Not sure what to think ?

[water boy]

Took the dog out last night around 9:30 saw a older full size Chevrolet pick up stopped in front of the house. There was someone in drivers seat, heard him say something to someone about me walking out when I look up another person ( man ) was going thru the people across the street garbage bag when he saw me he jumped on the hood of the truck and they drove off with him on the hood of the truck. Thinking this not normal I watched as they drove to the end of the street and turned right. I went in the house got my car keys and my wife and I took a ride to see if they had left the sub or not. I drove to next street and there they were doing the same thing going thru peoples garbage bags. not having my phone with me we drove to the next village over where there are gate houses, I told the person working there what I had saw he said he would call it in to the watch people. driving back home stop by the pool area to see if these guys were going to leave or what, watch patrol turned down street talk to them and left. the guys pulled out of street they were on went to next street and started doing same thing. My Wife told me forget about it just go home on way back to house another watch patrol truck was going the other way I flag him down ask about these guys he told me his boss had taken care of it and kicked them out I told him they went to the next street and were doing it again it acted shocked and said he would radio his boss. I never listen to my wife ( lol ) so I drove around till the boss came again these guys were opening up and going thru peoples garbage bags in front of him he did nothing but talk to them and drive away leaving them there to keep doing it. Now I just went home. I thought it was against the law to open up peoples garbage and go thru it don't the police have to get a search warrant to do it ? We live in Tall Trees and this just seemed odd to me what do you think they could have been looking for personal info on people.

[dp000]

Why didn't you call the police? They certainly had enough time to get there and catch them.

[golf2140]

Did anyone ever hear of identity theft. Call the police !!!!

[water boy]

Why didn't you call the police? They certainly had enough time to get there and catch them.

Again I did not have my phone with me and when I went to the gate house and talk to the guy I ask him should we call the police he said no that he would radio it to the watch guys.

[water boy]

Did anyone ever hear of identity theft. Call the police !!!!

This is what I was thinking they were looking for why did our watch program talk to then not once but twice in a 10 min. period and leave both times leaving them there to do what they were doing makes me feel save I know what not to do next time.

[Bogie Shooter]

Street shopping is not illegal.

[Cedwards38]

This is another good reason to own a schredder and schred your documents that have personal information on them. Schred them, and mix them up in the garbage.

[graciegirl]

I know of folks coming by and picking up usable items discarded in the trash but have not witnessed or heard about people opening trash bags and going through them. I would have called the police. That is a bit disquieting. We shred. Everyone should.

[Karron]

:agree::agree::agree::agree::agree:This is scary...
If I see something on Thursday night accidently, (yes, someone was throwing away a bookcase I could use in the garage..), I always go to the door to ask if it is ok to take it!
(I also asked a neighbor for a newer looking printer stand)..
But driving up and down streets is disturbing!
Thanks for posting this information!
Karron

[Wkcarter]

It's not a violation of law to go through one trash once it's been placed on the curb to be picked up. It's public property once that it's been placed on the curb and no search warrent is needed. This is why you should shred anything with your name on it. They were probably trying to steal someone's identity

[TheVillageChicken]

Because of my burning need to see the best in people, I am going to presume they were undercover anthropologists engaged in a demographics study designed to ultimately benefit seniors. However, it is possible they were fishing for prescription bottles with a view to stealing some good stuff later on.

[BettyCrocked]

Definitely not illegal. I've had to do it quite often on the job. One can learn a lot about a person by sifting thru their trash!

[TV Tom]

Classic identity theft. I'm sure you get blank checks from your credit card companies which you can use to transfer a balance to them. Thieves love to get their hands on these, write a check to themselves or others and forge your name to the check. It's quick and easy money for them. You can eventually recover the money as a result of the forgery, but the pain and suffering you go through to do it will cause you buy a shredder and never throw mail in the trash again.

[jblum315]

Sometimes I long for the old days when we could burn our trash.

