Lynn,
I'm not in the Villages yet, but coming for my second LSV next month. I have several recommendations.
Go to all of the local pawn shops. Do NOT ask the staff there if they have your jewelry or tell them about your robbery. They do not care. All pawn shops buy stolen goods and hope they won't be caught. They also have to do a daily or weekly report to law enforcement about what they took in - but they don't really put a good description and they will try to be as vague as possible. If you find your jewelry there, they have to return it and they are out the money they paid and they know that. They may act concerned, but it is NOT in their best interest to help you. (I worked for the state police for years and this is a fact.)
I know this because I was robbed of thousands of dollars worth of jewelry at one time. It turned out to be our cleaning lady of eight years! The police brought me some pics of some stolen jewelry from a pawn shop - one piece was mine. They said that was the only piece - out of at least 30 or more 14/18kt gold. (It was all over the news here on East Coast) They wouldn't tell us which pawn shop but we overheard them talking and my husband and I went straight there after the police left. We divided up, acting like we were just shopping for jewelry and my husband found his gold ring - very unique and one of a kind. He signaled to me, we called the detective (never giving any warning to the pawn shop staff).
When the detective got there, we described each piece of jewelry - I figured if they had one or two pieces, they must have my solid gold vintage charm bracelet with charms - worth about $3,000 and my other good bracelet, etc. The detective was ready to give up and I said, can I see a list of everything else that was taken in around that time and by who.... turned out most of it was in her boyfriend's name. They tried to just brush me off but I said, you need to check the back (because they are supposed to not put it out for sale after they take it in for at least a week or two for this very reason). The detective then said maybe she should look in the back and suddenly out they came with about fifteen of our missing pieces. They were very mad and not happy as it was a big loss for them. They Had to have known that it was stolen goods, people don't just bring in $3,000 bracelets and thousands of dollars of beautiful and custom gold jewelry all at once.
And guess what - It was ME that contacted all of other people she cleaned for over the years (once she failed the lie detector test) - many of whom had stopped using her because they suspected her of stealing and it was because of me that most got their jewelry back, including sentimental tiffany pieces, etc. The police were not that helpful - probably too much other crime in area - we solved the crime for about ten other victims due to my pursuing my jewelry and getting at the truth.
Also, I recommend a security system and I will have one when I buy there. Have to have that piece of mind. Also will have cameras that I can view remotely if I need to check on the house when away.
I'm sorry this happened to you and it is an awful feeling. But do what I said about the pawn shops... just look through the cases and if you find something - DON'T tell them - they will just hide any other pieces that came in with it before police arrive. Let police come first!
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