Break-in
 

Someone broke into a home in Bridgeport Lake Sumter yesterday. Please be vigilant in your neighborhoods.

Can you tell us how they gained entry? Also was it during the middle of the day like the others?

Pushed the back door in during the day.

Useful info:

Was there a security system?
If yes was it armed?

Why are most of the break-ins during the winter months ?

Slider security modifications
 

ALL, I have attached a do it yourself way to stop your sliders from being lifted out. I have done this my self, and when I had the Sumter County security review, the deputy liked the design. It is completely reversible if you need to remove the sliders for some reason.

NOTE: I am giving this information away, please feel free to send to your friends and neighbors. I do not install, I am sharing this to make the bad guys go away.

That is useful, but didn't we see that some thieves jimmie or pry the door at the lock location, then slide them open? Too bad we have to think of so many ways to stop the bad guys. Still though it wouldn't hurt to follow village tinkers advice.

Those snowbirds guilty??? :22yikes:

Thanx for the tip. A very simple solution to a potential problem.

Yep..............Snowbirds just getting decorating ideas.

All kidding aside about snowbirds, larceny is a crime of opportunity and during the winter months opportunity abounds here. The place is packed with seasonal and permanent residents out enjoying themselves. Lots of empty houses and the theives know it. In the summer many empty houses with nothing to steal. The snowbirds take their money and jewelry with them. Many permanent residents are home more in the summer because of the heat. The opposite happens up north in the winter. Burglaries are always fewer in the winter because everyone stays home because of the weather. My question is why do so many people keep large amounts of cash at home?

The last photo in my attachment showed the additional lock that I installed. BagBoy is correct, the original locks are not real good, the additional lock has steel pins to hold the sliders closed.

The crimes are being committed in broad daylight which means that these criminals are not concerned about getting caught and/or have perfected a routine that permits them to study the habits of particular homeowners. while it may be random in the long run it is not in the short run meaning that once they fixate on a potential target boom.

You would think that with the number of arrest that the police would have a good handle on the likely suspects for this type of crime?

People working in the area can see the everyday activity during daytime hours in a particular neighborhood.....who comes....who go's. When they are not working, they go back to hit the available homes. If a project is going on in a neighborhood, I'd be very aware of what I am doing and what others can see me doing.

Yup!

I can't remember who was arrested in connection with the last crime spree. Anyone remember?

Several bad guys, an employee from Evans Prairie, an employee from Bonifay, and another bunch of bad guys.

There are two of them pictured at this time now being sentenced on the online news we can't mention.

I really hope that the S.O.B. that ever attempts to break in our home does not get caught by the wife or I; just saying.....

I have been tempted to put a sign on each of our doors:


DON'T BOTHER!

NO MONEY OR JEWELS INSIDE!

P.S. GET A JOB!

That is JUST how I feel.

Agree.

Good idea, but a simpler way I used is to slide in wooden dowels in the space between the top of the slider and the frame. I bought two dowels, costing 98 cents each, eyeball the size you will need and just slid them in and they stay there, do not interfere with the door operation, and fills in the space to stop any lifting out. Also, did install the SafeSlider on the lanai door. Easy to do with complete instructions online via a video. Cost was $29.95 plus shipping and tax.

My sign says beware of dog.

A partial solution might be to hire more seniors that live here. There are many that would welcome a job.

The person who was the subject of an online news story, who was arrested in connection with bank robberies, does not appear to be the person involved with the home break-ins. Do you interpret the same way?

Seniors are heavily employed everywhere in The Villages.

My sign says "Due to increasing ammo prices, warning shots will not be fired."

my sign is: protected by Smith & Wesson-Due to the ammo shortage-There will be NO warning shot

BonRich,

Great idea, this is one of the reasons that I wanted to get the info out. I know there are other ways to do this, well done.:wave:

No I am working on a good way to secure the windows, both fully closed, and partially open (3-4 inches), my wife cannot use the F locks due to arthritis might use wood dowels, not sure yet.

That's good. 😉

Oooooohhhhh......I LOVE this! What a great idea!

Awwwwww you are assuming they don't have a job. Don't forget some intruders had been in the house before. But I do like the idea of a sign, as long as it's in your window and not on your lawn. LOL