Patrolling our streets

[dp000]

I enjoy reading about all of the tickets our sheriff's department is giving motorist and golf carts. There is definitely a problem with cars, golf carts and bikes not obeying traffic laws, no question about that.
But what about patrolling our streets looking for possible breaking and entering. I haven't seen a patrol car on my street in years. I see plenty on St. Charles and Bailey Trail looking for speeders, but not in the residential areas.
We have Village Watch to patrol our streets, but do they stop if they see an unattended garage door open. Don't think so.
We need more police presence in The Villages. This will help stop crime. With all the break-ins recently, I have installed a security system.
This is only my option, and I could be wrong.

[swrinfla]

As I understand their duties, the Village Watch guys make a note of open garage doors, and take action if it's still open on their next go-round. I believe they do at least three passes every day.

Which may, of course, that someone else is driving on a subsequent pass, but I'm convinced each driver receives a status report from his predecessor.

SWR
:beer3:

[BarryRX]

I enjoy reading about all of the tickets our sheriff's department is giving motorist and golf carts. There is definitely a problem with cars, golf carts and bikes not obeying traffic laws, no question about that.
But what about patrolling our streets looking for possible breaking and entering. I haven't seen a patrol car on my street in years. I see plenty on St. Charles and Bailey Trail looking for speeders, but not in the residential areas.
We have Village Watch to patrol our streets, but do they stop if they see an unattended garage door open. Don't think so.
We need more police presence in The Villages. This will help stop crime. With all the break-ins recently, I have installed a security system.
This is only my option, and I could be wrong.

I think you're making a very good point, and I didn't think of it until you mentioned it. I often see sheriff's patrol cars on the main streets, but I cannot for the life of me recall seeing one drive in my villa neighborhood. Now, it's very possible they do and I'm just not home to see it, but your post has made me more aware of their absence. Has anyone else had the same observation?

[YouNeverKnow]

I think you're making a very good point, and I didn't think of it until you mentioned it. I often see sheriff's patrol cars on the main streets, but I cannot for the life of me recall seeing one drive in my villa neighborhood. Now, it's very possible they do and I'm just not home to see it, but your post has made me more aware of their absence. Has anyone else had the same observation?
We have seen quite a few unmarked cars patrolling our area which includes Hillsborough, Pinellas, and the surrounding streets. Also several sheriff deputy marked patrol cars have been very visible. We just came by the Sanibel pool about and hour ago and there were two Sumtner County Sheriff cars who appeared to be arresting a woman. They appeared to be frisking her and slapping the cuffs on her. This also happened in the Pinellas Plaza a few weeks ago when I was there. They were searching a woman and cuffing her outside the nail place. They are definitely on patrol and looking out for suspects committing crimes in our area. I think they are really doing a great job with making their presence known.

[MikeV]

Looking for burglars doesn't bring in any revenue. That said, I have noticed Sheriff Patrols in Charlotte recently.

[Bogie Shooter]

How many patrol cars would be needed to patorl all of the villages residential streets. Not just those south of 466A!
You cannot have a cop on every corner!

[raynitsche]

Being retired from a dept I would hear this all the time from friends and neighbors.
First sit in the front window for 24 hours a day and then you may have a question.
An officer on a main road can observe ( as trained ) and stop suspicious vehicles. He can observe hundreds of vehicles and people compared to a few driving around your neighborhood.
Driving down a side street may make you think your safer but as in all police work it's being in the right place at the right time.
Neighbors should be more knowledgeable as who belongs on the street.
There are times I drive the side roads and it looks like an abandoned town.
If you call the police and no one shows than you'll have a complaint but until just say thank you to the Village watch.

[Shimpy]

I enjoy reading about all of the tickets our sheriff's department is giving motorist and golf carts. There is definitely a problem with cars, golf carts and bikes not obeying traffic laws, no question about that.
But what about patrolling our streets looking for possible breaking and entering.

Take your choice, golfcarts going 21 mph or homes being broken into. Police can't be everywhere and they concentrate where the most income for the county is.

[NoMoSno]

Sumter, Lake and Marion counties are a lot of square miles to cover, not just TV...

[CraigC]

Take your choice, golfcarts going 21 mph or homes being broken into. Police can't be everywhere and they concentrate where the most income for the county is.

I haven't heard of a single person being pulled over for 21, 22, or 23 mph, nor do I think that speeding is much of a problem here. Running stop signs is a different story, as is, not observing the rules in roundabouts. Think they could bring in much more income by concentrating on violations in roundabouts, and I would love to see them do it.

[getdul981]

Community Watch is a joke! I called them one night around midnight to report that one of our neighbors' garage door was open. They said that they would notify them. At 530 or 6 the next morning, when I took the dogs out, the door was still open.

[sharoni]

My husband and I live in Lauren Villas in Charlotte. My husband was doing some yard work and going back and forth between the back yard and garage. Our car was also parked at the home. We later noticed something attached to the door. It turned out to be a warning about our garage door being open. REALLY? We had only been a resident for a few months and were totally puzzled why we were targeted. As we looked down the street, other garage doors open...Our neighbor talked to the watch driver and all he asked was if we were home. I guess things for the yard in the garage and a car in the driveway wasn't a simple answer for him. This was back in Sept., and I appreciate there looking for something suspicious, but it wasn't here.

