Stolen car raises gated-community security questions

There’s no shortage of gated communities here in the desert. Most of the time they’re guarded, have security cameras and 24-hour surveillance. But those luxuries can give residents a false sense of security. But even if the security at the front gate is tight, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other ways criminals can get into your community. John Sofka thinks the thieves were able to steal his car early Tuesday morning in Sun City Shadow Hills by jumping over the wall.

“I am thinking they must have jumped the wall, because you have to have a security access so you either check in or have something on your car that lets you in,” Sofka said.

The HOA said it has numerous security measures in place to try to prevent these things from happening. Even though the community has 24/7 security, patrol cars moving around the entire place and even security cameras, criminals still found a way to get in. Sofka said the walls are a weak spot and all the security measures made him feel like he was safe, which is why his car wasn’t locked.

“I was comfortable. I felt lucky to be in a gated community, and you know you pay for the security,” Sofka said.

Inside the stolen car, all of the tools he needs to do his job.

“I had just loaded it the night before with a lot of tools, very expensive tools, for a big job I had the next morning,” Sofka said.

Sgt. Dan Marshall with the Indio Police Department said the walls around communities aren’t designed to keep people out.

“Usually those fences have decorative blocks that stick out that make the fence even shorter or there’s vegetation around the walls, that may not be cactuses, it might be trees where a person could climb the tree and up over a wall,” Marshall said.

And that security code you use to get in, that can be shared with just about anyone. Sofka said the community could have done a better job of patrolling but he’s hopeful he’ll get his car back.

Marshall said no matter what, you always need to lock your car, even if it’s in your garage. Try not to leave anything valuable out in your car or your windows cracked. He said you need to be vigilant, because security patrols can only do so much.

Sofka hopes if anyone sees his 2006 Ford Expedition they’ll contact the police department.