Crime in The Villages

[Full-timer]

It is a shame that The Villages" cover up" all the crime and accidents going on.
So many people have no clue about what happens here.


This "gated community" is a joke. Any Tom, Dick, or Jane can walk right in anytime they want.

What would it take (and cost) to make it a real gated community, and would it help ?

6 years in, not the wonderful place it is claimed to be.

[golfing eagles]

It is a shame that The Villages" cover up" all the crime and accidents going on.
So many people have no clue about what happens here.


This "gated community" is a joke. Any Tom, Dick, or Jane can walk right in anytime they want.

What would it take (and cost) to make it a real gated community, and would it help ?

6 years in, not the wonderful place it is claimed to be.

You have options........

[Michael 61]

From my perspective, The Villages has the least amount of crime of anyplace else I’ve ever lived, and the crime that is here appears to be infrequent and mostly petty. There is no place that is crime-free. I feel extremely safe here.

[Hardlyworking]

This isn’t a gated community, it is a community with gates.

[JoelJohnson]

It's NOT a gated community, it's a community with gates. The gates are there to help the golf cart from being run over.

[JD Tremor]

You have options........

Very good way to put it! LOL:BigApplause:

[Marathon Man]

I would never continue to live in a place that I was unhappy with. Especially if I was so unhappy that I felt the need to put it in writing.

[Get real]

It is a shame that The Villages" cover up" all the crime and accidents going on.
So many people have no clue about what happens here.




So if the Villages "cover up" all this crime, how do you know about it?

[thelegges]

Would this be a person who bought blindly, had zero ideas of where they were going to invest their money?

OP joined in 2021, and didn’t do diligence on searches of this “isn’t a gated community,” but a traffic flow across each entrance and exit, to allow golf carts to cross as safely as possible. Sometimes one needs HELP in making major decisions, this may be the case.

As far as OP worried about crime, how many of us have left their garage door open, and nothing was removed. How many has left their front door, or garages open and come home thinking well I forgot to lock, or close the door.

Maybe the OP has been targeted, or is relying on internet info and is now afraid they have made a grave mistake, believing hearsay.

Have to say we were in the process of moving from one home to the next, took a load of stuff dropped it at the new house around midnight. Community Watch called at 3:30am, garage door open lights on, I drove down, everything still in the places I left it. Now if we had a crime wave as the OP suggested, someone would have walked into the unlocked house, and taken whatever they could walk off with. Didn’t happen, all crap still there:faint:

[djlnc]

Makes me wonder though...the bad guys might figure out that things are easy picking at The Villages because everyone is so trusting.

[ThirdOfFive]

You can get a pretty good idea of the "crime" in and around TV by reading that online newspaper (AKA AsteriskAsteriskAsteriskAsteriskAsteriskAsteriskAs teriskAsterisk). It does an exhaustive job of covering crime in the area, mainly as clickbait for the trolls, but the content of what is reported is important. Story after story after story of petty shoplifting, DUI, inebriated Villagers getting lost on their way home from the squares, minor spats between neighbors, possession of a controlled substance, arrests for failure to pay traffic tickets, things like that. Now and again a real story about real crime sneaks in, but overwhelmingly the "crime" reported usually in glaring headlines in the aforementioned online newspaper is petty stuff. Usually very petty stuff. Stuff that, in places many of us hail from, would rate only a belly laugh from police if we even tried to report it.

The LEOs serving TV and surrounding area, in my opinion, do an outstanding job. They know who the troublemakers are and they keep the lid on tight. How many stories have we seen of this-or-that vehicle stopped by law enforcement, usually in the wee hours, for things like a broken taillight, improper turn, or (my particular favorite) stopping at a stop sign with the front tires ON instead of in back of the solid white line? The K-9 unit is called, the dog "alerts" to the possible presence of drugs, which is resonable suspicion--and sure enough, drugs are found and the perpetrator(s) arrested. I've seen that K-9 unit parked in back of Kilwin's at Spanish Springs a couple of times, both times when the square has been extremely busy. Nothing like being ready.

I've had a Florida permit to carry since shortly after we moved here but haven't felt the need to carry even once. Back home, particularly during the last five years or so before coming here, I carried routinely. We're extremely lucky here in TV with the law enforcement that we have.

[Blueblaze]

I know a guy in the neighborhood watch, and it's interesting to hear him talk about the petty crimes that go on all the time because residents stupidly believe they've discovered the only crime-free town on the planet. They'll leave their garage door open all day with their golf clubs sitting next to the door, and then they're surprised to discover they're missing one day. Recently, he was telling me about a rash of car break-ins on a single street down south. What kind of idiot leaves a loaded pistol in the glovebox of his unlocked car in his driveway over night? Apparently, there is a whole street full of such idiots somewhere in The Villages.

I would be interested to hear the OP tell us what prompted his own outrage at all the crime here, so I can tell him about all that crime on the rural street in Texas where I moved from, where I twice had my locked mailbox broken into, and where my neighbor in the nice little Cape Cod, three houses down, was shot in his own front yard over an argument with one of his meth customers.

[JGibson]

Statistics would disagree with you as TV is one of the lowest crime areas in the country. Even if you lived in a truly gated community you would still have to leave the gates to get to shopping, doctors, etc.

Of all the things to complain about in TV crime is not one of them.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

My parents live in a "truly gated community." They still have to lock their car doors and their house doors and keep the garage doors closed during the day. All those contractors - landscapers, roofers, HVAC people, housekeepers, aides - they are all given access to the community because they're working either for the HOA on communal property (like the pool/clubhouse area) or for individual residents.

