Neighborhood Watch
 The Neighborhood Watch Program is a National voluntary, self-help crime prevention effort centered around the community and local law enforcement working for the safety and protection of our neighborhood. Law enforcement cannot be everywhere nor can they recognize strange people or vehicles like your neighbors can. This is a simple program of neighbors watching other neighbor’s property. It is thousands of eyes and ears whose owners have organized together into groups to report suspicious activities or crimes to the Sheriff’s Office.
Crime watchers are networks of neighbors trained by Crime Prevention deputies in home and self-protection suspect identification and how to serve effectively as additional eyes and ears for law enforcement agencies in the community.
Neighborhood Watch provides a way for neighbors to help one another by keeping an eye on each other’s homes. A telephone chain enables neighbors to keep one another informed of any criminal activity. When a member of a network sees a suspicious person or vehicle, he or she should call HCSO non-emergency number at 247.8200 immediately and then an Area Coordinator.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office encourages citizens, like you, to join the Twelve Oaks Neighborhood Watch Program. Neighborhood Watch, as we know it today, started in Twelve Oaks in October 1993. During 2001 we added an email system that allows neighbors to report and receive crime and community information (nwatch12oaks@gmail.com).
Did You Know...
- Statistics show that crime is drastically reduced wherever this program has been introduced and established in a neighborhood.
- Neighborhood Watch is a strong deterrent to criminals.
- Neighborhood Watch is the most effective tool for reducing fear in the neighborhood, because it brings people of diverse backgrounds together on the one issue that we all have in common; fighting crime and building safer neighborhoods.
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Important Information
 Halloween Safety Tips ― Even if your kids are Halloween veterans, it can’t hurt to go over the ground rules. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office offers the following tips to having a fun and safe Halloween.
Tips for Treaters
- If you want trick or treaters to come to your home, keep your outside and front room lights on. It is also good to have Halloween decorations on display.
- Give store-wrapped or non-edible (crayons, stickers, small party favors) treats. If you must give homemade goodies, put your name and address on each treat (address labels work well) and give them only to children who know you.
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Tips for Parents
- Make sure your child’s costume allows freedom of movement and good visibility. It should either be a light color or have reflective strips on it. Kids love to carry flashlights and it can make them more visible.
- If possible, have children trick or treat before dark.
- Insist that your children trick or treat with a friend, a group, or an adult. Young children should always go with an adult or responsible teenager.
- Insist that your children stay in their own neighborhood and on an agreed route.
- Before children eat any treats, check them over. Use your discretion about homemade treats. The safest rule is to throw away anything that is not store-wrapped and in good condition.
- Cut fruit into pieces before eating to make sure it is all fruit and has not been tampered with.
- Sponsor a party in place of trick or treating.
- Sometimes shopping malls will sponsor a party with each shop owner providing the treats.
 Tips for Kids
- Stay in your own neighborhood. Go with a friend, a group, or an adult.
- Go only to houses with lights on or with Halloween decorations up.
- Do not eat any treats until an adult has checked them.
- Watch for cars when crossing the street.
- Tell you parents about anything that makes you uncomfortable or scared.
No one should trick-or-treat after 10:00 pm. Residents are encouraged to turn off outside lights at 10:00 pm to discourage late night visitors. |
 Important Message: Dial 911 for emergencies or crimes in progress. Report all suspicious persons, vehicles or activity to the Sheriff’s Non-Emergency Phone at 247.8200. Ask for an event number!
The Florida Highway Patrol and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office patrol our community. Deputies often discover a situation that presents an opportunity for criminal activity and want to make you aware of the potential for loss of property. Following is a list of situations that should be avoided:
- Garage or other door left open
- Vehicle windows down or doors unlocked
- Keys left in unattended vehicle
- Hedges/bushes covering windows
- Ladders near or next to building
- Poor lighting around property
- Hard to find or no address on home
Your assistance is required in order to reduce the threat of crime in Twelve Oaks!
Neighborhood Watch Telephone Chains: Doreen Clauer, Neighborhood Watch Email Coordinator is still collecting names of residents from each street that are willing to be called if there was an urgent issue and information to pass on to neighbors. You might be asked to look out your window and to call Dispatch if you see anything. We would not want or expect anyone to go outside or get physically involved in anyway. If you are willing to be on a phone chain connected to others please send your name, address and phone number(s) where you can be reached to nwatch12oaks@gmail.com.
