Becareful

[needleptdoc]

Last night( Friday) the lights were all out and we were sleeping.It was 9;45 pm The doorbell rang. I yelled thru the door "Who is it". A lady said" She was a florist with flowers from my realtor thanking me for a referral." I told her she was crazy . How do you ring someones doorbell when all the lights are out at this hour. I told her I never referred anyone to my realtor and I don;t want her flowers. I did not open the door. When I looked out the window she did not have flowers in her hand and there was a white van in front of my house with a man driving. I called security and they said they would scan the area for the van. They thought it was very strange!!!

I do not know if they ever found the van. But PLEASE do not open your door unless you know who it is. In my way of thinking, no florist would ring someones doorbell at that hour with all the lights out. And if it was legite I would think they would bring the flowers back the next day or call. SCARY !!!!!

[billethkid]

We leave our front garage lights and front entry lights on every night till we go to bed.

We are fortunate (or unfortunate) to have double doors, mostly glass and can easily see who is there.

I also have two little stickers on the door at eye level....one is for the first responders to know where our emergency medical info is if/when they are ever needed. The other sticker professes the premises protected by Smith & Wesson Security System!!!!! ;D

BTK

[Talk Host]

I think you should call the sheriff of your county or Lady Lake police if that's where you live. The gates are suppose to have cameras that record license plates.

You were very wise to not open the door.

What "security" did you call. Neighborhood watch does not have authority to do anything.

[beady]

Needleptdoc;

Thanks for the heads up on your scary experience.

I do believe you were targeted for some sort of break-in. When you answered the door she needed to come up with the reason for ringing your bell. She obviously wasn't very bright, to come up with the flower excuse at that time of night.

Thank goodness you were wise enough to see through the scam and not open the door.

[bargee]

If you come knocking on my door after 9 PM to deliver "flowers" just disregard that soft click you hear on the other side of the door.That will be the round sliding into the chamber.

[samhass]

:agree: :agree: :bigthumbsup:





If you come knocking on my door after 9 PM to deliver "flowers" just disregard that soft click you hear on the other side of the door.That will be the round sliding into the chamber.

[Sidney Lanier]

Very disturbing; important for us to remember that TV may feel like paradise but it's definitely NOT heaven, and 'fecal matter' that can happen 'out there' can certainly happen in TV as well. Always best to be cautious, and you were certainly smart in how you handled this!

[chelsea24]

Thanks for the warning. Information well posted. That is really scary and weird. I wonder how they got through the gates. I agree with all of the above. Thanks again.

[efrahin]

When we were there in December (renting with the intention to buy) I mentioned to the salesman about the non manned gates; he told me that they have cameras to check the plates. It does not seem that that is the case. It's understable that those gates will be very expensive to have then guarded 24 hours a day but I believe that those already living there should demand the cameras to be on all the time, that is not that expensive.

[cabo35]

Talk Host is absolutely right. If the incident has not been reported to the police agency for your jurisdiction, it should be. If it hasn't, I would be glad to make the call if you PM me some details. They will want to confirm the incident with you so they can conduct a followup investigation and alert patrols accordingly.

I assure you they will take it seriously and if it turns out to be a legitimate contact, mistaken residence or just a prank, they will still be happy you reported it and advise you of the outcome accordingly.

Thanks for the heads up.

[ouma1938]

Thanks for the heads up. It is good to remind ourselves that while TV is Paradise for the most part, its still a tough world out there and we have to be careful, always. You handled it very well.

[Hancle704]

I wonder how they got through the gates.

There is no security provided by the gates. Manned visitor gates get opened for anyone with no questions asked.

[Floridagal]

Would like to know wht even have manned gates or any gates. To me it makes no sense to have these gates when they are not for security.

[nONIE]

Floridagal,

I tend to agree with you. Having to wave our access badge across the gate reader is a royal pain in the you know what and it does absolutely no good in the long run anyway.
Data shows there are no statistical reductions in crime thru the use of security gates.

[captain1202]

We spent 15 years in St Thomas in the vacation business. It's amazing how people take leave of their good safety sense when on vacation (or retired??) in "paradise". The only serious crime problems we ever heard about in St. Thomas were from folks who were walking in bad areas at night, flashed wallets/money at open air markets, etc.. All the stuff you wouldn't do back home in Detroit.

The Villages is a huge magnet to those less fortunate and provides an easy target for breakins, murder and mayhem as history has shown. As the community grows, and the economy goes further south, the problems will increase.

This also goes to a later thread on forged duplicate I.D.'s. If TV is serious about security, and maybe WE need to get more so, perhaps they should be scanning our TV cards and require 2nd I.D. at the gates instead of the rec centers. I guess this could present a problem in some areas (Sumter?) where the roads are public, but it could provide a deterrent and a record of who is coming and going even if they can't legally be prevented from passing through the gate.

