[VillagesFlorida]

I received an e-mail alert today in our neighborhood newsletter. I think it is worth sharing so that we can all take appropriate precautions to prevent unauthorized entry into our homes. I am not promoting any of the suggestions in this alert. I just think we should all be aware of this problem. Here is the alert just as I copied and pasted it: "

Just to let you know, (name deleted) and I were in the study in the front of our home this morning at 8:27AM and our dogs started barking. (Name deleted) heard the garage door opening and went immediately to the door. When she opened the garage door, she saw a white pick up with lettering on it in the cul de sac going around the circle and as she walked toward the garage door the truck moved very fast to leave. She could only see that the truck had lettering on it but there was no equipment like lawn movers etc. that she could see.
I have reported this to Community Watch and also the non emergency number of the sheriffs office at 352-529-1682,
This is the second time our door has been opened in the past two weeks.
Please be on the lookout for a white pickup with lettering on the side of the truck and try to get the name of license plate.
Also please pass the word so anyone on our streets can be advised."

From another friend,

"Also, this happened back a month or so ago, there was a car riding around our streets with a garage door opener, seeing which ones opened, we got his plate # and reported it to the police, then one day a garage door was opened and the people were away, so we have started locking the garage from the key pad at night or away for an extended time.

Here are a few additional tips that we think are important for all to know:

1. Sumter Co Sheriff's Dept will send a deputy to your home to do a free safety home inspection. Call 352-689-4600 to schedule. It may take a while....We were on a waiting list for 2 months before the inspection.

2. One thing that the deputy suggested is to tie a knot in the cord of the manual opener on the garage door, so that it cannot be pulled out by a coat hanger and used to open the door even when the lock is on.

3. The manual for the garage door opener should have instructions for changing the pass code that triggers the door to open with the remotes. The instructions are pretty easy to follow. Pick a new unique code (e.g. don't select 1-2-3-4 or 7-7-7-7, etc.) If you don't have the manual, research online to find the correct one for the make & model of opener.

Let's all continue to keep eagle eyes and ears alert at all times and share info with everyone when something suspicious occurs!"

MY husband pulls the power cord on our garage door opener when we travel or are gone for any length of time.