The purpose of this “Crime Prevention Alert” is to make you aware that the Baltimore County Police Department has identified a crime trend involving individuals who attempt to enter homes through deception or diversion. This is a scenario that we see played out more and more frequently in Baltimore County. Seniors are sometimes targeted, but all citizens need to be aware of this crime and how it is perpetrated.

We need volunteers to sign up for the Citizen's on Patrol program. If you are interested, please email president@knettishall.org

Towson, Md. (August 14, 2008) - Baltimore County's Department of Public Works is alerting homeowners to an illegal and unnecessary house number painting service which is being advertised door-to-door through official-looking green notices.

For a fee of $20 Community Curb Painters (a company of no known address and reachable only through a toll-free, leave-a-message-after-the-beep number) promises to paint a resident's address on the fronting curb - ostensibly to help police and fire personnel locate the property if summoned in an emergency. The advertising implies that Community Curb Painters is working in cooperation with local police and fire departments. It is not.

Such curb painting is illegal. Curbs are public property, in the public right-of-way, and unauthorized painting is prohibited under the County code. Moreover, this house number "service" does not satisfy the code requirement for posting addresses required for police and fire protection in Baltimore County. On logical grounds alone, note officials, the painting makes little sense since parked cars frequently block the view of curbs.

http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/News/releases/0814curbs.html

The rear entrances of Knettishall homes face serviceable alleys used by fire and emergency services vehicles. So that they can do their job in a safe and timely manner, the county is mandating that all our houses display address numbers on the back of the properties. The numbers must be at least 3-in in height. Residents have until March 9th to comply (i.e. the deadline was last month) or face a fine of $100 for non-compliance. Numbers are available at Home Depot, Jo-Ann Fabrics or Wal-mart, for example.

You should receive your Maryland Property Tax Assessment notice in the mail. There is an application inside the assessment which you need to fill out in order to apply for the Homestead Property Tax Credit.

This credit was automatically given to you in the past, if you were eligible, which most of us are. This year you must apply for it. The homestead credit limits the amount of assessment increase on which a homeowner will pay property taxes in that tax year on the one property actually used as the owner's principal residence.

THIS YEAR IF YOU DO NOT FILL OUT THE APPLICATION YOU WILL NOT BE GRANTED THE HOMESTEAD TAX EXEMPTION AND YOUR TAX BILL WILL GO UP ACCORDINGLY.

Please be sure to look for this application and fill it out.

If you have neighbors who may not receive this email and may not be aware of the application process that is needed this year, please pass this along.

If you have further questions you can visit the Maryland Department of Assessments website at http://www.dat.state.md.us/