Security at Windsor Hills

[luchamouse]

Hi folks,

We're looking at renting a townhome at WH for two weeks next Summer. I was on tripadvisor and I a couple of posters are saying that there's been some burglaries there.

Is there any way of securing belongings in the townhomes?

We always take our laptop and some gaming systems.

TIA

 

[TinkerbellNYC]

I asked our owner about this and he said this is not true... these are FALSE POSTS by owners at other communities that are having trouble renting and have lost business to Windsor Hills because it is so nice. Other places nearby are having trouble competing with Windsor hills. He says that everywhere in America might have the occasional break-in, but this in particular is a false campaign designed to scare renters away from Windsor Hills, and it's not true.

 

[cey]

Last year we did see one police car across the street from where we were renting on Comrow. We have no idea what the reason was, but crime does happen everywhere unfortunately. This year, we rented a place with a security system, just to be on the safe side! However, Windsor Hills is much safer than some of the other communities and timeshares we have stayed in. At times we have just been waved through without checking our permit, or security has been absent or SLEEPING at the gate house! at some very high end RCI resorts!

 

[Freaky]

I would check whether the home has a security system to set your mind at rest. After all it is like anywhere - burglaries happen but they are more likely to pick a home without any security system in place.

 

[mombare]

We felt VERY safe at Windsor Hills, and had absolutely no problems of any sort. BUT....the guards really don't always check the passes coming through. As you drive through the security check, you simply wave your pass by the windshield and they let you through from the gate house. Well, my husband decided to test the security and waved a brochure once - and we got sent right on through!

 

[Stewy]

We felt VERY safe at Windsor Hills, and had absolutely no problems of any sort. BUT....the guards really don't always check the passes coming through. As you drive through the security check, you simply wave your pass by the windshield and they let you through from the gate house. Well, my husband decided to test the security and waved a brochure once - and we got sent right on through!

I completely agree with this. We had the same experience with the guards. They were never even close enough to check what date you were supposed to leave.

My DH and I said the only thing that bothered us at Windsor Hills was the lock box key thing where you have no way of knowing if they actually change the code between guests and the fact there is no safe for anything. I had 2 laptops with us because I had to bring my work PC and it did cause me some worry time that I had to leave them unsecured in the condo.

 

[Brian Noble]

My DH and I said the only thing that bothered us at Windsor Hills was the lock box key thing where you have no way of knowing if they actually change the code between guests and the fact there is no safe for anything.

The solution to this is simple: don't leave the key out there when you're occupying the house.

(Yes, someone could duplicate the key, but that could happen anywhere with physical keys.)

 

[luchamouse]

Well we decided to go with WH after all.

We will be a little more vigilant than usual and make sure we have good insurance cover

 

[KayR]

I asked our owner about this and he said this is not true... these are FALSE POSTS by owners at other communities that are having trouble renting and have lost business to Windsor Hills because it is so nice. Other places nearby are having trouble competing with Windsor hills. He says that everywhere in America might have the occasional break-in, but this in particular is a false campaign designed to scare renters away from Windsor Hills, and it's not true.

Well that made me laugh this morning. Sorry TinkerbellNYC - its not directed at you, but I did have to respond.

It is possible for break-ins to occur at any community. Communities with manned gatehouses such as Windsor Hills are much less likely to have a break in, but they are not immune.

Even Disney have break ins!

As for other owners setting a false campaign to smear Windsor Hills, that is so unlikely. Most owners I know just concentrate on keeping their homes up to standard, responding to inquiries and promotion and advertising. Just that takes up a lot of time! There is no time for smear campaigns and owners that I know wouldn't do that anyway.

luchamouse - have a great stay at Windsor Hills.

-Kay

 

[Chrisinroch]

I asked our owner about this and he said this is not true... these are FALSE POSTS by owners at other communities that are having trouble renting and have lost business to Windsor Hills because it is so nice. Other places nearby are having trouble competing with Windsor hills. He says that everywhere in America might have the occasional break-in, but this in particular is a false campaign designed to scare renters away from Windsor Hills, and it's not true.

LOL. I know folks are very defensive about their particular community, but I would be shocked if there were were no burglaries at Windsor Hills. Cars are broken into at any community, gated or not. Alert the media!!!....There is crime at disney also The good news is that your home is incredibly unlikely to be robbed.

Not sure about homes that are available with an alarm. We have our alarm turned off...worried about false alarms every time a new renter showed up.
If we had a renter that was really jazzed to have it on, we would set that up maybe with an understanding that there would be some fee for false alarms.

 

[Chrisinroch]

We felt VERY safe at Windsor Hills, and had absolutely no problems of any sort. BUT....the guards really don't always check the passes coming through. As you drive through the security check, you simply wave your pass by the windshield and they let you through from the gate house. Well, my husband decided to test the security and waved a brochure once - and we got sent right on through!

LOL, that sounds familiar at Terra Verde also. We were not happy with the gate security guards so we went with a card reader system with a video recording of the gate and common areas.

With that said, the typical crime that you have at these places is a couple of teenagers who jump the wall and steal a car stereo or gps. They don't go through the gate.