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Over the last few months Desert Princess has seen an increase in the number of security issues. Our Gate access operates under the premise that every guest, Vendor, visitor, etc. is properly screened at the gate and issued a pass if they qualify for entry.
Is the entry process working all the time? For example:
The Blog would like to hear your experiences.
51 Comments
Mike Johnson
3/7/2022 11:23:40 am
We’ve experienced no security issues. So far. We’re fairly careful with locking our doors, cars, & removing cart keys.
Stacy and Rose Kanda
3/7/2022 06:36:26 pm
Unless you have custom key sets, they keys between carts are interchangeable so it is best to lock the cart. I put a "ad" in the DP classifieds with custom key set, and cart lock last week. We got ours on Amazon and they are very affordable and easy to use.
Ryan
3/7/2022 11:31:41 am
I find security to be to aggressive. They hassle my guests if they weren’t pre registered and wont call me to clear them. I’ve had guests call me from the gate asking for me to add them to the list vs security just calling to announce them.
Ruben Dominguez
3/7/2022 11:47:38 am
We have not experienced any suspicious behavior. We do not want the entry to become more difficult, however updating the transponders every few years may be a good way to monitor who enters.
Charlotte Char Bland
3/7/2022 12:02:15 pm
There is a problem with security at the Vista Chino gate:
Val
3/7/2022 12:56:15 pm
That sounds very strange. I have not had to speak to security in a while because I always use my transponder. But in the past, when I did go through security, before having received my transponder, security ALWAYS asked for my password. This is disappointing to hear, that is no longer their protocol. Why in the world would you remove that from the protocol?!
Stacy and Rose Kanda
3/7/2022 06:39:50 pm
I had the same experience last week. In the past they always asked for our password. They should ask for your password when you call to set up a gate pass for someone too.
Pat Doherty
3/7/2022 12:04:38 pm
I have not had any of the issues you mentioned
Hutch Sakadjian
3/7/2022 12:32:54 pm
I learned that Landau gate is turned off at night till dawn
Eddy
3/7/2022 12:58:25 pm
With all the money the HOA has stolen from the rental owners, there should be PLENTY of money to replace the missing transponder and amp up security on the Landau gate. The board must be siphoning that money some place else?!
Michelle
3/7/2022 01:50:12 pm
Hutch, you are absolutely correct. I was the Board liason on the Security Committee when you served as a member. The chair of the committee was a former L.A. county sheriff who brought a great deal of expertise to the table and the results the committee produced were invaluable to the community. If we have the wherewithal to populate ad hoc committees for gym and spa upgrades and a multi-million dollar landscape overhaul, surely we have owners willing to serve on a Patrol Services committee. Perhaps the Board should consider the community's current priorities.
Judge
3/8/2022 09:40:52 am
What board?
Anonymous
3/8/2022 01:03:11 pm
I have personally stopped by Landau gate just to see what really happens. I'm so shocked by what i SAW & HEARD for over 2hrs. Golf carts drive down our streets racing to pass cars. Only a matter of time.
Debbie
3/7/2022 01:57:42 pm
On Saturday, 3/5, after 3pm I observed a gray SUV quickly and very closely follow in a vehicle (I believe it was a white SUV) at the Landau entry gate. I thought the gate was supposed to prevent a second vehicle from entering behind another. I don't use the Vista Chino main gate very often but when I have, I was surprised that about half of the time the transponder gate was open and cars were just driving in.