The bigger companies sometimes hire people who have no morals - and they don't know this until someone complains their car was broken into.

And this happens in a GATED community. Because being gated doesn't mean being isolated from the rest of the world. No place is immune to crime, when you live in a community. Even if your neighbors are 100% legit perfect angels - the guy who replaces their carpet might not be.

The likelihood of you being the victim of a crime committed by someone who does /not/ live in the Villages, is very low. The risk increases the closer you are to one of the gates. But if you lock your doors when you're not home or at night, keep your garage door closed when you're not planning on being in it, lock your car doors when you're not in them - your risk is possibly only .05%. So doing all that while living near a gate might increase that risk to .08%.

As they say - trust in the Lord, but tie up your camel.

[Two Bills]

My wife and I have been very fortunate to travel widely in the world during our retirement years.
The only place we felt totally secure to roam freely and not even have to consider our personal safety was in The Villages.
Don't agree with the OP at all.

[Bay Kid]

Time to move to the wilderness, maybe you'll be safe.

[dewilson58]

So many people have no clue about what happens here.

.

So funny when a full-timer figures something out after years of living here.

BUT, actually.....by definition, TV is a gated community: "a residential area with roads that have gates to control the movement of traffic and people into and out of the area."

:loco::loco:

[D&BSmith]

Are you selling? Need your house for daily rentals.

[brianherlihy]

we will be selling in two weeks

[Mass288]

Hi all..moving there next month and the lack of crime is a huge reason we chose the villages.. to put it in perspective. The Villages has in the area of 600 to 900 crimes a year by avail stats...the city I worked in up north had upwards of 165000 call for service with 130000 residents...pretty safe here

[Djean1981]

Bye bye. Everyone knows that the gates are for traffic control.. lol

[twoplanekid]

So funny when a full-timer figures something out after years of living here.

BUT, actually.....by definition, TV is a gated community: "a residential area with roads that have gates to control the movement of traffic and people into and out of the area."

:loco::loco:

I would agree that the gates help to control traffic. However, everyone/the public has access to most of the Villages with some minor area exceptions. Thus, I would not suggest that the Villages is a gated community by that definition as access by people in and out is not controlled.

[Bilyclub]

Somebody woke up this morning and decided to stir the pot with nonsense. There are a few accidents and some petty crime, but nothing even close to the averages of a over 100,000 resident city.

[mraines]

So if the Villages "cover up" all this crime, how do you know about it?

There are sources other than the Daily Sun which is nothing more than a propaganda rag for the Developer.

[dewilson58]

I would agree that the gates help to control traffic. However, everyone/the public has access to most of the Villages with some minor area exceptions. Thus, I would not suggest that the Villages is a gated community by that definition as access by people in and out is not controlled.

Read the definition.................TV does control traffic by making people stop/slow down.....the definition does not say restricts access.

[SummerDays]

I've closed on a house and will be moving to TV in a month or so. Commented to someone yesterday about the nature of the crime reported in the villages versus the crime where I live currently.

What I do not see in the villages compared to where I live now - the swat team in 2 locations at the same time due to gun violence (that happened last week), assaults including significant bodily injury, vandalism in and on retail and office buildings, destruction of public and private property, rapes, and even the occasional murder. Drive by shootings.

There is crime everywhere, but from what I see, what goes on in the villages is a faint echo of what goes on everywhere else I have ever lived.

I find it hard to believe these types of crimes are occurring in TV, yet somehow it is all covered up.

[MrFlorida]

Name another place that you would like to live ???? Yea, I thought so.....

[swooner]

So if the Villages "cover up" all this crime, how do you know about it?
Have you never witnessed a bad accident in TV. I’ve seen several that have never been reported in the Daily Fish Wrapper.

[MSchad]

It is a shame that The Villages" cover up" all the crime and accidents going on.
So many people have no clue about what happens here.


This "gated community" is a joke. Any Tom, Dick, or Jane can walk right in anytime they want.

What would it take (and cost) to make it a real gated community, and would it help ?

6 years in, not the wonderful place it is claimed to be.
5 years in and Love it here. What makes you think this is a gated community? Because it has gates on public streets to control traffic speed and cart crossings?

[Number 10 GI]

Why is there such a need that some have for reading about doom, death, misery, and evil??????

[thelegges]

Have you never witnessed a bad accident in TV. I’ve seen several that have never been reported in the Daily Fish Wrapper.

Our Detroit Newpaper didn’t report break ins, fires, accidents.

Robbery at gunpoint, Leo involved shooting, and what the governor did today. So Sun is very close to a newspaper that had with 100 times more subscribers.

[Papa_lecki]

10 to 15 people will be shot/killed in Philadelphia.
20 to 25 cars will be stolen
Probably 15 car jacking
I bet 100 houses are broken into
ALL THIS WEEKEND

The Philadelphia Inquirer will not cover any of it, the news reports might cover 1 or 2, maybe.

[jimbomaybe]

You have to be careful what gang you join, the "insane Vice Lords" of Hemingway have an on going war over turf with the " Gangster Disciples" of Bridgeport

[Bilyclub]

You have to be careful what gang you join, the "insane Vice Lords" of Hemingway have an on going war over turf with the " Gangster Disciples" of Bridgeport

You must be from Chicago with your people and folks lingo. Throw some lk's into the mix too.

[Marathon Man]

Have you never witnessed a bad accident in TV. I’ve seen several that have never been reported in the Daily Fish Wrapper.