[Bogie Shooter]

Take your choice, golfcarts going 21 mph or homes being broken into. Police can't be everywhere and they concentrate where the most income for the county is.

I don't believe that.

[Bogie Shooter]

My husband and I live in Lauren Villas in Charlotte. My husband was doing some yard work and going back and forth between the back yard and garage. Our car was also parked at the home. We later noticed something attached to the door. It turned out to be a warning about our garage door being open. REALLY? We had only been a resident for a few months and were totally puzzled why we were targeted. As we looked down the street, other garage doors open...Our neighbor talked to the watch driver and all he asked was if we were home. I guess things for the yard in the garage and a car in the driveway wasn't a simple answer for him. This was back in Sept., and I appreciate there looking for something suspicious, but it wasn't here.

Seems as if they are damned if they do and damned if they don't.

[Bogie Shooter]

Being retired from a dept I would hear this all the time from friends and neighbors.
First sit in the front window for 24 hours a day and then you may have a question.
An officer on a main road can observe ( as trained ) and stop suspicious vehicles. He can observe hundreds of vehicles and people compared to a few driving around your neighborhood.
Driving down a side street may make you think your safer but as in all police work it's being in the right place at the right time.
Neighbors should be more knowledgeable as who belongs on the street.
There are times I drive the side roads and it looks like an abandoned town.
If you call the police and no one shows than you'll have a complaint but until just say thank you to the Village watch.

One of the better posts I have read today.

[railroadman]

I enjoy reading about all of the tickets our sheriff's department is giving motorist and golf carts. There is definitely a problem with cars, golf carts and bikes not obeying traffic laws, no question about that.
But what about patrolling our streets looking for possible breaking and entering. I haven't seen a patrol car on my street in years. I see plenty on St. Charles and Bailey Trail looking for speeders, but not in the residential areas.
We have Village Watch to patrol our streets, but do they stop if they see an unattended garage door open. Don't think so.
We need more police presence in The Villages. This will help stop crime. With all the break-ins recently, I have installed a security system.
This is only my option, and I could be wrong.

The simple reason, Sheriff's Department is doing very little patrolling.
Patrolling does not pay anything!!

[NJblue]

Sumter, Lake and Marion counties are a lot of square miles to cover, not just TV...

That's true, so why do they devote police resources cracking down on golf carts going a few miles faster than they should. The point of the OP was that the limited resources are being misused relative to severity of the problems.

If they truly believe traffic safety is a larger issue than breakins, then they should devote their resources to the traffic circles which are a true safety issue. On the scale of things, golf cart speeders are only slightly more problematic than people not picking up their dog's poop.

[Culvers2Villages]

We received a call at 2:00 am the other morning from the safety patrol of The Villages. inquiring if we knew our garage door was open... We did not!!! I was so thankful for their call and their patrolling to let us know something looked out of place... I doubt the Police would have made the same call... maybe... but, I am thinking they are much too busy for that type of patrol... So grateful for the call and the Safety Patrol...

[pooh]

It is my understanding that the roads in villa areas are private, not county. Not sure if patrols would include those roads.

[Bill32]

Take your choice, golfcarts going 21 mph or homes being broken into. Police can't be everywhere and they concentrate where the most income for the county is.

Agree, we're easy pickins...

[SusanOfWoodbury]

I live in the Village of Woodbury and have seen the Sheriff cars patroling in this area in the neighborhoods...

[redwitch]

During my myriad drives around TV, I have seen several Sumter County Sheriff cars patrolling neighborhoods, not just the main roads. I have also seen them pulling over speeders, stop sign runners and other scofflawlers.

Personally, I'm of the opinion that having your home broken into is frightening but not life-threatening. Most burglars are careful to not break into an occupied home. There is no deadlier weapon than an automobile. My grandson was almost killed in an accident last year because someone felt the need to jump a red light. (Not sure how he wasn't severely injured given the condition of the vehicle in which he was riding.) So, I'm glad officers are trying to prevent thefts but I'm especially thankful they are trying to prevent accidents. Tickets are not just a source of revenue they are a very real reminder to slow down and follow traffic laws.

From what I can tell, the police/sheriffs are doing their best to catch these burglars but it will take some luck to do so. It will take an act of stupidity by the thieves or a neighbor catching them in the act. The police might stop a break-in by patrolling but catching someone would be sheer blind luck.

[BarryRX]

It is my understanding that the roads in villa areas are private, not county. Not sure if patrols would include those roads.
Pooh, I don't believe so.

[Parker]

I don't believe for a minute that the Sheriff's patrols focus only on revenue-making operations. While revenue is important and necessary, the Sheriff's Office exists for our safety and I believe THAT is their mission. They do much more than is always publicly visible, and thank God for them.

[Bizdoc]

I see quite a few Sumter SO cars around TV. I suspect that they adjust where the cars are concentrated based on where there are problems. Do they drive up every street on every watch? Seriously doubt it... I suspect that they do watch areas with a lot of non-resident traffic (read contractors) more carefully.

Alternately, get to know your neighbors. Speak up if something doesn't look right, And don't be afraid to call a neighbor if their garage door is open at 10 pm.