[Serenoa]

Don't know why so many are apt to immediately think the worst; ie. identity theft, prescription bottles, etc.

I don't blame the OP for investigating, but they were most likely collecting aluminum cans.

[red tail]

too many people watching too much tv.

[Skybo]

Don't know why so many are apt to immediately think the worst; ie. identity theft, prescription bottles, etc.

I don't blame the OP for investigating, but they were most likely collecting aluminum cans.

This is a community which puts out recyclables in clear plastic bags on specific days. If the bags they were picking through were the recyclable items, you may be right, but if it were regular trash bags, then I think it's unlikely someone would pick through rotting garbage looking for aluminum cans. I think identity theft is much more plausible. I know that it's legal for people to pick through my trash bags at the curb, but I still don't like it. The last thing I put into my trash bags before they go out to the curb is a weeks worth of dog poop. Happy snooping.

[texasfal]

This is a community which puts out recyclables in clear plastic bags on specific days. If the bags they were picking through were the recyclable items, you may be right, but if it were regular trash bags, then I think it's unlikely someone would pick through rotting garbage looking for aluminum cans. I think identity theft is much more plausible. I know that it's legal for people to pick through my trash bags at the curb, but I still don't like it. The last thing I put into my trash bags before they go out to the curb is a weeks worth of dog poop. Happy snooping.

This is why I put my dog's poop bags on top of the garbage before I put it at the curb. Let them dig thru poop if they want.
.

[Rango]

It's not a violation of law to go through one trash once it's been placed on the curb to be picked up. It's public property once that it's been placed on the curb and no search warrent is needed. This is why you should shred anything with your name on it. They were probably trying to steal someone's identity


If the trash is on your property they are trespassing. If it's in the street, it's fair game.

[billethkid]

OK.......I'll bite.......
Were they pawing through the bag? Dumping on the ground? Leaving a mess?

Some how to a question asker like me .....there has to be more to the story.......especially if they were doing it in front of the watch patrol.

My reaction is to call the police.......they were on your property searching your trash........Nuffield said for me.

Btk

[water boy]

OK.......I'll bite.......
Were they pawing through the bag? Dumping on the ground? Leaving a mess?

Some how to a question asker like me .....there has to be more to the story.......especially if they were doing it in front of the watch patrol.

My reaction is to call the police.......they were on your property searching your trash........Nuffield said for me.

Btk

they were not on my property they were at the house across the street and yes they were going thru there garbage bag they did not dump it out or make a mess just going thru it for what who knows. when they drove off one of them was riding on the hood of the truck all of this is not normal and I cant understand why the boss from our watch program did nothing not even telling them to leave and make sure they did or call the police. the 2nd time the boss pulled up on them I watched them go thru peoples garbage bags in front of him and after talking to them again he drove off leaving them doing what they were doing. don't really care what you think made this post to let people know what I saw and what our watch patrol did about it. also these were not clear garbage bags they were black ones.

[kagney123]

they were not on my property they were at the house across the street and yes they were going thru there garbage bag they did not dump it out or make a mess just going thru it for what who knows. when they drove off one of them was riding on the hood of the truck all of this is not normal and I cant understand why the boss from our watch program did nothing not even telling them to leave and make sure they did or call the police. the 2nd time the boss pulled up on them I watched them go thru peoples garbage bags in front of him and after talking to them again he drove off leaving them doing what they were doing. don't really care what you think made this post to let people know what I saw and what our watch patrol did about it. also these were not clear garbage bags they were black ones.

Thank you for this information, I have a question... Who do the "watch program people report to?" Does this boss have to write the results of any call he receives? Is there a place to see how many watch calls were made and the results per week or per month? I am still wondering what the conversation was about between them that then allowed the men to continue looking through the black trash bags? OK I gotta get back to packing and painting.. hopefully I will be in the Villages by end of year.

