[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

Originally Posted by Randall55

I witnessed this a few times at the squares. Younger men following women around, watching, lurking, and waiting for an opportune moment. I have told several ladies to be careful and pointed to the individual. Sometimes, they run away, proving they were planning something. Be careful and keep your eyes and ears open.

I read this response to a woman friend over the phone she felt the same way that she would actually find it creepy that someone was actually paying enough attention to her that he had to come up and tell her this, google says there are 145 ,000 people here now we are not having a major crime wave

[Bealman]

Not sure the Nanny State prevents crime. People need to make their safety their responsibility. There is no simple solution to crime. Bill Clinton had the three strikes law. Only years later he regrets it because of the overcrowding of jails. Ask those that come from a Nanny State if they feel safer because of so many surveillance cameras. They don't prevent crime, they just sometimes help with the aftermath. Don't blame the money spent on community watch. I think they do well with their intended purposes. Every corner of every block could have an armed police person, but I am pretty sure crimes would still happen. Remember Smokey the Bear, "Only YOU can prevent fires.". Same is true with crime prevention. Don't rely on others for one's protection.

[Bealman]

Originally Posted by GATORBILL66

This is just one reason to keep a loaded gun in everyone's home!

If you are trying to be funny or serious, please stop. It is a ludicrous statement with no point but to stir emotions on certain issues. If that was your intention, hopefully no one but me replies.

[Bruce3055]

Originally Posted by rsmurano

Every state should implement the 3 strikes and your out law, no ifs or butts about it. How can someone call a tattoo gang member that has committed many crimes mentally ill? This is why we have these criminals back on the streets because we have softies on the jury’s that can’t see right from wrong, they think the criminal can right himself. Bring back Alcatraz for all 3 strikes and your out criminals.

I think 3 strikes refers to life without parole for the 3rd conviction. There are some very sad cases where that resulted in excessive prison terms and great cost to the state.

Isn't it possible for the judge / jury to impose appropriate sentences that may include life on a case by case basis without a 3 strike rule?

[cjrjck]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

This shows exactly that The Villages is a SOFT TARGET. That is why more POLICE are needed and more cameras are needed around all The Villages' areas. Older people are SOFT TARGETS. And I see relatively few POLICE patrols. The Community Service patrols do NOT seem effective. They may be a waste of money that could be spent on sophisticated surveillance equipment.

Maybe for your neighborhood but keep that nanny state stuff away from me. I find The Villages to be relatively crime free with just the right balance of security and freedom.

[Randall55]

Originally Posted by charlieo1126@gmail.com

I read this response to a woman friend over the phone she felt the same way that she would actually find it creepy that someone was actually paying enough attention to her that he had to come up and tell her this, google says there are 145 ,000 people here now we are not having a major crime wave

Not creepy at all. When you are walking to a restaurant or store and see a man following a woman, you want to make certain she is aware. I'm always with my wife and keep a distance. We do not make it a long ordeal. Just a quick, excuse us ma'am, but that gentleman has been following you. Point to him and tell her to be careful. Once the woman sees the man running away, she thanks us.

I have lived here 18 years and walk LSL or Brownwood for exercise each night. (BTW: It is usually the same group of young men) There are opportunistic people in the squares. The woman is free to believe us or not.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by BillY41

According to the article this mutt is a career criminal, habitual offender and all other lame names they call convicts. Why hasn't our system of justice seen the light and given him a life sentence? Police can only arrest the miscreants our courts have to step up.

Pay Mexico or some other South American country to hold him in prison. In the long run, it would cost the U S less and Mexico or Venezuela probably could use the money.

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

Originally Posted by Randall55

Not creepy at all. When you are walking to a restaurant or store and see a man following a woman, you want to make certain she is aware. I'm always with my wife and keep a distance. We do not make it a long ordeal. Just a quick, excuse us ma'am, but that gentleman has been following you. Point to him and tell her to be careful. Once the woman sees the man running away, she thanks us.