I have tried and can't come up with a single way that my life is affected by a lack of accident reporting.

[Marathon Man]

There are sources other than the Daily Sun which is nothing more than a propaganda rag for the Developer.

And how should this matter?

[dewilson58]

I have tried and can't come up with a single way that my life is affected by a lack of accident reporting.

:1rotfl::1rotfl:

[BrianL99]

[QUOTE=Full-timer;2230981

So many people have no clue about what happens here.

This "gated community" is a joke. Any Tom, Dick, or Jane can walk right in anytime they want.

What would it take (and cost) to make it a real gated community, and would it help ?

[/QUOTE]

Not possible. The roads/streets in The Villages are PUBLIC.

You're right, so many people have no clue.

[Bogie Shooter]

Not possible. The roads/streets in The Villages are PUBLIC.

You're right, so many people have no clue.

And he’s been on TOTV since June 2021…..how many times since then has it been posted “public roads “ .

[pokeefe45@aol.com]

I have had the good fortune to live in 10 different states during the course of my life, and I can honestly say I've never felt safer than here in TV. There's nothing in our deed restrictions that can 'force' you to read the 'Daily Sun' newspaper-and yes, it's happy talk, but hell, it's what I want at this stage of my life. If I want to get the 'alternative' view, I can use the APP for the '**************' which will tell me which whiskey crazed old geezer attempted to cheat his aunt's cousin's mother out of her make-up money and is being sought for questioning. We each wake up every day and make a decision about whether to look for gloom and doom or not. I choose 'not'.

[Michael G.]

You must be from Chicago with your people and folks lingo. Throw some lk's into the mix too.

So many gangs and such little time.
Remember when Hells Angels use to be the gangs to fear.

[Jayhawk]

It is a shame that The Villages" cover up" all the crime and accidents going on.
So many people have no clue about what happens here.


This "gated community" is a joke. Any Tom, Dick, or Jane can walk right in anytime they want.

What would it take (and cost) to make it a real gated community, and would it help ?

6 years in, not the wonderful place it is claimed to be.

If The Villages"cover-up" all the crime, how do you know about it? Or are you just "assuming" because you have an ax to grind?

[MX rider]

If The Villages"cover-up" all the crime, how do you know about it? Or are you just "assuming" because you have an ax to grind?

Exactly! Well said.

We actually like the DS. But we're half glass full people, and we like to focus on the positive things in life.
We can get the hard/bad news other places.
So if that's your thing, here's a good place to start for the OP. Villages news.com

[Bobendres]

It is a shame that The Villages" cover up" all the crime and accidents going on.
So many people have no clue about what happens here.


This "gated community" is a joke. Any Tom, Dick, or Jane can walk right in anytime they want.

What would it take (and cost) to make it a real gated community, and would it help ?

6 years in, not the wonderful place it is claimed to be.
What is your evidence ?

[djplong]

I'm at that stage where the question "Where are we retiring" looms larger with each day. My wife recently accompanied a friend on a week-long orientation visit to TV and was mostly favorably impressed. There ARE some "downs" that go along with all the "ups" and we're discussing those - but crime is NOT one of them. If you look at actual reported crime statistics (and not depend on whatever news outlet that may have whatever bias - they can go both ways) it's pretty clear that crime is HARDLY a problem.

I don't want to get political here, but I can certainly agree with people that I'd often disagree with when the actual FACTS are out there. Look them up and you see. Crime is hardly a problem. (Ok, I suppose that can be influence by where you come from)

[gettingby]

It is a shame that The Villages" cover up" all the crime and accidents going on.
So many people have no clue about what happens here.


This "gated community" is a joke. Any Tom, Dick, or Jane can walk right in anytime they want.

What would it take (and cost) to make it a real gated community, and would it help ?

6 years in, not the wonderful place it is claimed to be.


Just wondering, where would you move that is better crime wise?

[Rwirish]

Never promoted as a gated community. It is a community with gates to help control traffic.

[CCristella]

It is a shame that The Villages" cover up" all the crime and accidents going on.
So many people have no clue about what happens here.


This "gated community" is a joke. Any Tom, Dick, or Jane can walk right in anytime they want.

What would it take (and cost) to make it a real gated community, and would it help ?

6 years in, not the wonderful place it is claimed to be.

If you are not happy…MOVE!!!!

[banjobob]

11 years here now and still enjoy our selection, all the things reported on this gossip sheet are facts of life everywhere. Gated communities offer a sense of security, Opinion to those that gripe , move on.

[Michael 61]

I'm at that stage where the question "Where are we retiring" looms larger with each day. My wife recently accompanied a friend on a week-long orientation visit to TV and was mostly favorably impressed. There ARE some "downs" that go along with all the "ups" and we're discussing those - but crime is NOT one of them. If you look at actual reported crime statistics (and not depend on whatever news outlet that may have whatever bias - they can go both ways) it's pretty clear that crime is HARDLY a problem.

I don't want to get political here, but I can certainly agree with people that I'd often disagree with when the actual FACTS are out there. Look them up and you see. Crime is hardly a problem. (Ok, I suppose that can be influence by where you come from)

It sounds like you are doing some in-depth homework on where to retire to (good for you) - I did the same for 7 years prior to retiring and moving here to TV in December. Good luck on your research - hopefully you will come and do a lifestyle visit here if you haven’t already, and also visit other 55+ communities throughout the country to help you contrast/compare, so you are ready to make an informed and well-thought out decision of where to retire to when that day comes.