[gomoho]

Water boy - thank you for sharing this information so the rest of us can be more cautious about what we put out in the garbage. Sorry some folks chose to criticize
rather than thank you for your efforts. Wish the community watch had responded in a more profession way - like calling the police to handle the situation.

[ilovetv]

Especially shred those annoying credit card applications from major banks that want you to get one with a $50,000 limit so you can take out cash withdrawals at 26% interest!! And separate bunches of the shredded materials into various bags!

Another good identity protection measure is to freeze your SSN with the 3 main credit bureaus. http://consumersunion.org/pdf/security/securityFL.pdf

[bdabob]

I'm guessing that because they were in a truck they were not Village residents and therefore should not have been driving in our gated communities; trespassing.
It also appears they high-tailed it as soon as they were spotted by the author of this thread; very suspicious.
I would hope the Village Watch people would take a very serious view of this type of activity and involve the police.

[beachx4me]

Thank you for sharing this information. Riding along on the hood of the auto, in my opinion, is not normal at all. BUSTED.

[graciegirl]

I'm guessing that because they were in a truck they were not Village residents and therefore should not have been driving in our gated communities; trespassing.
It also appears they high-tailed it as soon as they were spotted by the author of this thread; very suspicious.
I would hope the Village Watch people would take a very serious view of this type of activity and involve the police.


They weren't trespassing, our roads are public roads.

[justjim]

OP thanks for your post. This was very good information. I am guilty of sometimes putting information I got in the mail without shredding it. I must be more careful.

Just a thought. I see residents putting unwanted mail into the trash cans near the mail boxes and the adult pools all the time. Maybe these guys aren't "bright" enough to look there. Nah! They aren't on TOTV.

[buggyone]

They weren't trespassing, our roads are public roads.

Exactly right - all our roadways are public.

I wonder if anyone on this forum has contacted Community Watch to ask them what transpired in the interaction between Community Watch and the garbage pickers. That might be enlightening.

[BettyCrocked]

They aren't villagers because they were in a truck? Wow. Nice reach. Didn't know villagers weren't allowed to drive pickup trucks.
Call community watch, call police, call the FBI... As has been stated numerous times on this post only board, it is not illegal. Smart people don't put their sensitive info in the trash if they've watched any news in the last 10 years.
If you live here and don't know that this isn't a gated community, I just don't know what to say.

[jbdlfan]

Took the dog out last night around 9:30 saw a older full size Chevrolet pick up stopped in front of the house. There was someone in drivers seat, heard him say something to someone about me walking out when I look up another person ( man ) was going thru the people across the street garbage bag when he saw me he jumped on the hood of the truck and they drove off with him on the hood of the truck. Thinking this not normal I watched as they drove to the end of the street and turned right. I went in the house got my car keys and my wife and I took a ride to see if they had left the sub or not. I drove to next street and there they were doing the same thing going thru peoples garbage bags. not having my phone with me we drove to the next village over where there are gate houses, I told the person working there what I had saw he said he would call it in to the watch people. driving back home stop by the pool area to see if these guys were going to leave or what, watch patrol turned down street talk to them and left. the guys pulled out of street they were on went to next street and started doing same thing. My Wife told me forget about it just go home on way back to house another watch patrol truck was going the other way I flag him down ask about these guys he told me his boss had taken care of it and kicked them out I told him they went to the next street and were doing it again it acted shocked and said he would radio his boss. I never listen to my wife ( lol ) so I drove around till the boss came again these guys were opening up and going thru peoples garbage bags in front of him he did nothing but talk to them and drive away leaving them there to keep doing it. Now I just went home. I thought it was against the law to open up peoples garbage and go thru it don't the police have to get a search warrant to do it ? We live in Tall Trees and this just seemed odd to me what do you think they could have been looking for personal info on people.

Am I the only one concerned that the community watch people didn't even give them pause to quit what they were doing???????? Criminals apparently know that they are toothless and have no concern about them. OP mentioned they didn't have a phone, but I am curious what would have transpired if the police would have responded?