I have lived here 18 years and walk LSL or Brownwood for exercise each night. (BTW: It is usually the same group of young men) There are opportunistic people in the squares. The woman is free to believe us or not.

we both have been here longer then you and it’s certainly taken these opportunistic young men a long time to seize there opportunity , hmmmmm let’s see the last time a young man followed a woman home after stalking a her at the square and did her wrong wasssssssss ,hmmmm never FYI her sister thought this was funny , creepy but funny ,

[wamley]

It means ignorance of the writer.

[Blueblaze]

Originally Posted by Windguy

I took it as a way to avoid use of the “N” word, but I may have misinterpreted the commenter’s intention. Still don’t know why it was important to mention a jury member’s race.

Racism was the reason. The lone holdout's unconscious racism almost released a maniac to kill again. If people would quit demanding special treatment for their race, and quit hating people for crimes against their race that occurred 100 years before they were born, and quit assuming some affinity with criminals because their skin color is similar to their own -- the "N" word that I couldn't use would go back to being merely the scientific racial designation you will find on the birth certificate of 15% of the population old enough to live in the Villages, and I wouldn't be forced to make up silly euphemisms to mention it.

[Randall55]

Originally Posted by charlieo1126@gmail.com

we both have been here longer then you and it’s certainly taken these opportunistic young men a long time to seize there opportunity , hmmmmm let’s see the last time a young man followed a woman home after stalking a her at the square and did her wrong wasssssssss ,hmmmm never FYI her sister thought this was funny , creepy but funny ,

You are confusing the story. We are not watching the women. We are watching the same young men we see in the squares on a regular basis. We often see them point to a woman and then one begins to follow her. Maybe they are looking for a hook up and this is their ritual. Maybe they ask for some spare coins, maybe this or that. Who knows? We watch because we feel
uncomfortable around them. There are opportunistic people in the squares.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by GATORBILL66

This is just one reason to keep a loaded gun in everyone's home!

I can agree with that. But, personally, I wish that the US would do what Australia did and ban all semi-automatic rifles - they allow only single shot and bolt action rifles.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Bealman

Not sure the Nanny State prevents crime. People need to make their safety their responsibility. There is no simple solution to crime. Bill Clinton had the three strikes law. Only years later he regrets it because of the overcrowding of jails. Ask those that come from a Nanny State if they feel safer because of so many surveillance cameras. They don't prevent crime, they just sometimes help with the aftermath. Don't blame the money spent on community watch. I think they do well with their intended purposes. Every corner of every block could have an armed police person, but I am pretty sure crimes would still happen. Remember Smokey the Bear, "Only YOU can prevent fires.". Same is true with crime prevention. Don't rely on others for one's protection.

An individual can NOT afford to put up security cameras and hire a staff to watch them 24/7. Yes, there is a company that advertises that. But, since The Villages has mostly older and vulnerable people (with money) then The Villages is a big enough organization to set up cameras on every block and even have drones overhead with cameras. The technology is there - the only thing needed is the need to do it, the will to do it, and the budget to do it.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Randall55

You are confusing the story. We are not watching the women. We are watching the same young men we see in the squares on a regular basis. We often see them point to a woman and then one begins to follow her. Maybe they are looking for a hook up and this is their ritual. Maybe they ask for some spare coins, maybe this or that. Who knows? We watch because we feel
uncomfortable around them. There are opportunistic people in the squares.

You ever discuss with the police “all these young men you see in the squares on a regular basis”?.
Like the Sumter county Sheriff always said….If you see something -say something.
If you are so damned concerned, do something to end it…..

[Randall55]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

You ever discuss with the police “all these young men you see in the squares on a regular basis”?.
Like the Sumter county Sheriff always said….If you see something -say something.
If you are so damned concerned, do something to end it…..

We have spoken to an officer about it. The officer was in the square after a womans's purse was snatched. He told us there is petty crime in the squares and cause to be alarmed. He told us to stay on guard and be alert.

It does not occur EVERY NIGHT while we are enjoying our nightly walks. When it does, we do not follow the men and investigate. If we feel a woman is being followed, we alert her. Never once was the woman angry with us or laughed. There is one particular guy who runs when we point him out. His running away tells us that he is up to something. This is the person we pointed out to the officer. We have not seen him in quite some time.