[defrey12]

It is a shame that The Villages" cover up" all the crime and accidents going on.
So many people have no clue about what happens here.


This "gated community" is a joke. Any Tom, Dick, or Jane can walk right in anytime they want.

What would it take (and cost) to make it a real gated community, and would it help ?

6 years in, not the wonderful place it is claimed to be.

If it’s so bad here, why haven’t you left? Just curious.

[GizmoWhiskers]

It's NOT a gated community, it's a community with gates. The gates are there to help the golf cart from being run over.
Photos of tags on vehicles are taken at the gates. Albeit not exactly a Fort Knox, at least it is something considering the roads are public access. You don't see that in very often. Plus as an added bonus, the year-round residents are fully aware of who is coming and going around their homes. Nothing like people who have nothing better to do watching people come and go. It is just as much a good thing as a nosey thing lol.

[rsmurano]

We just had a conversation with a cop last night that happens to live in TV. There are domestic violence calls, golf cart drunk driver calls, but all the bad calls were in wildwood, outside of the villages.
When was the last time we saw 30 people shot at in the villages? That’s a slow day in Chicago. How many homeless tents have you counted lately? We are bigger than San Francisco proper and they have thousands with all the issues that go along with it. How many of our square businesses have been ransacked by a bunch of looters?
TV might not be perfect, but it’s very close in my book

[Remembergoldenrule]

It is a shame that The Villages" cover up" all the crime and accidents going on.
So many people have no clue about what happens here.


This "gated community" is a joke. Any Tom, Dick, or Jane can walk right in anytime they want.

What would it take (and cost) to make it a real gated community, and would it help ?

6 years in, not the wonderful place it is claimed to be.

Well, if you bought six years ago, you should be able to sell home for 200,000 plus more than you paid for it. Sell and find a place with less crime and move there. Life is too short to be miserable. I hope you can find something to smile about today. Happiness is always from within. I truly hope you have a bless day!

[msilagy]

The villages would be responsible for all the roads if it is gated. Cameras record license plates of who goes in and out. If you are not inclined to live here then there are many smaller gated communities. Del Webb is one of them just down 441.

[Laker14]

I ordered a 65" TV online, from Walmart. They said it would be delivered on "Sunday" which is perfect because one of us would have been home throughout the day. However, it was delivered on "Saturday", a day we were both out together all day. When I rolled into my driveway there it was, on the front porch, the big box with the TV in it, and with a great big picture of the TV on the outside of the box. All Day. This huge invitation, waiting to be stolen.

We joked about it: "Well, I guess in TV there aren't enough thieves strong enough to lift it and put it in their golf cart to steal it."
I have lived in places where you couldn't leave a potted plant on your porch for an hour before it would disappear.

I think I'll be alright here, despite the high crime rate, and lack of reporting.

[Get real]

There are sources other than the Daily Sun which is nothing more than a propaganda rag for the Developer.

But if it is covered up, how does the media know?

[Laker14]

But if it is covered up, how does the media know?

monitoring the police reports. So "covering up" is an inaccurate description. "Choosing not to report" would be more accurate.

[Notsocrates]

[QUOTE=Full-timer;2230981]It is a shame that The Villages" cover up" all the crime and accidents going on.
So many people have no clue about what happens here.


This "gated community" is a joke. Any Tom, Dick, or Jane can walk right in anytime they want.

What would it take (and cost) to make it a real gated community, and would it help ?

6 years in, not the wonderful place it is claimed to be.[/QUOT


You can read about all the crime here:
https://www.**************.com/
Enjoy!

[Dantes]

It’s not a gated community

[dewilson58]

It’s not a gated community

The Villages is Identifying as a Gated Community.

:pepper2:

[wbilbrey99@gmail.com]

Yep nothing bad in our news paper.

[ThirdOfFive]

I have had the good fortune to live in 10 different states during the course of my life, and I can honestly say I've never felt safer than here in TV. There's nothing in our deed restrictions that can 'force' you to read the 'Daily Sun' newspaper-and yes, it's happy talk, but hell, it's what I want at this stage of my life. If I want to get the 'alternative' view, I can use the APP for the '**************' which will tell me which whiskey crazed old geezer attempted to cheat his aunt's cousin's mother out of her make-up money and is being sought for questioning. We each wake up every day and make a decision about whether to look for gloom and doom or not. I choose 'not'.
Excellent.

It is a guarantee that if you search for something long and hard enough, you WILL find it.

[ThirdOfFive]

I ordered a 65" TV online, from Walmart. They said it would be delivered on "Sunday" which is perfect because one of us would have been home throughout the day. However, it was delivered on "Saturday", a day we were both out together all day. When I rolled into my driveway there it was, on the front porch, the big box with the TV in it, and with a great big picture of the TV on the outside of the box. All Day. This huge invitation, waiting to be stolen.

We joked about it: "Well, I guess in TV there aren't enough thieves strong enough to lift it and put it in their golf cart to steal it."
I have lived in places where you couldn't leave a potted plant on your porch for an hour before it would disappear.

I think I'll be alright here, despite the high crime rate, and lack of reporting.
That is how things work here.

I've had people walk here to give us mail that was erroneously put in their box. Another guy drove here to deliver a package for us that Amazon had dropped off at his house in another village.

There are of course exceptions (as well as people who glory in pointing them out) but Villagers on the whole watch out for each other. It is, in my opinion, one of the greatest attractions of this place.

[coconutmama]

If you are not happy…MOVE!!!!

Free speech entitles them to their opinion & the right to speak it. They don’t have to move, for crying out loud. That phrase is way over done.