[Bill32]

Am I the only one concerned that the community watch people didn't even give them pause to quit what they were doing???????? Criminals apparently know that they are toothless and have no concern about them. OP mentioned they didn't have a phone, but I am curious what would have transpired if the police would have responded?

:agree::agree::agree:

[water boy]

They aren't villagers because they were in a truck? Wow. Nice reach. Didn't know villagers weren't allowed to drive pickup trucks.
Call community watch, call police, call the FBI... As has been stated numerous times on this post only board, it is not illegal. Smart people don't put their sensitive info in the trash if they've watched any news in the last 10 years.
If you live here and don't know that this isn't a gated community, I just don't know what to say.

we are all so blessed to live in our great villages but with all the beauty, great people and fun it is easy to let your guard down and make a mistake like not shredding mail, lock our car doors when left outside in our driveway, closing our garage door ect. gated community or not in this sad world we live in crime is very common. what happen here to me was not garbage pickers picking up a item you put out at the curb they were looking inside garbage bags for what who knows whats even more puzzling is the way our watch group handled it gated community or not I called sumpter county sheriff today and was told that if they would have been called they would have made these guys leave after checking them out for warrants ect. if our watch program allows this to happen in our drive ways while were in the back of our houses watching tv or in bed whats next letting them look in our car windows see whats in there don't think this is illegal either but I sure don't want it to happen. wish I knew someone with the watch program would like to hear what they have to say about how this was handled.

[BettyCrocked]

Am I the only one concerned that the community watch people didn't even give them pause to quit what they were doing???????? Criminals apparently know that they are toothless and have no concern about them. OP mentioned they didn't have a phone, but I am curious what would have transpired if the police would have responded?

I don't know if they were toothless, but if one were to read the entire thread before replying, they'd know that what transpired was not against any law.
TOTVISPOB.

[Bogie Shooter]

we are all so blessed to live in our great villages but with all the beauty, great people and fun it is easy to let your guard down and make a mistake like not shredding mail, lock our car doors when left outside in our driveway, closing our garage door ect. gated community or not in this sad world we live in crime is very common. what happen here to me was not garbage pickers picking up a item you put out at the curb they were looking inside garbage bags for what who knows whats even more puzzling is the way our watch group handled it gated community or not I called sumpter county sheriff today and was told that if they would have been called they would have made these guys leave after checking them out for warrants ect. if our watch program allows this to happen in our drive ways while were in the back of our houses watching tv or in bed whats next letting them look in our car windows see whats in there don't think this is illegal either but I sure don't want it to happen. wish I knew someone with the watch program would like to hear what they have to say about how this was handled.

You can give them a call...................
Community Watch
3325 Wedgewood Lane
The Villages, FL 32162

Phone: 352-753-0550
Fax: 352-753-9400

[CassieInVa]

Okay, I get that going through someone elses trash on the curb is NOT illegal. But.... if it is ignored and becomes more prevalent, it sure wont reflect well on the community as far as safety, etc. I thank the original poster for the information as we are coming to look at homes in December and I know that if I lived there I wouldnt t want to go out at 9:30 pm and see strangers rummaging in everyones trash. That would creep me out!

[Easyrider]

Am I the only one concerned that the community watch people didn't even give them pause to quit what they were doing???????? Criminals apparently know that they are toothless and have no concern about them. OP mentioned they didn't have a phone, but I am curious what would have transpired if the police would have responded?

Concerned yes, but we have to realize they can do basically nothing, You can bet if there was someone nosing around a recreation center or a pool their response would have been a lot different with at least a call to Sumter Sheriff to investigate. Their main purpose appears to be to keep watch over the amenities which don't belong to the residents. The drive through the neighborhoods appears just to be for show.