Now is the time to send in your information so that if the need arises, we can pull together and be able to communicate quickly. Don’t get caught unaware because we have no immediate way to connect with you in a timely manner. Email is efficient but not very helpful in a real time emergency. Important: We want a chain that is efficient and works. We want residents on the chain who are interested not only in passing on information but also who are willing to report suspicious activity to the HCSO and nwatch12oaks@gmail.com. We would like you to get comfortable calling HCSO when necessary. Think of HCSO Dispatch as an extension of our neighborhood and be willing to call and report all suspicious activity. We as a neighborhood will be better for it.
Neighborhood Watch Emails — Do you receive them? If you do not receive the notices, please make sure you get the latest information by sending your name, email address, and your home address to nwatch12oaks@gmail.com. Make sure to also add nwatch12oaks@gmail.com into your address book.
 Twelve Oaks Watch Patrol — Community volunteers drive around our neighborhood with "Twelve Oaks Watch Patrol" magnetic signs on their cars and a flashing light. These people are your neighbors who volunteer to help make our community safer. The patrol volunteers do not stop cars or people, but do have a significant impact on lowering crime. Their presence makes it known that we, as a community, are observing and watching for incidents and suspicious behavior to report directly to the police. Patrol volunteers are needed for November and December. If you would like to help, please contact Ann Carletti at 888.7212 or email: tocrimepatrol@gmail.com. A gasoline gift card is given to those who patrol at least three to four days in a week and turn in the report.
 "No Parking on the Sidewalk" Statute Will Be Strictly Enforced In Twelve Oaks - Although many residents are already making an effort to keep their vehicles off the sidewalk, others routinely block the sidewalks with their cars. Please keep your vehicles off of the sidewalk so that pedestrians, children on their way to school and the impaired can traverse the sidewalks safely.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department will be strictly enforcing this statute within Twelve Oaks. They will be coming through Twelve Oaks and writing citations for those that continue to park on the sidewalk. Show respect for your neighbors and please heed this warning. Florida Statute 316.1945 is copied below for your reference.
Florida Statute 316.1945 – Stopping, standing, or parking prohibited in specified places.
| (1) Except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic, or in compliance with law or the directions of a police officer or official traffic control device, no person shall: |
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(a) Stop, stand, or park a vehicle: |
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2.On a sidewalk. |
Sec. 37-37. Civil penalties.
(a) Any person who parks or stands a vehicle in violation of the provisions of this article shall be guilty of a non-criminal violation and shall be assessed a civil penalty of $30.00. |
Amounts of Fine Violations for Hillsborough County
| Speeding (over the limit): |
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6-9 MPH |
$118.00 |
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10-14 MPH |
$193.00 |
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15-19 MPH |
$243.00 |
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20-29 MPH |
$268.00 |
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30 and above MPH |
Court Mandatory |
NOTE: Fines are higher if caught speeding in a school zone.
| Moving/Child Restraint missing: |
$153.00 |
| Non-moving seat belt missing: |
$103.00 |
| Texting while driving (first offence): |
$30.00 |
| Stop Sign violation: |
$251.00 |
| Bicycle Helmet Law: |
$51.50 |
| Littering: |
$110.00 |
| Parking Over a Sidewalk (a civil penalty): |
$30.00 |
NOTE: If you don't pay the fine you are not able to renew your license tag.
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Florida Highway Patrol Statistics
August 2021
Information Provided by Twelve Oaks Special District (TOSD)
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| Speeding Citations: |
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Resident |
| - 3 |
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Non-resident |
| - 1 |
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Warnings to Residents |
| - 7 |
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Warnings to Non-residents |
| - 1 |
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| Stop Sign Violations: |
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Resident |
| - 0 |
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Non-resident |
| - 2 |
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Warnings to Residents |
| - 2 |
|
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Warnings to Non-residents |
| - 4 |
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| Other (including citations) |
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No proof insurance |
| - 0 |
|
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Suspended driver's license |
| - 1 |
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Failed to show driver's license |
| - 1 |
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Other |
| - 1 |
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| Total Encounters |
| |
|
| - 23 |
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