Distraction theft happens when you least expect it. Thieves use friendly conversation, offers to help or emotional appeals like hugs or prayers to catch you off guard and steal valuables such as wallets, jewelry or phones. These scams often involve more than one person and frequently occur in store parking lots and public areas.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department shares these simple tips to help you stay safe:

• Stay aware. Be cautious if approached by strangers. Keep an eye on your surroundings and belongings.
• Travel light. Carry only essentials. Use zippered bags and keep valuables in front pockets.
• Protect your space. Don’t let strangers touch you or place items like jewelry on you.
• Choose wisely. Need help with groceries? Ask a store employee—not a stranger.
• Secure your vehicle. Lock your doors right away. Speak to strangers through a slightly cracked window.
• Speak up. If someone gets too close or makes you uncomfortable, firmly say “No!” to draw attention.

If you experience or witness distraction theft, report it immediately.
Call the OC Sheriff’s Department at 949-770-6011, or 9-1-1 if it’s an emergency.

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In a community as vibrant as ours, shared spaces rely on mutual respect. Mailrooms—especially in multistory buildings—can quickly become cluttered with flyers, junk mail, packages and discarded items.

To keep these areas clean, safe and welcoming for everyone, please collect your mail and packages promptly and dispose of unwanted materials properly.

Let’s work together to keep our community spaces neat—your neighbors will appreciate it!

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Did you know that Friday, April 11, is National Pet Day? To celebrate our beloved companions, the City of Laguna Woods asks all pet owners to consider caring for them in environmentally conscious ways that also celebrate our local area:

• Bathe pets indoors when possible or have them professionally groomed.
• Pick up pet waste with a bag, tie it shut and place it in a closed bin.
• Dispose of unused flea control products (shampoo, sprays or collars) at your local household hazardous waste collection facility. Empty containers may be placed in a closed trash bin.

Thank you for helping your local creeks and ocean thrive while caring for your pets. Click here for more pet care tips or click here to learn about the City of Laguna Woods’ water quality (stormwater) program.

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GRF, United and Third monthly open board meetings are uploaded to the Village YouTube channel for residents to watch at their convenience.

If you missed this last month’s broadcasts, you can catch up here:

• GRF board meeting, March 4
• United board meeting, March 11
• Third board meeting, March 18

To stay informed about upcoming meetings and participation details, check out the “Upcoming Meetings” section at the end of every edition of “What’s Up in the Village.” Click on the PDF link to view or download it for easy access.

Want more “This Day” and other great programming? Visit the Village YouTube channel.

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One of the great services provided by VMS Landscaping Services is the weekly garden clipping pickup. Simply email Resident Services at residentservices@vmsinc.org or call 949-597-4600 any time before noon on Thursday, provide your address, and your garden waste will be picked up on Friday morning. 

If you submit your request after the deadline, your request will be honored as soon as possible the following week.

Place clippings or garden waste close to the curb, but not until Thursday evening. Please do not place garden clippings in the organic recycling bins. As a reminder, clippings are not permitted to be disposed of in the organic recycling bins throughout the Village. 

If you have trash, recycling and organics recycling questions, concerns or requests, please email CR&R at LagunaWoods-Recycles@CRRmail.com or call 949-625-6735. 

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In light of the recent wildfires in Los Angeles, some residents have asked about the fire safety of roofs in our community. While no roofing material is entirely fireproof, it’s important to know that all residential roofs in United and Third Mutuals—as well as those on GRF facilities—meet current building and fire code standards.

All Village roofs carry a Class A fire rating, the highest level of fire resistance, meaning they offer strong protection against severe fire exposure.

Additionally, all roof and attic vents are equipped with protective screens, and all fireplace chimneys include spark arrestors to help prevent ember intrusion.

If you notice a damaged screen or spark arrestor on your unit, please contact Resident Services (residentservices@vmsinc.org, 949-597-4600) to request an inspection and, if needed, a repair or replacement.

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The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has released updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps for Southern California, including Laguna Woods. These maps classify areas as “moderate,” “high” or “very high” fire hazard zones based on factors such as vegetation (fuel), slope, fire weather and wind patterns.

The maps help determine where defensible space standards (including upcoming Zone 0 regulations) and wildland-urban interface building codes apply.

By state law, cities must adopt these updated maps within 120 days and cannot reduce the designated hazard zones.

View the updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone map for Laguna Woods at cityoflagunawoods.org/projects and at Laguna Woods City Hall (24264 El Toro Road) during business hours.

Laguna Woods City Council will consider adopting the updated map at its regular meeting on Wednesday, May 21, at 2 p.m. at city hall.

Learn more about fire hazard severity zones here.

Direct questions and comments to the city’s Planning & Environmental Services Department at planning@cityoflagunawoods.org or 949-639-0561.

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Scammers never sleep—they certainly never tire of looking for ways to liberate you from your identity and/or cash.

Got a text about unpaid tolls? It’s likely a scam. Scammers are recently pretending to be tolling agencies like FasTrak or The Toll Roads demanding that you owe money. Never click the links or interact with these texts. Report and delete the texts, then go straight to the source website to confirm whether or not you have unpaid balances!

Below are links that highlight more common scams. Be vigilant, stay safe and don’t let the criminals scam you!

• Read the IRS’ “Dirty Dozen tax scams for 2025”
• Experian shares “The Latest Scams You Need to Be Aware of in 2025”
• AARP offers “Five of the Biggest Scams to Watch for in 2025”
• The Federal Trade Commission shares scam alerts, common scams and reporting scams online.

Avoid Getting Scammed!

• Protect your mail by enrolling in the United States Postal Service’s free Informed Delivery program, which lets you view images of incoming mail, track packages and more. Also make sure to remove mail and packages promptly from your mailboxes.
• Don’t answer calls from phone numbers you don’t recognize or are not expecting. Do not give personal information to unknown callers and look up organizations that are supposedly calling you.
• Be vigilant for fake emails and avoid clicking any suspicious links or attachments. Take note of the email address, spelling mistakes and signatures to verify the validity of the email.
• Monitor your credit for free with AnnualCreditReport.com and protect your identity with identify theft protection services.

In a world where scammers are ever-evolving, it’s crucial to remain vigilant and informed. By staying alert and following these tips, you can safeguard yourself against potential threats and avoid falling victim to scams. Your security and peace of mind are paramount, so stay proactive and don’t let the criminals scam you.

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Please be sure to bring your Village ID card with you to any GRF event or facility, including the fitness centers and the table tennis room on the Community Center’s third floor, as well as for entry through Village gates if you do not have an RFID affixed to your vehicle. Please note that entry through Gate 12 requires residents to show Village ID.

Nonresident guests must be accompanied by a resident when visiting the Village or using amenities. Please do not give your ID to anyone else to use. If you see nonresidents taking advantage of Village amenities without a resident host, please notify Security Services personnel immediately at 949-580-1400.

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Be sure to read the latest news and updates from the El Toro Water District’s (ETWD) spring 2025 newsletter. This edition dives into ETWD’s emergency preparedness, water rebates and savings programs, community events and more.

Click the orange Download PDF button below to download and/or read the latest ETWD newsletter.

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