Kurt
3/7/2022 03:35:36 pm
We are experiencing an increase in crime at DPCC. Notification of the problem to everyone should be implemented to harden the targets. I see golf carts left alone with clubs in them every day, not just at the clubhouse. Here is a listed I obtained from CCPD a few weeks ago, just since January 1st:
Anonymous
3/8/2022 09:43:17 am
Why is there no response from our " BOARD "
MAGGIE HOOD
4/7/2022 03:31:36 pm
I WAS ROBBER LAST WEEK!!! AN INTRUDER DID THE FOLLOWING: OPENED MY OUTSIDE WATER HEATER CLOSET, OPENED THE ELECTRICAL PANEL BOX. TORE MY KITCHEN WINDOW SCREEN OFF - STICK IN WINDOW PREVENTED ENTRY. OPENED SCREEN TO SPARE BEDROOM - STICK IN DOOR PREVENTED ENTRY. DAMAGED LIVING ROOM SCREEN DOOR AND SLIDER WITH A TOOL TRYING TO GET IN. ACTUALLY ENTERED MY BEDROOM IN MIDDLE OF NIGHT WHILE I WAS SLEEPING. WENT THRU BATHROOM TO CLOSET AND STOLE ALL MY VALUABLE JEWELRY - RINGS, NECKLACES AND BRACELETS. I'VE REPORTED TO POLICE. THEY GOT IN THRU MY OWN FAILURE TO SECURE THAT DOOR WITH A STICK - IT WAS WINDY AND COOL AND I WANTED FRESH AIR. NEVER AGAIN. NOW, I FEEL LIKE A PRISONER. A COU[;E IN THE ADJACENT BUILDING WAS ALSO ENTERED THE WEEK PRIOR. SAME MOTIS OPERANDI - MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WHILE THEY SLEPT. THE HOA KNOWS ABOUT THIS AND THEY ARE NOT LETTING US KNOW. PD SAYS "DP AND CATHEDRAL CANYON ARE TARGETS". WE ARE IN DANGER AND OUR SECURITY IS TERRIBLE. THEY HAVE TIGHTENED UP -BUT I ASK "WHY ARE THE WINDOWS IN THE SECURITY KIOSKS COVERED UP? THEY CANNOT SEE WHO IS LEAVING OR WALKING IN THE EXIT GATES WHICH ARE SOMETIMES LEFT OPEN" WE NEED TO RAISE HOLY HECK BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED IN A ROBBERY.
Caroline M
3/7/2022 04:38:05 pm
Gate security is lax and traffic security is lax. We used to have cars watching at intersections but haven't had that in months. Now traffic on Desert Princess Drive and North Natoma doesn't even attempt to hit their brakes after dark and often not during the day. I don't cross the street unless no cars are coming in any direction after almost getting hit twice at that intersection. It's ridiculous.
Derby
3/7/2022 05:35:27 pm
While I completely understand your concern and I am all about safe driving, it is important for the members of our community to understand that it is ILLEGAL for our internal patrol services to pull people over to ticket them. Only the police can do that. Anyone who has been pulled over and issued a traffic ticket/violation should be reporting this to the police. Again, this is illegal. Our internal security does not have the right to play privatized police. If they attempt to pull you over: You should stay in your car and call the police. You are under no requirement to comply with "pretend police" playing fake traffic cops.
Caroline M.
3/7/2022 06:22:02 pm
Then we should definitely have a police presence on site. The total ignoring of traffic signs and pedestrians is going to continue until someone is seriously hurt or killed. I was missed by a few feet the first time because the driver was looking left and turning right and never stopped. A wave and a mouthed "I'm sorry" doesn't cut it.
Anonymous
3/8/2022 09:44:47 am
Thank you ! Common sense prevails.
Ken
3/8/2022 11:50:22 am
Derby im with you 100 percent. When i was a kid i was taught to stop look both ways when crossing the street. I have noticed there's alot of walkers who they themselves just walk out into on coming traffic without looking then get upset because they almost got ran over. So instead of calling for police patrols maybe we can have a class for the walkers on how to stop, look and listen before jetting out into traffic.
Caroline M
3/10/2022 09:11:44 am
I look forward to a class where both walkers and drivers can learn the meaning of a stop sign. Otherwise, we should have police patrols and someone who can enforce traffic laws in the community.
Karen
3/7/2022 05:53:56 pm
The recent crime, especially car thefts and golf cart thefts are concerning. I have had a registered guest admitted at 1 am who wasn't even in the state. When I called the security office, they apologized and said it must have been someone new on staff. I really wonder if we have any vetting of our vendors' employees. These companies we employ, do they have our community's well being in mind or just their financial interests? Are we protected from bad actors??