[Easyrider]

Okay, I get that going through someone elses trash on the curb is NOT illegal. But.... if it is ignored and becomes more prevalent, it sure wont reflect well on the community as far as safety, etc. I thank the original poster for the information as we are coming to look at homes in December and I know that if I lived there I wouldnt t want to go out at 9:30 pm and see strangers rummaging in everyones trash. That would creep me out!

Actually if the trash is sitting on your private property (driveway) they are trespassing. Even police would need a warrant to look through it while the trash is on your property. If the trash is on the street or in a dumpster then it considered thrown out and no longer the property of the one that disposed of it.

[buzzy]

I leave it at the end of the driveway. I suppose there is an easement there that makes it technically off my property. But, who puts the bags out on the roadway?

[Barefoot]

Water boy - thank you for sharing this information so the rest of us can be more cautious about what we put out in the garbage.

Water Boy, thanks for your story. I'm buying a shredder! Regardless of what the men were looking for, it's a great reminder that we all need to be very careful with any confidential information.

[Parker]

Legal, schmegal. This whole thing creeps me out. Community watch talks to them while they rummage through the trash, then drives away? Something is wrong with this picture. The police definitely should have been called. Rummaging nighttime strangers are a risk. Period.

[Marlo]

We bought in TV because it was a gated community. That in itself should provide more security than living in a subdivision somewhere else in FL or anywhere USA. The manned gates, the security passes, the fact that ONLY people who live here or visit you are allowed pass through the gates, cameras take pictures of cars that go through?? That's what we were told at least.

We could have bought a beautiful home in Beverly Hills that would sell for over $ 1M here in TV but chose TV because of feeling secure. I realize not all villages have manned gates at all exits, however, we always thought that the gates would be a deterrent at least to stop outsiders from coming in and causing trouble, after all only Villagers (that's what the pass cards are for) should be able to pass through the gates OR their visitors, at least that's the idea that they impress on you when you're buying a home here.

While we do feel safer here even with the limited security, we're also paying for the "lifestyle" which was portrayed to us as safe and secure. We were even told when we first started coming here -4 years ago- that you could leave packages right on your golf cart and not have to worry about anyone taking it. NOW we learn they take whole golf sets out of the back of the carts.................

I personally appreciate it when people come on here and post what they see and tell the truth about it not being quite as secure as it's portrayed. I think that this makes us all more alert and aware of what's going on instead of living in that "glass bubble" people accuse us of living in here in TV. People who have had things happen to them and try to warn us all about them should not be spanked for it they should be thanked.

We always have to be careful about our personal private information no matter where you live, however, security allowing people to come into TV and go through garbage should not be allowed.

[Steve & Deanna]

We also shred EVERYTHING because of (what my wife calls) my paranoia but seriously speaking, we can never stop identity theft but it is wise to, at least, slow them down. We own a cross shredder and even things like prescriptions, we remove the labels and cut them up (instead of gumming up a shredder) and put them in separate baskets. Maybe a bit overboard but we've been doing it for years. Perhaps a plate number and a report to the police would have been good idea too. That did sound strange.

[graciegirl]

We bought in TV because it was a gated community. That in itself should provide more security than living in a subdivision somewhere else in FL or anywhere USA. The manned gates, the security passes, the fact that ONLY people who live here or visit you are allowed pass through the gates, cameras take pictures of cars that go through?? That's what we were told at least.

We could have bought a beautiful home in Beverly Hills that would sell for over $ 1M here in TV but chose TV because of feeling secure. I realize not all villages have manned gates at all exits, however, we always thought that the gates would be a deterrent at least to stop outsiders from coming in and causing trouble, after all only Villagers (that's what the pass cards are for) should be able to pass through the gates OR their visitors, at least that's the idea that they impress on you when you're buying a home here.

While we do feel safer here even with the limited security, we're also paying for the "lifestyle" which was portrayed to us as safe and secure. We were even told when we first started coming here -4 years ago- that you could leave packages right on your golf cart and not have to worry about anyone taking it. NOW we learn they take whole golf sets out of the back of the carts.................

