earthlink.net