Mark
3/7/2022 08:57:48 pm
We have a cleaning lady come every 2 weeks, she was never put on the list of guests and security never calls to grant access. We also had a table ornament stolen from our front courtyard Saturday pm- they are coming for everything that is not nailed down.
Ken
3/7/2022 10:40:06 pm
Although traffic is a concern the bigger issue is the theft and vandalism and in my experience more often than not its from the inside.old venders, employees and short term renters see opportunities. We must be diligent see something say something take pic of suspicious vehicles send them to security or HOA. Also let residents know what projects and contractors are doing the work that way anyone can check with a quick phone call.
BT
3/7/2022 11:48:01 pm
Funny I got cited even going to the hearing twice for my friend driving who stopped and rolled on a sign. Can't provide me videos. People got more than one violations and no hearing or fine. Must be buddies. I see so many happening in front of security and ignored. Cars not stopping to catch the open gate. Golf carts not stopping. I got fined $250 on a a WARNING VIOLATION left on my door. I fought it but lost. I guess with all the burglaries it’s more important to collect money than doing real patrol work. I use to feel safe but not anymore and lost total respect with these people. Not even real cops who give warnings come back and give you a ticket. Violation ticket should not say WARNING Totally misleading. They did not care that it was going to cause financial hardship on someone on disability. No sympathy or care. I sent numerous emails. So much time and money. HOA sends emails and then hard copies. What a waste of our HOA money.
Malcolm R.
3/8/2022 02:03:25 pm
According to the Board of Directors Summary dated 2/25/2022, “the BOD approved an expenditure of $110,000 to improve perimeter security- this involves barbed wire, cabling and beam sensor technology to provide immediate notice to patrol of an intruder climbing over our walls.”
Judge
3/10/2022 07:59:15 am
Thank you Malcolm. We'll received!
Joan
3/10/2022 04:56:38 pm
Exactly! No one coming to take pool equipment, for example, is going to jump over the wall and then back over with it. Give me a break! This is a racket. Just a bunch of fluff to make it look like they are actually doing something. They can't even simply manage the Landau gate and keep an operating transponder there. But now, they are going to spend $110,000 of our money on a barbed wire prison system!? In a time when our reserve fund is in the toilet (especially when you subtract the $2M of it that is actually TRUST money for slab leaks.)
Judge
3/11/2022 06:32:35 am
How do we get our DPCC back? Why? Why are they still here? Running this beautiful place into the ground? Been here 18yrs this is definitely THE Worst so called BOD!!!
Sharon Wilson
3/11/2022 08:37:40 am
Thank you very much for sharing the list of criminal acts this year. I managed large medical center, and a correctional center's medical services. Vandalism and theft occurred internally. Tightening up on vendors allowed to access the site (and their staff) and improving the monitoring of such people 24 hours a day, reduced the loss of equipment and other supplies tremendously. To learn this we tagged expensive equipment and supplies and tracked it right out the door. We then were able to locate the tagged equipment at other companies and personnel homes. Ever been in a facility that had wire all around it? Very psychologically damaging, horrible idea for residents, especially when items are going straight out the gaits.
Judge
3/23/2022 02:10:39 pm
Any news on this current situation? 4/24/2022 06:14:20 pm
The security issues we have seem to be getting worse. From personal experience, I can tell you the personnel at the gates are not only to blame. When it comes to transponders, there are problems with some of the people issuing them at the HOA office and those that enter the wrong information into the computer. In my opinion, there needs to be a systematic overhaul of the security department at DP. As someone already mentioned, vendors/visitors are allowed to enter the gate with no notification to residents. Why are we not required to tell the guard our individual password to gain admittance if we are driving or are a passenger in another car without a transponder? Perhaps it's time for a new security company that is licensed to have the power to cite traffic violators and make the fines stick?
Joan
4/24/2022 08:38:02 pm
While I agree there are indeed real issues that need to be dealt with in regard to DP's security; No independent security company is allowed to play cop and issue moving traffic violations.
Caroline M
4/27/2022 04:55:03 pm
Then I suggest that the community do one of three things - Have the board vote to allow security to issue moving violations and fines for not adhering to the rules on this private property; bring the police in to enforce the rules on the signage on property; or remove all signage since very few stop or follow speed limits. Why have them if they won't be enforced? Why maintain the signs since they are not being enforced? Why have them and maintain them if we can't or won't enforce them?