If a "bad guy" had to ID themselves and get photographed when they entered, they'd find another place to go. Should this matter be addressed with the VCDD's?

[Taltarzac]

Find the Villages extremely safe compared with just about all of the other places I have lived with respect to crime.

Just think people should use common sense with respect to going out at night alone, opening doors to strangers, etc.

We are very fortunate to have neighbors here in TV who look out for one another and hope other TOTVers are lucky enough to also have neighbors who look out for one another.

[Cajungirl]

When we were purchasing home in TV last month we stayed at friend's home for a couple of days after we checked out. When I arrived at the gate of friend's village, I pressed button and was prepared with my friend's name, address and phone no. No one responded to buzzer and the gate immediately opened for me. No check and balances. It could be anyone coming thru. I was very surprised at that. While at Savannah Center to check Emails, etc. we were asked for ID. I was glad to see that.

[Hancle704]

Announcement from Center Districts follows:

GATE CARD MAINTENANCE AND SOFTWARE UPGRADE TO BE CONDUCTED ON TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2008


The Customer Service Center announced today that the gate card system throughout The Villages will be undergoing maintenance checks and software upgrades. For this 24 hour period, all gates will be locked in the upright position. Residents and guests are to use the gates normally, however, proceed with caution and be aware of the situation.

Additionally, no new or replacement gates cards can be issued on Tuesday during the system upgrade.

For questions or information, please call the Customer Service Center at (352) 753-4508.

[Taltarzac]

I do suspect though that TV has its share of domestic violence, child abuse, rape, sexual assault and other crimes which go under-reported because of the stigma attached to BOTH victims and perpetrators of these crimes. >:(

For people in TV needing assistance in these area about what to do if this is happening to a friend, loved one, or whomever, please use the FL Victim Services Directory. http://myfloridalegal.com/vicdirect.nsf/Fifth%20Judicial%20Circuit!OpenView :read:

Sumter, Marion and Lake Counties look like they are in the Fifth Judicial District for FL. I put in a link to the victim service assistance contacts for the Fifth Judicial District from the FL Victim Services Directory.

[beady]

Let's talk about security.......

How about putting a notice in the paper about the gates all being open for 24 hours. Announce to all that read the Daily Sun that all gates will be open.......
Makes no sense to me, other than to reduce the phone calls from concerned residents about non-functioning gates. Which could be handled by a message when you call security. :cus: :cus:


Let's face it the security here is a joke. All for show. ???

[chelsea24]

I absolutely agree with Beady. The security gates are a joke and putting it in the paper is an even bigger joke. But the point is, it's not joke at all! It's like watching a TV show like Law & Order (which I love) or CNN as they clearly describe how to make bombs or get into locks. I don't believe in censorship in general, but I do believe some things should be off limits. Remember the hoopla over Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction. Boy the networks jumped on that one. Now everything is on a 5 second delay. It's ridiculous! What lamebrain decided to post the gates being opened for 24 hours. I'm going to call and complain to the paper. Not that it will get me anywhere. :cus: :cus: :cus:

[ConeyIsBabe]

needleptdoc.......... THANK YOU for posting incident!

Is there any sort of active "neighborhood crime watch" group(s) in TV ? If not, there SHOULD BE :cop:

When I lived in Miami-Dade County and worked for the local police dept. I was an active member of the local Citizens Mobile Patrol; we were under the direct supervision and participation of the on-duty police, we carried police radios, we drove around 2-per vehicle, in our own unmarked vehicles and when we saw anything SUSPICIOUS we called it in to the police officer supervising the patrol.

Then there was the "citizens crime watch" which was neighborhood participants calling their neighbors when anything or anyone suspicious was in their area. That was very effective.

[Muncle]

Had there been no advance notice of the upgrade to the gate system, the same people harping today about the publicity would be yelling and screaming about how unsafe the gates were on Tuesday. And likely these same people would be plowing into golf carts while totally confused as to why the gate was not dropping. I realize some of you firmly believe that there are criminal masterminds who monitor the newspaper daily waiting for this announcement so they can send in caravans of armed thugs to terrorize TV residents, raping and pillaging because we are unprotected by our gates.

Please repeat after me: "The Villages is not a gated community."

One more time: "THE VILLAGES IS NOT A GATED COMMUNITY."

[JohnnyM]

One more time: "THE VILLAGES IS NOT A GATED COMMUNITY."


