Security Update June 26

I am sure that you are aware that Sri Lara Joint Security (Homeguards) is no more our security company and have been instead replaced with GNT Security as of 15 June 2009. The first couple of weeks have had its teething problems; i.e.:

- Complaints from residents on the new guards not performing checks on entering vehicles.
- For smoother operations, we originally opted to keep the security supervisor from previous company but due to certain reasons, he was unable to join us.

Due to the complaints and also the committee's personal observations, we called an emergency meeting on 18 June with GNT's General Manager Mr Tony Martin, GNT's Operations Manager En Rahim, and the new supervisor hired to take charge of DJROA Zone B En Omar. During this meeting, the attached Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) was provided to GNT to clarify the security procedures that we wished followed. Since then, we have translated this document (many thanks to LS Yow in assisting in this translation) to Bahasa Malaysia for easier reference to the local guards.

I believe you may have noticed that the guards have perked up since then. However, it please do be our eyes and ears to make sure that the guards adhere to our SOP. If they are not doing so, please report back to us via email with cc to Mr Tony Martin at .

Also, if you should have any constructive feedback that would further develop this SOP and would be beneficial to all residents, it will be much appreciated. For future correspondence to me, please also cc Tony Martin so that the matter/s can be looked into immediately.

Please key these emergency numbers into your mobile:

(1) DJROA Zone B Emergency Dial-in No. - 016 284 8798 (Mobile will be held by Omar or passed on to senior guard when he is off duty)
(2) En Omar, GNT Supervisor - 017 378 3491
(3) En Rahim, GNT Operations Manager - 012 398 8145
(4) Sergeant Jipa, Damansara Jaya/Utama Police - 012 222 4937
(5) Chief Inspector Thomas, Damansara Jaya/Utama Police - 012 606 6021
(6) ASP Ranjit, Damanasara Jaya/Utama Police - 0129 550 5033
(7) Damansara Jaya/Utama Police Station - 03 7722 2222
(8) PJ State Police HQ - 03 7966 2222
(9) Bukit Aman Malaysia Control Center – 03 2262 7555 / 03-2262 6555


Incidents that have happened in the past weeks are:
3 attempted break-ins and 1 house break-ins, all at Jalan SS22/32. The burglar came in from the back of houses which faces the LDP highway. As it was a one man job, we suspected one of the foreign workers who are staying at a house under construction nearby. Hence, the police were requested to visit that premise. Since this police visit, there have been no further reports of break-ins.
One of our non-member residents complained to MBPJ that the guards would not let them in without stickers (which is not true, they were stopped and asked their purpose of entry and then allowed in). MBPJ came to investigate and check on our documents, which we provided them with the approval letter that we obtained from MBPJ itself. Some residents, who have refused to join but continue to enjoy the free security, will continue to try and jeopardize our scheme. However, we will continue to hold strong and will not allow these minorities to demoralize us. We have more supporters than non-supporters.
Finally, we come back to the matter of payment! If you have yet to pay up, please do so immediately. To date, only 320 residents have paid up as against 550 from last quarter. We need your support. Checks made payable to "DJROA" can either be passed on to the guards or slipped into my mail box at 143, Jalan SS22/27. Please make sure you indicate your name and address on the back of your check.

Attempted Snatch Thieve Infront of Atria Post Office

Taday is my off day. I had many errand to do. After banking at Maybank near Atria, I drove forward to the post office and as usual i just doubled park to drop 2 mails into the mailbox. When I got back into the car, 2 Malay guys in a motor stopped besides my passenger side and peeped into the car. My instinct told me they were trying to snatch handbag. Luckily I didn't bring any handbag. They moved on and made a u-turn in front of the post office and travelled against the traffic in regardless the road surrounding Atria shops has been made single direction. These 2 guys were in jacket. The one who sit behind wore his jacket half way from his hand covering his lap. I think he probably has his tool or hammer under the jacket. I am 100% sure they were looking for targets especially women driver who leave their handbag next to the driver seats. All ladies please take extra pre-cautious. Please do not leave your handbag next to driver's seat, neither should you put under the passenger seats. There were cases that bags put under passenger seats also were snatched. I guess putting in the car boot is the safest while one is driving.

