The following is from Officer Keith Mason, regarding the City of Naples’ new Bicycle Registration Program:

The Naples Police and Fire Department wants to remind you to always lock up your bicycle when you leave it unattended. Each year we receive several bicycle thefts reports. Many times the bicycles were left unlocked and unattended in front of a store or other location where the owner figured they would be quickly in and out. Other times they are on the victim’s property but left in the front yard or visible from the road way. These are often crimes of opportunity. The unattended property is often viewed as an easy target so we ask that you remove the opportunity whenever possible.

In an attempt to help victims of bicycle theft, the Naples Police and Fire Department has implemented a bicycle registration program. The program is designed to help in the identification of lost or stolen bicycles. Participating bicycle owners will provide their contact information and a detailed description of their bicycle(s) on the Bicycle Registration Form. Once the form is returned to the Police Department, the bicycle owner will receive a registration sticker for each bicycle registered. If you bring the bicycle to the station we will place the sticker on your bicycle, otherwise we will give the sticker to you and show you how to properly affix it. Then, if we find a bicycle which has been registered, we will easily be able to locate the owner.

You can register more than one bicycle, but each must be on a separate Bicycle Registration Form as each bicycle will receive its own identification number.

Bicycle registration is open to everyone, you do not have to be a city resident.

To get started you can stop by the main lobby of the department for a copy of the form or download one right now.

So what are you waiting for? Registering your bicycle is easy and the program is completely free.

There will be a meeting for the Coquina Card VIP Program Committee at 7 p.m. on Thursday at the home of committee member Nancy Hurst, 1531 Ixora Drive.

The Coquina Card will be a benefits and discount card to Naples businesses, including hotels, restaurants and stores.  Your help is needed! Join the committee or request more information by emailing NancyHurst@earthlink.net

The City of Naples has put together this informational video about your tax bill. It outlines where your tax money goes.

Hurricane forecasters have scaled back their predictions for the 2009 season, and are now saying it will be an average season with 12 named storms, including six named storms, two of them major.

The full story is here.

We’ll be doing a first-ever hurricane season-oriented neighborhood newsletter the last week of May to help residents better prepare, whether they’re in town or out.

You may have received an email about the accidental deletion of The Dog List and recreation/renaming of The Pet Page.

Please accept our apologies for the deletion of the page. The link to the new Pet Page is at the right, and we hope you’ll take a moment to re-post your pet’s description and contact information. Thank you.

Thanks again to all who attended Sunday’s Beach Party at Lowdermilk Park. It was a great success. Thanks also to Coquina residents Alexis and Ian Ford who organized this year’s event. As always, if you have any thoughts about how to make this event better — or any other Coquina-related concerns — please don’t hesitate to let your Association know.

This is just a quick reminder to please join your neighbors at the Annual Coquina Sands Beach Party and Picnic from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 5 at the Lowdermilk Park pavilion.

It’s catered, so there’s no need to bring anything. Look forward to seeing you then!

Follow this quick checklist to help prevent you from becoming a victim of auto burglary:

1) Place your valuable items out of sight “before” reaching your destination or leave them at home.

2) Lock all your doors and close your windows even if you plan to be gone for a short time.

3) Park your vehicle where others will easily and frequently see it.

4) Park in well-lit areas.

5) Activate your vehicle alarm if equipped.

Auto Burglary Prevention is the act of taking the criminals ability and/or opportunity to commit the crime. With a little time and diligence, you can make a difference in your vulnerability to Auto Burglary! It takes 20 seconds to secure your valuables in the vehicle. But if your valuables are left in plain sight it takes on average 30 seconds for the auto burglar to break in and steal them.

The above information was offered by Naples Police Officer Keith Mason, Coquina Sands’ community policing officer.

The Spring Coquina Sands newsletter will go to mailboxes this week!

In the news: Our annual Spring Social, a picnic held at Lowdermilk Park on April 5, and much more!

Watch for it!

Police are warning Naples-Collier County residents to be on the lookout for the return of “gypsy burglars,” which are a seasonal problem here in Florida.

Here’s how their operation usually runs:

The burglar teams pose as a utility company crew, a tree trimming service, driveway pavers, roofers, surveyors or other service workers and dress in clothing which resembles outfits worn by the company they claim to be with. The groups are also technologically savvy and often use communication devices, such as two-way radios or Nextel cellular phones to keep in touch while doing the “job.”

First, one the team members would approach a victim at their home and either talk them into coming outside or distract them into an area within the residence where they cannot see if anyone else enters. At that point the other members of the team would enter the home without the victim’s knowledge and steal cash, jewelry and other valuables. Once the team has completed the theft, they contact their accomplice via radio and meet back at their vehicle.

You can click here to read the whole story from the Naples Daily News.