Pool vandalism

Donald, I too, am interested in seeing responses to this one. We've been experiencing people not "being clean" when using the pool. We have "tar prints" on the inner ledge from people tramping across the parking lot with no shoes.

Even though our rules require people to wear shoes to and from the pool; no food, smoking or drinks within four feet of the pool ledge; only proper baby-pool attire allowed....etc, etc, etc.

Last year we also had to close the pool for "unsanitary" items in the water. Our pool company worker said that in the 20 years he's been doing this he'd only seen TWO other pools as "sick" as ours was then. He described it as if an animal had crawled in the pool, died, and all it's bodily fluids had leaked into the water.

Disgusting as heck isn't it??? But even more disturbing is that it was a RESIDENT that caused this closing.

What are we to do???

Sometimes there IS another need for the "Pool Boy"

I'd consider hiring some college kid to oversee the pool. Also, cut back the hours and don't alow any shoes inside the gated area.

Be sure that residents are notified about the violations, too. ICK!

Guess part of our problem is that our pool is sorta out of the way and not readily visible to most HO’s. Last fall they (the vandals) hoisted an outside-the-pool trash can over the fence and dumped it into the pool along with dog feces that other HO’s had disposed into it – the feces probably being the main reason that DHEC shut the pool down..

This year, so far, the damage has been more minor – such as tearing toilet paper holders off the wall. The pool is checked each morning by a contractor who cleans it and adjusts the chemicals. Last week at about 5:00 AM (his normal time) he found two male teenagers from the neighboring community sleeping in the men’s room. We wish he’d called the police but he just tossed them out and told them not to return or he’d call the police.

We’re going to install a security system with a motion detector that calls four phone numbers until it gets an answer (community volunteers) which then gives a set message such as “Intruders detected in the pool area”. These volunteers will then check out the pool and if intruders are detected by them they will call the police in attempt to have them arrested.

It’s a not very expensive system and is being donated by a HO. We’ll just have to wait to see how well it works.

Thanks Francesca . Do you have any idea what the system costed the HOA and what the system was comprised of such as how many cameras, infrared for night vision?

Have you tried, Charles? It could be fun but then again you could end up in jail.
Me thinks Michele has the solution if you have the sheckles and don’t mind staying on top of the maintenance.

When we began checking into card assess entry systems, we found a company that offered leasing on the equipment. We have 2 cameras at our entrance that records license plates and cars, 10 cameras around our complex, 3 amenity card access entry systems, monitor, recorder and software. The complete system including installation and insurance thru the lease was 10% down, $400 per month and at the end of 5 years we own the equipment. We have seen amazing results since we installed the system. Owners who were continuously late became current in their fees in order to receive an amenity card. We were having problems at our pools that the cameras have stopped. Another on going problem was people disposing of appliances, furniture, toilets, sinks next to the dumpsters and the cameras have taken care of that problem. We had several incidents where the police were called and we were able to provide them with a video showing the times the cars entered and left our complex along with their tag numbers. While viewing one of cars we couldn’t believe this person actually stopped in front of the camera and stuck his head out the window trying to figure out which way to turn. Guess where he is now...yep in jail. The police said crimes are up and is expected to get worse. He told us we were smart to add a security system and he wished more complexes had them.

We installed a set of cameras (5 cameras with IR, 30 Day recording and remote viewing access by board members) after our pool was vandalized 5 times last summer.

We also backed our fence with chain link because skinny folks were squeezing between the bars of the original fence and then opening the gate for their friends. No more squeezing in, they can still hop the fence, but we are making it harder.

We had 2 vandalism incidents this year. A bottle thrown from outside the fence (outside the view of the camera) that caused a $2500 bill to drain, clean and refill the pool, and a teenager who vandalized the gate. The teenager was caught on video and it was all turned over to the police. He was charged with criminal mischief and the homeowner that let him through the gate was charged $150 by us for gate repairs.

Our board is comprised of 3 guys who are all willing to go to the pool and remove anyone that isnt supposed to be there. Many residents keep our numbers on speed dial and call us whenever someone gets inside that should not be there (piggybacking on a resident when they come in, begging someone inside the just open the gate, or just plain ol' hopping the fence) or is doing something they should not be doing.

A rapid response to problems by either a board member or the police (often both) has greatly reduced the problems we need to respond to. We have had the police issue about 10 trespass warnings this year, right about the time school let out, and that has pretty much taken care of the issues for us.

Kids talk to each other about run ins with the police, enough of them had a run in at our pool that it discourages their friends from even trying it.

Increased lighting and periodic requests for the police to patrol the pool area at night have helped stop after hours vandalism.

Missy,

I know this is a reply to a very old post, but the content is still relevant. Could you please tell me what system you wound up going with to secure your pool?