Kelly
4/27/2022 05:51:51 pm
Caroline M: It is ILLEGAL for private security to pull people over for moving violations. ONLY POLICE CAN DO THAT. And if anyone ever attempts to pull you over that is not a cop, you should CALL THE COPS!
Caroline M.
4/28/2022 11:25:07 am
Not a problem - bring the police in and let them do the job on a random schedule. Right now is not safe for walkers. There is no consequence to blowing a stop sign ever. So very few respect them. Either remove them altogether and acknowledge that it is the free for all it is now or enforce it with police.
Saftey
5/1/2022 01:03:38 pm
CAROLINE a good safe place to walk would be inside your house,as the police have alot on their plate with homicides, child abduction and domestic violence.
Safety
5/1/2022 01:40:49 pm
Kelly, thank you for your commensence some people have no idea how the real world works
Caroline
5/1/2022 04:32:33 pm
Safety, LOL - I haven't heard about all the child abductions in Cathedral City! Do tell! I suppose death from being hit by a car in the community is no big deal to you. I guess you've never seen or been in an accident.
Mary Maloney
5/1/2022 10:07:41 am
We have experienced theft and was told by the previous head of security that there are many known "soft spots" at DP that have been told and reported. Nothing has been done. How about spending $5m on an effective camera system, background checks for landscape and facilities staff and better lighting throughout the community instead of palm trees and flowers or remodeling the fitness center that is used by less than 5% of the homeowners.....
MAGGIE HOOD
5/1/2022 02:13:42 pm
absolutely agree! I am on the "fitness center redesign committee". without my presence at the last meeting, they voted to spend up to $30,000 for an architect to come up with a redesign which I expect will cost at least $200,000. they could take the 30k and buy all new equipment and spruce the place up a bit. It's a total waste of money. This board is awful 5/1/2022 09:29:26 pm
Caroline, Thank you for pointing out the crazy drivers in DP and everywhere for that matter. It’s really made me angry. I live in a condo and my garage is an end unit. I can’t tell you how many times this season that my wife and I have been nearly run over by drivers in their cars, but the real problem in DP are GOLF CART DRIVERS! When the weather was cooler, I was cleaning out my garage so I could get my car back in. The problem became so dangerous I started yelling at people to slow down. I finally got a yellow and black warning sign to warn drivers to slow down while I was working in the garage. No human life should be endangered because someone has developed a really bad habit of rushing as soon as they sit down in their vehicle.
Caroline M
5/2/2022 10:52:23 am
Thank you for your comments, Michael. Clearly, I'm not the only one who has noticed. This weekend, in a matter of two minutes, 3 cars and 4 golf carts went through the intersection at N. Natoma and Desert Princess Drive. Not one stopped and the golf carts didn't even slow down. As a simple liability issue, if someone gets killed/hurt, the HOA will be sued for knowing there is a problem and doing nothing to mitigate it. So even though many think the solution is for us to stay in our units, the chance of all of us paying the price for this denial is very large.
Safety
5/2/2022 11:35:01 pm
CAROLINE you can look up the homicide rate on the police website also the archives of the newspaper....I have lived here at DP for over 14yrs and have not heard of 1 person being ran over inside DP.