Secutiry Update as of Jan 16, 2009

Happy New Year to everyone.

We're now well into 2009. Since the 24/7 guard services started, I can feel that our neighborhood is much safer than before. There are much less incidents reported. That's exactly what we want to achieve. The most severe incidents reported were two attempted burglary, both along road 32. Fortunately the burglars were not successful. Most of the other incidents are minor and some of the domestic types. I've not heard of any snatching incidents or car jacking. I hope those will never happen here again. And a big thank you to all of you who have written in giving suggestions on improvements and observations on the attentiveness of the guards. We will try to incorporate your suggestions where possible.

I'm happy to report that as of today we have 535 residents who have signed up for our security scheme. There's 690 occupied homes in our zone, so yes, there's still quite a number out there who have not signed up for whatever reasons. We hope that they will change their mind and contribute to the success of this scheme. If you know of your neighbors who have not signed up (no green tag on their gates) please help us by convincing them to sign up too. This scheme benefits everyone living here.

Many of us are now getting ready to celebrate the Chinese New Year. I'm sure many of our neighbors will be going back to their kampung to be with love ones. It's assuring to know that our homes are much safer today than in the past. However, as a precaution, starting from 15 January to 14 February, for this one month period we have increased the number of security guards to 4 guards per shift, i.e. total of 12 guards to keep watch on our homes when we are away. They have been briefed to be even more attentive, suspicious and cautious with all vehicles going into our neighborhood, especially those claiming to visit friends or relatives.

If you are going to be away, I suggest you make use of Homeguards Tiger Eye service. Please call the Homeguards Call Center (03 3373 3994) and inform them of the dates that you will be away. The guards when they are on their patrol will stop by your house to check for any signs of intrusion. If they spot something amiss, they will call you right away to report it. Each time after they check on your house, they will drop a note into your mailbox to inform of the date and time they stopped by to check on your house. Also, if there are so called "visitors" who claims that they are there to visit you during the period you are gone, they will not be allowed into the neighborhood. This service is complimentary from Homeguards for us.

For those of you who will be holding parties in your house, please inform the guards of the date and time of your party so that your guest will not be inconvenient at the guard post. The guards can also direct them to your house.

Over the next few weeks, i.e. after CNY, we will be closing up permanently the entrance at road 33, currently with oil drums. We will put up a 9ft high fence to stop all from using it. However, during emergency the gates can be opened by the guards to allow for entry and exit. We will also erect a 9ft high fence at the back lane of road 31, i.e. after the houses of the two detractors. With that done, our neighborhood will be even more secure.

We are still awaiting TNB's approval to connect permanent electricity to the two guard post. We are currently depending on the very kind generosity of the two residents who have temporary allowed us to tap electricity from their house. A big thank you to Mr Lu (road 35) and Mr Lim (road 32) for their cooperation and generosity. It is truly appreciated.

Once the electricity is in place we will install electronic boomgates to the two post, starting with road 35 first. We are still trying to figure out the best compromise on how to erect boomgates for road 31. That is a bigger challenge and will need the cooperation of the residents living around road 31, 32 and 34. There will be inconveniences but I hope they will be willing to compromise and accept it.

I'd like to take this opportunity to wish all our Chinese friends Gung Xi Fa Cai, Nien Nien Yo Yi, Wan Xi Ru Yi!

And to all other friends Happy Holidays!

Secutiry Update as of Dec 19

As of today we have 495 residents who have paid up out of 690 occupied houses. When we did our earlier rounds campaigning, 593 or 86% said they support this idea. So right now residents who have paid up is at 72%. I hope that you can help us by talking to your neighbors who have not signed up (with no green gate tag) and encourage them to join. I also hope the 100+ residents that said they will support our security scheme will come forward voluntarily and sign up. This is for the good of the whole community. As much as I hope that we can get full support from all but unfortunately there will be a number of residents living among us that will not support this scheme even though it is benefiting them.