I personally appreciate it when people come on here and post what they see and tell the truth about it not being quite as secure as it's portrayed. I think that this makes us all more alert and aware of what's going on instead of living in that "glass bubble" people accuse us of living in here in TV. People who have had things happen to them and try to warn us all about them should not be spanked for it they should be thanked.

We always have to be careful about our personal private information no matter where you live, however, security allowing people to come into TV and go through garbage should not be allowed.

Marlo.

Our streets and homes are VERY safe. Safer by far than most places in the world. Our community is a community with gates, but not gated in the traditional sense or not gated like Stonecrest is gated. Anyone can push the button or speak into the mike at any gate and gain access. I think that these people were very BOLD (or another word that begins with B) and may be related to the ones who supposedly ran into a garage in Tall Trees and took someone's golf clubs.

I do know this. Newbies are more afraid than those of us who have lived here for a while...generally. Because you learn over time that it is very safe, but NO one should be stupid. My golf clubs which I love almost as much as I love Sweetie are locked on my cart with a cover. I don't have jewels so that isn't a problem.

I also know that The Village Watch is NOT the police and probably have guidelines. As Betty Crocked, the cop pointed out, it isn't illegal to go through someone's trash. We have all read this thread and it was an excellent opportunity to keep in mind that what goes in with the used Contadina cans may not be so icky that some varmint won't garbage dive to get it. So SHRED already.

The streets are public property and what has happened here that the OP so kindly pointed out should be read, absorbed and acted on. There is no need to get all wild and scared. It is all good. It is danged safe. We have a lot of nice people who are there to protect us. We don't work. We are very aware. We are all watching.

It is another beautiful day in The Villages.

I do NOT work for the developer.

What happened to you know who? zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzbreath.

[lhasalady]

Thank you for your reassurance that TV is a safe place. I'm moving there in Dec. and will be living on my own for the first time in my life. Your knowledge about life in TV is much appreciated! Hope I get to meet you when I get settled there.

[Marlo]

Thanks for the reply and reassurance Gracie. I had always felt so safe there and it seems I'm reading more and more about problems. I love it in TV and I know that no place is free of problems but I'll take the problems in TV over what we'd be facing outside of TV. My husband's brother has lived there for over 4 years and LOVES it. I love the atmosphere, the golf carts and just being able to enjoy life. Thanks for the reply............

[JoelJohnson]

The gates are only there to keep someone from coming into TV and hitting a golf cart. Anyone can push the vuttonb

[gomoho]

As another poster stated when I take out a garbage bag I make sure the dog poop is on the top - if you were unlucky enough to open the bag the odor would make you keel over right on the spot.

[gustavo]

If the trash is on your property they are trespassing. If it's in the street, it's fair game.

The first ten to fifteen feet from the curb is not "your" property. Look at your survey.

[kagney123]

Legal, schmegal. This whole thing creeps me out. Community watch talks to them while they rummage through the trash, then drives away? Something is wrong with this picture. The police definitely should have been called. Rummaging nighttime strangers are a risk. Period.

I agree and had asked a few questions regarding the results the Community Watch Boss reported and to who? and if anyone called since their number has been provided a few pages back.
I would be happy to but I am not a villager as of yet. By the grace of God...soon

[graciegirl]

I agree and had asked a few questions regarding the results the Community Watch Boss reported and to who? and if anyone called since their number has been provided a few pages back.
I would be happy to but I am not a villager as of yet. By the grace of God...soon

A clear journalistic approach is sometimes lacking on this forum. AND sometimes we do not jump to conclusions, we leap.

I just posted something to Senior Citizen that I am not really sure of, that about half or more of people here pay cash for their homes. We are always sure we heard it right, us sage folks.

I absolutely believe that the OP saw it and reported it correctly. But what the Villages Watch did or didn't do and for what reasons is not clear to me.