Caroline M
5/3/2022 09:33:08 am
And SAFETY, I would say to that that since the patrols stopped watching the intersections as they used to do, things have changed. They used to have a car that would watch the intersections at certain times of the day. They used to give warnings. There was some accountability and consequence. The patrols are minimal now. They never watch the intersections. I haven't seen that in over a year. I'm assuming they don't give out warnings any more based on what I'm reading in this thread. No one is enforcing any traffic laws any more. It's human nature to go ahead and do whatever is convenient if there is no consequence - no accountability. 5/3/2022 03:07:59 pm
Safety, I think you may be missing the point people like Caroline and myself are trying to make. We are trying to PREVENT an accident where someone could be severely injured or killed if they are struck by a golf cart or car. No one said someone had been actually killed in DP. Why do people have to live with these unnecessary bad habits of rushing everywhere? Why do people have to be TOLD to slow down and observe traffic laws? We have laws and rules in society for the greater good. Would you still have a don't care attitude if you or a loved one was involved in an accident? Let's all start conducting ourselves like the mature adults we are and start remembering there are CONSEQUENCES for our poor choices. I posted on another thread but I am REALLY concerned over our security or LACK of it... Today I had a local locksmith come and change all of my lungs and he told me about a recent robbery where a woman was severely beaten and also robbed here at Desert Princess. In addition, even the people who work on the grounds around here know about all the recent robberies as I have spoken to them as well as when I go to Home Depot even the employees there know about it! What the heck is going on that it is such a public knowledge and yet nothing is being done about it? I spoke to a Desert Princess employee, I am not going to name names, who used to work at another HOA and he said they have security dogs at night as well as a security team and cameras and that he literally cannot believe, this is his own words, he cannot believe for as much money as we pay here for the HOA dues that are security is this horrible. Today I was speaking to one of the landscapers and he literally was laughing when he told me they have two women who are our security guards at night! I don't know if it has been started and I have not seen it yet because I recently just came here full-time, but do we have the emails of the proper people to send in our concerns and to insist that something be done? We pay a lot of money and to have no security is just horrible. 5/11/2022 12:50:27 pm
Niki King & Others: Please post VERIFIED reports of crimes in our community. Call Cathedral City Police and ask for this information, then post the VERIFIED case number or Incident Report. A few minutes ago, I spoke on the phone with Tamryn/Director of Patrol Services at DP. There are NO REPORTS of a woman being "beaten & robbed" in our community. Spreading rumors like this only inflames the rhetoric and exacerbates paranoia. It is also a huge disservice to the people staffing security. If all of you would READ Desert Communities, Royal Page, etc, you will find the steps Patrol Services is taking to enhance our security capabilities, many of which have been implemented in the last 30 days. ENOUGH of this nonsense. STOP SPREADING RUMORS!
Niki
5/11/2022 09:03:44 pm
Hi Michael, I actually "partially agree with you" ... Yes, I should have verified this info first.. I was just so shocked that the Locksmith who I called randomly told me of this info.. Well, he also said HE was the one who went to change all the locks on one of the villas, and the neighbor came out and told him about the incident and that is how he found out. He WAS the one who changed all her locks.. did I verify this? NO.. I am sorry.. I can't think of WHY a random locksmith who I do not know would just Lie to me.. anyway, It IS true that the HOA crew DO tell me of reports of robberies.. did I verify who/what/when/where ? NO.. again, WHY would they just tell me this stuff??? Also, WHY would a random person cashier at Home Depot (whilst I was buying locks/cameras etc" when she asked where I lived... just randomly say "OH yes, we hear about that place all the time?" Anyway, Yes, I DO agree... and I do NOT want to spread rumors.. I arrived back here from OC to land smack dab in the middle of this mess and it freaked me out for a bit.. So yes, I will not post anything like this unless I have proof.. (Not that I am out there looking LOL) I HAVE a life and am not one to get into all the drams... but seems I landed in it anyway... I do take responsibility for my post.. I guess I should have verified first.. for that I sincerely apologize.. I don't want to get a reputation as an "instigator" as that is NOT my M.O... anyway, I DID go to the HOA and speak to Jonathon who informed me off the measures they are taking... one being the infra red sensors as well as gate Landau closure in the pm.. I do NOT want to add to the drama/misinformation... *I also found out that the "peeping Tom" issue from last year was "handled" and they no longer reside here so that was good to hear.. I have pro-actively taken security measures on my own, which is any home-owners responsibility. There ARE other incidents but I see they are trying to handle them.. so that is good. Anyway, Yes, I sincerely apologize for posting what the locksmith told me.. I just cannot imagine a total stranger telling me such a fabricated story... but anyway, moving forward.... I hope to be a part of UPLIFTING this ENERGY here and BEING a part of any great changes. :) Thank you Michael for bringing this to my attention. :) Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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