One of the services that Homeguards provides to us paying residents is Tiger Eye, where the guards will keep an eye out on your house when you are away e.g. for your holidays. The guards when they patrol the neighborhood will stop by your house take a look to make sure all is in order (no gate/doors/windows ajar or signs of intrusion) and drop in a note in your mail box to show what day and time they were at your house. So if you are going to be away for a few days and want this service, then call Homeguards call center (03 3373 3994) and inform them what are the days that you will be away.

In my last e-circular there was an error in a phone number as pointed out by a number of residents (thank you!). The correct emergency numbers for you to key into your mobiles and have ready next to your house or office phones are:

First number to call - 03 3373 3994 (Homeguards HOTLINE NBR)
Second number to call - 0162848798 (DD LINE FOR DJROA ZONE 3)
Third number to call - 0163373994 (DD LINE AT CALL CENTRE)

I've been asked to inform all residents (and their maids) who walks their pet dogs to please bring along a plastic bag and pick up your dog's poo so as not to stink up our neighborhood. I trust everyone don't like to step on shit. So please be considerate and do the right thing.

The guards have been instructed to stop all motorbikes, lorries and vans at the 2 guard posts. As for the cars they are doing it randomly at the moment. We have distributed the car stickers and more are coming back to purchase additional. Once more residents have the stickers up, it will be easier for the guards to just pay attention to the cars without stickers. Also, there are quite a large number of residents who have not/will not sign up to our scheme. They will not get stickers nor gate tag.

As of today, we have started implementing the Visitor's Pass where visitors have to display the A4 size laminated pass on their car dash board, motorcyclist given pass that they will wear around their neck, and guards will also take down their particulars including house they are visiting. This is for tighter control and warns the visitors that they are being monitored while in our zone. We'll try that out and see how that works. Problem is our entrance roads are very narrow and will cause congestion if all the cars are stopped, unlike neighborhoods that have been designed for gated security with wider roads and places to stop. Walk in individuals seems lesser of a threat at the moment but we will monitor the situation to see if that too needs to be addressed.

We will continue to highlight and improve with Homeguards to inform of the various complaints from the residents about inattentive guards, sleeping guards, etc and will continue to monitor their performance. So all your feedback is important to highlight to Homeguards of the various issues. But overall, there has been marked improvement in the security of our neighborhood. I do feel a lot safer and sleep better. Never the less we should never let our guard down and must always be alert for strangers in our neighborhood. Bad elements will find ways to penetrate any security schemes. Its our duty to look after ourselves, our loved ones and our properties. Having guards 24/7 is only a deterrent and not a 100% fool proof system.

We have applied to TNB for electrical supply to the guard house on road 35. Once that is approved, we plan to install boomgates there. As for road 31 where the detractors lives, we have to be cautious as last I heard they have consulted lawyers to try and stop our security scheme near to their houses. So far I've not received any notices yet. Once we are more certain that things have cooled down, then we will look into boomgates there.

Attach is an article in today's Star Metro's newspaper on DBKL demolishing boomgates in 4 housing areas. I hope MBPJ will not do that in PJ.

Meanwhile, we are thinking of closing entrance on road 31 from 12midnight till 6am daily. That means only entrance/exit during that 6 hours will be from road 35. That will tighten the security further at night. A guard will still be stationed at road 31 to monitor the situation. If you think its a bad idea, let me know. As for daytime, the guards and all of us have to be alert for potential intruders. Don't take our security for granted.

We will continue to improvise as best we can and improve as we go along so please have patience and help us by giving feedback. All feedbacks are welcomed. Thank you to all who have been giving us constant feedback. Do keep them coming.

Before I sign off, the security committee (kudos to them who have worked so hard for everyone!) and from Candy & I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Here's hoping 2009 will be a Prosperous, Healthy and Safe one for All.

Another Snatch Thief Case on road 27

This afternoon around 2:30pm I was in my master bedroom and suddently heard a scream of a lady from outside of the road. My instinct told me it must another snatch thief. Immediately I looked out of the window and not to my surprise I saw a Malay guy carrying a handbag running to his accomplice on a bike and speed away. I tried to note down the plate number unfortunately it was too far. How I wish the boom gate is up already so that all these snatch thieve will be blocked at the entrance.