[ithos]

It is a shame that The Villages" cover up" all the crime and accidents going on.
So many people have no clue about what happens here.


This "gated community" is a joke. Any Tom, Dick, or Jane can walk right in anytime they want.

What would it take (and cost) to make it a real gated community, and would it help ?

6 years in, not the wonderful place it is claimed to be.

You make some good points. May I recommend a better retirement community where they have none of these issues?

It is called Shangri-La.

[Gunny2403]

Then leave

[Villagesgal]

Your county sherif has that info online. Crime rate is is extremely low.

[Topgun 1776]

It is a shame that The Villages" cover up" all the crime and accidents going on.
So many people have no clue about what happens here.


This "gated community" is a joke. Any Tom, Dick, or Jane can walk right in anytime they want.

What would it take (and cost) to make it a real gated community, and would it help ?

6 years in, not the wonderful place it is claimed to be.

Sell ! Someone that appreciates TV will be glad you sold it to them.

[Topgun 1776]

Free speech entitles them to their opinion & the right to speak it. They don’t have to move, for crying out loud. That phrase is way over done.

Free speech is not one way. If someone complains about TV or the way things are done.... "MOVE!" should resurface as many times as necessary.

[RICH1]

It is a shame that The Villages" cover up" all the crime and accidents going on.
So many people have no clue about what happens here.


This "gated community" is a joke. Any Tom, Dick, or Jane can walk right in anytime they want.

What would it take (and cost) to make it a real gated community, and would it help ?

6 years in, not the wonderful place it is claimed to be.
I am happy that I don’t live near this guy! Thanks for cheering me up OP…

[Dilligas]

It is a shame that The Villages" cover up" all the crime and accidents going on.
So many people have no clue about what happens here.


This "gated community" is a joke. Any Tom, Dick, or Jane can walk right in anytime they want.

What would it take (and cost) to make it a real gated community, and would it help ?

6 years in, not the wonderful place it is claimed to be.
Gates do not stop criminals (even manned gates)….instead they alert the criminal that there is something worth stealing behind the gates.

[rickaslin]

It is a shame that The Villages" cover up" all the crime and accidents going on.
So many people have no clue about what happens here.


This "gated community" is a joke. Any Tom, Dick, or Jane can walk right in anytime they want.

What would it take (and cost) to make it a real gated community, and would it help ?

6 years in, not the wonderful place it is claimed to be.


Bt all means don't letour gates hit you in the butt as you leave!!!

[HospitalCoder]

It is a shame that The Villages" cover up" all the crime and accidents going on.
So many people have no clue about what happens here.


This "gated community" is a joke. Any Tom, Dick, or Jane can walk right in anytime they want.

What would it take (and cost) to make it a real gated community, and would it help ?

6 years in, not the wonderful place it is claimed to be.


I do wish we were gated but it will never happen because the streets are public. Regardless, I don’t think there is a better place to live than here in TV. I feel fairly safe here but the street smart sense will never leave me. I keep everything locked up tight. Most victims make themselves targets by not following simple crime deterrents.

[Carla B]

I'm at that stage where the question "Where are we retiring" looms larger with each day. My wife recently accompanied a friend on a week-long orientation visit to TV and was mostly favorably impressed. There ARE some "downs" that go along with all the "ups" and we're discussing those - but crime is NOT one of them. If you look at actual reported crime statistics (and not depend on whatever news outlet that may have whatever bias - they can go both ways) it's pretty clear that crime is HARDLY a problem.

I don't want to get political here, but I can certainly agree with people that I'd often disagree with when the actual FACTS are out there. Look them up and you see. Crime is hardly a problem. (Ok, I suppose that can be influence by where you come from)

Nice to see you post again, djplong. I was an observer of the political forum many years ago, and remember that yours was a rare voice of reason in that melee. Hope you and your wife do consider moving here.

[billethkid]

The crime rate incidence for a population approaching 145,000 is negligible.......yet is presented and discussed as a general condition.

The other 99% of us enjoy the comfort of what we bought into.

______________________________________________

:censored:

[Gettingoutofdodge]

I moved to The Villages from Staten Island, NYC 18 months ago. For the first time in my life, I feel safe. I don’t have or need additional digital door locks, cameras and the fear of walking around after dark as I had in SI. I love it here. Being in the “Bubble” is safer than anywhere in NYC. Staten Island use to be safer than the other boroughs. Not so anymore. The criminals drive around at night, case the neighborhood, check your car to see if it was left unlocked and if it was, they took whatever they could. Crime is high and in Brooklyn it is much worse. It’s not uncommon to see a car on blocks because they stole your tires and rims. Is it perfect here, it is for me.

[lovebiking]

Move to a gated community (this never was one, guess you couldn't figure that out) and subscribe to publications where you can read about crime and accidents.

[Taltarzac725]

We have been here since 2005 and the various newspapers have reported maybe one murder involving a daughter of Villagers getting involved with drug dealers in Ocala. They invaded the Villagers home and killed the woman. And a few domestic violence cases that ended in murder/suicide.

There have been various employees stealing from their employers. Various golf cart thefts and a few burglaries. What was a chase after maybe a robbery of a country club restaurant. They got out helicopters. They being the media and maybe the police?

Caretakers stealing from their patients, etc. Maybe some criminal negligence in some nursing facilities, etc.

There was a standoff with a man with guns who had argued with his wife and created a barricade or something like that last year. SWAT came in.

Lots of golf cart gates having their pole knocked down. And some cars doing it for their gate poles.