Muncle :agree: We live in a "gated" community in NJ. There are 1,200 homes. The only thing the gate house and guard can do is not let door to door salesman or people with a religious cause come knocking on your door. If someone had criminal intent it would take less that second to find his or her way around a gate. It's nice to have but only keeps you safe in your own mind. Never let your guard down, (no pun intended) and answer a door unless you know who it is. Never lose the ability to stay on your toes and know your surroundings, even at the local strip malls. DON'T BE A VICTIM!!!!

[beady]

Johnny M and Muncle:

In some measure I agree with you both.
..WE ARE NOT A GATED COMMUNITY.
..Even if we were , I agree we should always be aware and alert.
There most definately would have been a lot of flack about not notifing the residents.
..I just feel the annoyance to the powers that be would have been a better choice than an newspaper announcement that the gates are open for 24 hours. The paper is circulated to non-residents. Isn't that an open invitation to ....those folks who would see that as an opportunity. I am not just thinking criminal intent , I am thinking solicitation, politicians...etc.

[JohnnyM]

Beady, I agree with you it should never have been made public. The powers that be should have given enough time to alert gate keepers and rec center attendants to get the word out on a local basis for about two weeks. Most residents would have been in the loop and word of mouth would also have contributed to the knowledge of the "gates up" notice.

[Muncle]

I guarantee without the newpaper notice, there would have been well over 1000 individuals calling various offices in TV Tuesday to comment/complain about the gates not operating. Not entirely a criticism, because such reporting is what gets gates that are broken fixed remarkably quickly in the normal day-to-day operation. With the newpaper notice and with conversations on the subject, there will probably be only about 200 calls.

There will be no ill effect of the gate openings or the announcement. There are not people who would see this as an opportunity to do anything. Even if you ignore "criminal intent" and focus on solicitations of any kind, the open gates have no impact. If some clown intends to go door-to-door pushing a political candidate, water purification systems or Jesus at my door, he's going to do it whether there's a gate in operation or not. They don't stop people at the gates and give them a lie detector about their intent. If the person is stopped and questioned at all, a doubtful premise, she'd just say she was visiting friends or looking around TV. 10 minutes later, somebody would be hearing the 27 steps for personal salvation.

JohnnyM, you're right on with your analysis. Unfortunately for too many people, it's much much easier to play the victim than it is to actually show some common sense and do something. And, no people, I do not want to hear that some people really are victims. Just like not all who are proclaimed to be heroes are in fact heroes, not all who claimed to be or are anointed as victims are actually victims. But, as usual, I digress.

[chelsea24]

I never thought of this as a Gated Community, however, it is SOLD as a gated community. At least that's what our realtor mentioned several time. I disagree with one important thing, Yes there ARE bad guys out there that DO skim the newspapers looking for openings of any kind. Let's all stay aware and be aware for each other. I firmly believe in Neighborhood Watches. :cop:

[beady]

On the lighter side of this issue.........

I just returned from doing some errands in the Southren Trace area. I live in Piedmont so I had to go through 2 gates to access and return. When going into Polo Ridge, the gate was up.....I was the third car in line. Both cars in front of me stopped and waved their cards....remember the gate was up. Returning home to Piedmont same scenario. This time I was the 4th car in line. All three cars in front of me stopped and waved their cards. I laughed all the way home. ..........Guess it wasn't necessary to warn people of the permanent opening today, they didn't even notice 1rnfl 1rnfl 1rnfl

[ConeyIsBabe]

I don't get it ???????? What's the purpose of the gates ? What am I missing ? :dontknow:

[784caroline]

SO if you all think the Gates are a Joke or moreso a sense of false security.....did you mention this concern when you responded to the Village questionaire?? I asked what the purpose of the Gate attendant was and that this was a position that could probably be eliminated especially when the developer leaves all the costs to the residents.

[uujudy]

On the lighter side of this issue.........

I just returned from doing some errands in the Southren Trace area. I live in Piedmont so I had to go through 2 gates to access and return. When going into Polo Ridge, the gate was up.....I was the third car in line. Both cars in front of me stopped and waved their cards....remember the gate was up. Returning home to Piedmont same scenario. This time I was the 4th car in line. All three cars in front of me stopped and waved their cards. I laughed all the way home. ..........Guess it wasn't necessary to warn people of the permanent opening today, they didn't even notice 1rnfl 1rnfl 1rnfl


We have gated parking lots at our condo, and the gates are "nested." This means that each IN and OUT have to correspond, or the gate doesn't work. If someone tailgates through an open gate, the next time they try to use their access card it won't work. This was put in place to keep out the visitors who try to use our free resident parking, instead of paying at the public lot upstairs. We have to wave our access cards even if the gates are open. Maybe some of the card-wavers at the open gate moved to the Villages from nested parking? :dontknow: Just a thought.