A few meth labs being shut down.

Quite a lot of shoplifting I suppose.

A few bar fights and something recently that involved a shooting and a death but not sure what happened there.

Road rage instances in and near the Villages.

A number of car chases after people who fled from arrest. Seem to remember a number of these but they were often just outside the Villages.

A woman jumped off the golf cart bridge over 441/27 and was soon hit by traffic.

Melinda Duckett committed suicide after being harassed by the media over the disappearance of her son Trenton. The case is still open on what happened to Trenton.

Probably a typical week's worth of crime in NYC, Chicago, Miami, Orlando and DC has happened here in the Villages over the past eighteen years. We came in June of 2005.

[skippy05]

Call a realtor today to sell and then buy in a gated community. Ask about cobblestone in Belleview FL. No need for you to live unhappy.

[bsouthworth47@yahoo.com]

You knew what the gates situation was when you bought here so if it bothered you that much why did you move here? I lived in On Top Of The World in Ocala before moving here. They had 3 gates where everyone who was not a resident had to stop and say who they were seeing and the address. Guess what there was a murder in OTOW. No matter where you are you aren't 100% safe.

[graciegirl]

I so agree that this is a very safe place to live. Everyone I know who lives here with a very few exceptions have the easy to install surveillance camera's on their home for one thing, and I also do think that the constant driving around of The Villages Watch is a very good deterrent as well. All gates have cameras as well.

I also will mention as I have done so many times before, that a lot of these kinds of posts that "stir the pot" are full of half truths or no truth at all, and they are done by troublemakers who do not live here and may be envious of us Villagers.

[Heytubes]

Lol. I enjoy reading about the dumb criminals in TV. Usually a dui in a golf cart, children of elderly Villagers shoplifting or drugs, or a senile person arguing with a neighbor. If you want to have an early morning laugh just subscribe to the Villagenews.com.

[spinner1001]

It is a shame that The Villages" cover up" all the crime and accidents going on.
So many people have no clue about what happens here.


This "gated community" is a joke. Any Tom, Dick, or Jane can walk right in anytime they want.

What would it take (and cost) to make it a real gated community, and would it help ?

6 years in, not the wonderful place it is claimed to be.

OP complains about multiple things in TV — especially between 700am and 900am.

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/search.php?searchid=22698172

[Bogie Shooter]

I so agree that this is a very safe place to live. Everyone I know who lives here with a very few exceptions have the easy to install surveillance camera's on their home for one thing, and I also do think that the constant driving around of The Villages Watch is a very good deterrent as well. All gates have cameras as well.

I also will mention as I have done so many times before, that a lot of these kinds of posts that "stir the pot" are full of half truths or no truth at all, and they are done by troublemakers who do not live here and may be envious of us Villagers.
Hi Gracie.🙂

[Bill1701]

It is a shame that The Villages" cover up" all the crime and accidents going on.
So many people have no clue about what happens here.


This "gated community" is a joke. Any Tom, Dick, or Jane can walk right in anytime they want.

What would it take (and cost) to make it a real gated community, and would it help ?

6 years in, not the wonderful place it is claimed to be.

The Villages never claimed to be a gated community. The gates are for traffic control only. The roads are all public so you can't restrict who drives on them.

[retiredguy123]

The Villages never claimed to be a gated community. The gates are for traffic control only. The roads are all public so you can't restrict who drives on them.
This is an excerpt from "thevillages.com" website:

"The Villages offers many safety and security services including gated neighborhood entries ..."

It doesn't say anything about the gates being used for traffic control. Also, they still claim that The Villages has three movie theaters, which hasn't been true for years.

[ILLINOIS RAY]

Feel free to leave

[Worldseries27]

bye bye. Everyone knows that the gates are for traffic control.. Lol
not exactly. All plates are filmed as they enter and many intersections have cameras to locate the vehicles in question .
Bad guys know this too.

[LianneMigiano]

:bigbow::bigbow::bigbow:So if the Villages "cover up" all this crime, how do you know about it?
:bigbow::bigbow::bigbow:

[Laker14]

This is an excerpt from "thevillages.com" website:

"The Villages offers many safety and security services including gated neighborhood entries ..."

It doesn't say anything about the gates being used for traffic control. Also, they still claim that The Villages has three movie theaters, which hasn't been true for years.

I have to admit, that is misleading at best. It would certainly lead most people to believe the gates exist for security reasons.
I have a buddy who bought here almost 20 years ago and didn't know until I told him that the streets and roads inside TV are not privately owned. He didn't believe me when I told him.
The fact is the developers have, in more than one way, been misleading at times.

Some people find the separation between what they may have been encouraged to conclude, and the reality, to be off-putting enough to not be happy here. I think encouraging unhappy people to find happiness elsewhere is an appropriate suggestion.

[juddfl]

It is not a private gated community. When I moved here in 2001, I was told that the gates are here to slow traffic only. Anyone can enter these gates as the roads are not owned by The Villages. These are county roads and you can not be denied the right to drive on county roads.

[Fastskiguy]

Gated community or not I'm pretty sure TV is the most heavily armed area in the world. A criminal would have to be nuts to set up shop here.

Joe

[Taltarzac725]

I had a friend at a local dog park who lived or lives in one of the gated senior communities just north of the Villages.

She had been up in arms over a man driving in there after saying he was visiting so-and-so and getting in and then parking in one neighborhood and stealing anything he could get his hands on in houses which looked unoccupied in adjoining neighborhoods. He might have been scouting them out as well.

The community leaders were meeting on how to deal with this. Not sure what happened. It did sound like they tightened security.

This was a single woman with a small dog if my memory is correct. I used to walk around the dog park's 5 acre back field rather often with her.


She was often doing things to improve her community.

[Number 10 GI]

Unless there is a 10' high fence topped with concertina wire with guard towers, a guard manning the gate isn't going to stop someone from just walking in somewhere on the unfenced perimeter. Is that how you want to live?

[Eg_cruz]

It is a shame that The Villages" cover up" all the crime and accidents going on.
So many people have no clue about what happens here.


This "gated community" is a joke. Any Tom, Dick, or Jane can walk right in anytime they want.

What would it take (and cost) to make it a real gated community, and would it help ?

6 years in, not the wonderful place it is claimed to be.
Seems to be more white collar crime and construction crime than anything else

[cjrjck]

Glass is half full from my perspective.

[Michael 61]

OP hasn’t posted since his original post- I wonder if this was just “click bait” to elicit all the opposing views on this issue and stir the pot?

[dewilson58]

OP hasn’t posted since his original post- I wonder if this was just “click bait” to elicit all the opposing views on this issue and stir the pot?

U R Learning

:ho:

[Al2014]

Makes me wonder though...the bad guys might figure out that things are easy picking at The Villages because everyone is so trusting.
That reminds me of a sign on a business some years ago- "This property is guarded by vicious dogs 3 nights a week. You pick the night."

[charlie1]

If people want the truth about crime around where they live, look at Home | SpotCrime (https://spotcrime.com). Put in your zipcode and it will show you everything that has been reported to the police. Make sure you click on the individual incidences to see what they really are (lots are just petty stuff, like noise or dog complaints) and the date of the incidence as it spans quite a large timeframe. You can also move the map around (and zoom) and do a re-search to maybe pinpoint more your area. This will give you actual information to base your judgement on safety. To me, it looks like a pretty safe community!

[manaboutown]

If one believes there is too much crime in TV there is always Baltimore. Baltimore mass shooting: 2 dead, 28 injured at block party (https://www.wbaltv.com/article/mass-shooting-gretna-court-south-baltimore/44407826#)

[Pickbent]

So if the Villages "cover up" all this crime, how do you know about it?

Maybe by simply watching TV news, even national! Or at least Orlando and Ocala newspapers. Suppression of news happens in our leftist MSM, doesn’t need to happen here in this more transparent, conservative, libertaria freer environment. to infer that crime critics should move is simply ignorant and wrong!

[Two Bills]

Suppression of news happens in our leftist MSN

I think that should read," Cherry picking of news to sustain all agenda's, in all MSN.

[FREDDYD83]

I have lived in the village for 35 years and for 15 of those year I never locked the door when we were only staying locally . i have lost one telephone hand piece from my car and two old saw horses just last month . This is sure high crime so if you are scared you should move to a more secure place . Fred

[GizmoWhiskers]

OP hasn’t posted since his original post- I wonder if this was just “click bait” to elicit all the opposing views on this issue and stir the pot?
Yeah, the occassional algorithm ad generating topic for ToTV income.

To contribute, added bonus of T V Community Watch... daily well check calls if wanted. 3 calls and if you don't answer at the third call a well check is done. Not a bad community outreach program that many are not aware of. The gates are just fine too!

[golfing eagles]

If one believes there is too much crime in TV there is always Baltimore. Baltimore mass shooting: 2 dead, 28 injured at block party (https://www.wbaltv.com/article/mass-shooting-gretna-court-south-baltimore/44407826#)

Slightly higher body count than the typical driveway party in TV.

[ThirdOfFive]

That reminds me of a sign on a business some years ago- "This property is guarded by vicious dogs 3 nights a week. You pick the night."
Heh. I think I saw that on a t-shirt awhile back.

My brother has a good one on his door: "To Hell With The Dog. Beware of Owner".

[Rodneysblue]

It is a shame that The Villages" cover up" all the crime and accidents going on.
So many people have no clue about what happens here.


This "gated community" is a joke. Any Tom, Dick, or Jane can walk right in anytime they want.

What would it take (and cost) to make it a real gated community, and would it help ?

6 years in, not the wonderful place it is claimed to be.

You know where the “gate” is. Don’t let it hit you on the way out. Bless your heart.

[Get real]

Good grief, eight pages about no crime and yet people still complain.. :a20:

[Vermilion Villager]

Makes me wonder though...the bad guys might figure out that things are easy picking at The Villages because everyone is so trusting.
You're making the assumption someone actually wants your stuff:shrug:

[Taltarzac725]

You're making the assumption someone actually wants your stuff:shrug:

Guns, jewelry, money, etc., are easy to exchange.

The problem there though is that a lot of Villagers are armed to the teeth. And a good number are retired military and/or LEOs.

[Whitley]

It is a shame that The Villages" cover up" all the crime and accidents going on.
So many people have no clue about what happens here.


This "gated community" is a joke. Any Tom, Dick, or Jane can walk right in anytime they want.

What would it take (and cost) to make it a real gated community, and would it help ?

6 years in, not the wonderful place it is claimed to be.

I think it is a pretty great place. I lived in the first private gated community in the US (from 1888). I do not see how it could possibly work in TV. Too many people. If you can think of a better place than TV please let us know. I would check it out.

[Whitley]

I moved to The Villages from Staten Island, NYC 18 months ago. For the first time in my life, I feel safe. I don’t have or need additional digital door locks, cameras and the fear of walking around after dark as I had in SI. I love it here. Being in the “Bubble” is safer than anywhere in NYC. Staten Island use to be safer than the other boroughs. Not so anymore. The criminals drive around at night, case the neighborhood, check your car to see if it was left unlocked and if it was, they took whatever they could. Crime is high and in Brooklyn it is much worse. It’s not uncommon to see a car on blocks because they stole your tires and rims. Is it perfect here, it is for me.

Staten Island was like Fordham, Arthur Avenue. If someone broke the law they would pray the cops got to them before they were found by others.

[golfing eagles]

Staten Island was like Fordham, Arthur Avenue. If someone broke the law they would pray the cops got to them before they were found by others.

True dat
The 124th precinct which included Todt Hill was among the safest in the US, and not because of NYPD

[Whitley]

first off this is NOT a gated community in any way. to have golf carts you have to have gates. second you are correct with all the 'conditioning' I find it hilarious that the alleged GOP capital of the world is run exactly like China

The good news is tom dick or jane isn't walking in anytime they want. well not in our neighborhood. So take that as a good thing.... but I get where you're going with this.

Never been to China have you. So silly.

[PugMom]

the replies in this thread are more worthy than the question/comment posted. it smells like bait to me

[golfing eagles]

Never been to China have you. So silly.

I’ve been to China and to call that person’s post merely silly is insulting to all the other silly posts on TOTV

[Whitley]

It sounds like you are doing some in-depth homework on where to retire to (good for you) - I did the same for 7 years prior to retiring and moving here to TV in December. Good luck on your research - hopefully you will come and do a lifestyle visit here if you haven’t already, and also visit other 55+ communities throughout the country to help you contrast/compare, so you are ready to make an informed and well-thought out decision of where to retire to when that day comes.

61 can either be the year you were born, OR your age if you were born after July 3.

[Taltarzac725]

True dat
The 124th precinct which included Todt Hill was among the safest in the US, and not because of NYPD

They can afford private security in their homes if needed.

[golfing eagles]

They can afford private security in their homes if needed.

Sorry Tal, that wasn't the reason. :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl: Let's just say they had "family" security.

[Taltarzac725]

Sorry Tal, that wasn't the reason. :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl: Let's just say they had "family" security.

Well I guess that made them an offer they could not refuse.

[golfing eagles]

Well I guess that made them an offer they could not refuse.

exactly!

[rsmurano]

Have you never witnessed a bad accident in TV. I’ve seen several that have never been reported in the Daily Fish Wrapper.

Big deal, traffic accident. Some old f@rt probably tried to turn left in front of oncoming traffic.
I’m more interested in hearing about riots/shootings/gang activity that might affect our well being. You won’t hear about these crimes in TV, not because the paper doesn’t report them, it’s because they don’t happen here

[patfla06]

It is a shame that The Villages" cover up" all the crime and accidents going on.
So many people have no clue about what happens here.


This "gated community" is a joke. Any Tom, Dick, or Jane can walk right in anytime they want.

What would it take (and cost) to make it a real gated community, and would it help ?

6 years in, not the wonderful place it is claimed to be.

Did you know The Villages is the safest place in Florida?

I lived in a truly gated and guarded neighborhood in Tampa for many years. It was in a large subdivision which had a few gated neighborhoods but ours was the only guarded one.

It cost each family close to $4,000/yr. We had to pay to repave the roads since they were truly private.

The Villages is the SAFEST place I have ever lived.

It is good to not live too close to a major city.

[patfla06]

Makes me wonder though...the bad guys might figure out that things are easy picking at The Villages because everyone is so trusting.

I would NOT say we are all so trusting.

Many of us came from the north and will never be so trusting.

I grew up in NY & worked in NYC. Believe me when I say I always know my purse is safe.

If you want to keep up with what really happens here read the online “paper.”

[Taltarzac725]

Big deal, traffic accident. Some old f@rt probably tried to turn left in front of oncoming traffic.
I’m more interested in hearing about riots/shootings/gang activity that might affect our well being. You won’t hear about these crimes in TV, not because the paper doesn’t report them, it’s because they don’t happen here

There was a gang stealing golf carts at one time. Not sure when this was though.

Multiple arrests made in ‘golf cart theft ring’ operating near The Villages – Orlando Sentinel (https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2017/05/17/multiple-arrests-made-in-golf-cart-theft-ring-operating-near-the-villages/)

[Bogie Shooter]

there was a gang stealing golf carts at one time. Not sure when this was though.

multiple arrests made in ‘golf cart theft ring’ operating near the villages – orlando sentinel (https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2017/05/17/multiple-arrests-made-in-golf-cart-theft-ring-operating-near-the-villages/)

2017, ?

[Muzik]

So if the Villages "cover up" all this crime, how do you know about it?

I think the writer is referring to the fact that the Daily Sun does not mention negative happenings in The Villages. We get that information from other sources.

[golfing eagles]

I think the writer is referring to the fact that the Daily Sun does not mention negative happenings in The Villages. We get that information from other sources.

Yeah, right, that must have been his intent.....:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[Taltarzac725]

2017, ?

I think there were other instances of this.

[jaj523]

You have been misled. The Villages was never meant to be a "gated" community.

The gates are there as traffic control devices. They slow people down. And the cameras at the gates take a picture of every car and person who enters. The streets are PUBLIC streets that can be accessed by anybody. That's what the red buttons are for.

The gatekeepers (where they exist) are there to give directions, greet people, and keep an eye on what is going on (among other things).