Recent robberies in TV?
 

I received an email this morning from a neighbor about an alleged robbery
on Sayle Drive. Please be careful and vigilant.

Be Careful...
 

Yes, last night we were out with friends from Belevedere and they said the police and canine unit were warning everyone in their neighborhood because a screen had been pushed in on one of the houses.

Be on the alert.

Was it a robbery or a burglary? There is a considerable difference.

This is the body of the email I received. I can't confirm the veracity of this email. I am asking if anyone has heard anything about this.

Gail,
> >> The detective was just here and said we should warn our neighbors,
> >> because the usual scenario lately is that once a house has been hit by
> >> this burglar they suspect, they usually hit several more in the same
> >> neighborhood within a short period of time.
> >> In several cases, an attractive woman around 26 years old, has been seen
>
> >> slowly walking down the street, or standing a couple houses away from
> >> the house being robbed, talking on her cell phone, (probably to the
> >> person in the house, as a lookout).
> >> The police want anyone who sees ANYTHING suspicious or out of place to
> >> call 911 so they can come investigate.
> >> They said these burglaries are a top priority to get solved...
> >> So even a very small thing is worth calling them for...
> >>
> >> I'll keep ya posted.
> >> Gwen
> >>

Neighborhood Crime Watch
 

When I lived in s/FL I participated in the local Citizens Crime Watch which patrolled the commuity at night, with the cooperation of the local police department, two volunteers per unmarked vehicle, with police radio, in constant contact with the police officer assigned to monitor the group. This was a very effective and successful crime deterrent for the community. If any suspicious activity was observed by a volunteer, it was transmitted via the police radio to the officer who took immediate action.

Is there any Neighborhood Crime Watch in TV ?

Samhass,
It was us that was burglarized. That was my email to our neighbor Gail.

It happened while we were at dinner.
We were home just past 8:30, took our dogs out and noticed a bunch of my small cardboard-type jewelry boxes in the backyard. Empty... Checked our backdoor and they had broken the lock on the bedroom slider.
They had ransacked my jewelry armoire and took all the good stuff. 3 diamond bracelets, several gemstone rings and necklaces, watches. Actually, I'm still remembering things that are missing. But my guesstimate at this point is minimum $3000 worth that was stolen.

But I cannot say enough good things about the Sumter County Sheriffs
Dept. They were here in a heartbeat, so extremely polite and professional. And took everything so seriously.
They brought in dogs, a German Shepard and a Bloodhound. And even a helicopter. And at one point we probably had nearly 10 police cars in front of our house, talking to the neighbors and etc.
The crime lab guy was here til past 4:30AM fingerprinting and taking DNA samples.
They all kept telling us how sorry they were that this happened to us.
And the 2 detectives who were at our house at 9AM the next morning were also just wonderful to us.
They kept saying they would work as hard as they could for us to get this solved and hopefully recover my jewelry.
I owed a business that was broken into a few years ago in NC and didn't get a tenth this much attention from the police.

I hope they can recover some of my special pieces that were taken,
but the main thing to us is that we were unharmed.
And neither were our dogs that were in the house at the time...

How Awful!
 

Oh Minty, I'm so sorry this had to happen to you. Thank God you didn't walk in on them. Guess they weren't afraid of the dogs either! Wow!

Yes, I completely agree with you on The Sumter County Police or Sheriff's Dept. We had to call them once too and they are absolutely the best.

Take care sweetie, chels

Safety at The Villages
 

I love THe Villages. I recently bought a home in the Hood of Hadley. My main concern about the Villages is security. It is a gated community but noone checks cars coming into the Village. Anyone can come to the gate and get through. I believe that everyone should either have to use the key cards or have to check in with the gate keeper to get in. If we are going to have a guest we simply tell the gate shack who and when they will be there and when they will be leaving. They receive a window tag and then everyone knows they are legal. When they leave they return the guest pass and they are checked off the list. After hours requires the use of only the key carda or gate cards.
I know this would require more of the guard shacks but I truly believe it would bring a better sense of security to the residents of THE VILLAGES.

Don Miller

Minty, I am shocked that it was you. You email really got around. I am so glad you are safe.

FYI Donald, this is NOT a gated community (with some small exceptions) but we do have "monitored access". All of our roads (again with some small exceptions) are public roads maintained by tax dollars so anyone who pays their taxes (i.e. has a license tag on their car) can use them. To do what you suggest would mean making all our roads private roads with the total upkeep and maintenance cost going to TV residents in addition to additional costs for more manned guard shacks. In general, this is probably cost prohibitive and not worth the effort.

Mint,

I am so glad that you're all OK. That is scary.

Boomer

Security
 

Thanks Bryan. I too agree that the cost would prohibit many fro enjoying THE Villages. We must all help each other keep a watchful eye. It is a great palce to be and live but with the increase size it too will have its social issues as well. Let us all keep a watchful eye and help take care of each other. Isn't that what America is suppose to be?

Don Miller

Minty--I'm so sorry that you had this experience but am thankful that you are o.k. and your dogs were not harmed. We will certainly be more aware of our surroundings and anything or anyone that seems out of place.

Thanks guys for all the kind words.

The worst thing was the creepy feeling of sleeping in the bedroom knowing that a few hours earlier someone had been going thru all our things. They even went thru our bathroom linen closet and medicine cabinet.

And I don't know HOW long it will take to get rid of all this fingerprint dust!! That's some nasty stuff.
I keep washing and still wind up with black fingers when I open things they've fingerprinted...

They also said we were the first burglary that had dogs in the house.
I'm sure they were yapping like mad, being the schnauzers they are.
If only they could talk...

Mint.

I am so sorry for you. It is outrageous that you have been invaded in such a blatant way.

Is your home viewable from the back by neighbors? You always wonder how this could happen.

Again I am so sorry and also glad you or your puppies are o.k.

GG

Minty, I'm still shocked that it was you. I hope you will forgive me for putting your email here on totv. I was told to get the word out...and this is a great venue for that.
I am sure you feel very violated. We have to look out for one another and report anything suspicious. It's funny, for the last two days two different groups of 2-3 people have been fishing in the lake behind my house. I don't see a car and have no clue where they are from. Today it was 2 young men. Yesterday it was two men and a young woman. I thought about calling the sheriff because they are not supposed to be there, fishing or not... but if they are honest fishermen, I hate to cause them grief. Suggestions, anyone?

Sam,
Please do call 911 and explain you were told to report anything suspicious because of recent burglaries.
All of the police and detectives told me to spread the word that nothing is too small if it is even the slightest bit odd.
They would rather come investigate, than someone not reporting something that could help them catch these crook(s).
It is an extreme priority between several counties.

The guys fishing could very well be casing your neighborhood and calling an accomplice to tell them they see a couple leave for dinner.
The burglaries always happen between 6 and 9 the detectives said.
They suspect that's what happened to us. Then someone jumped the fence behind us (there's no homes back there). Then after they broke in, they walked the 4 blocks to VT pool where police suspect their accomplice picked them up, because the trail ended there according to the bloodhound.
And they do suspect a young woman (mid twenties) may be part of the ring, which means others may be young.

They also told us to put wooden rods on the slider tracks, so they can't be opened, not metal. They use magnets to raise the metal ones up.

I'm so sorry this happened to you, but am happy no one (including pups) was harmed. Thanks for sharing the tip on the wood rod. I never would have thought of crooks lifting a metal rod with a magnet. Live and learn.

WOW!!!!! I would never have thought about the material used to prevent the slider from being opened!!! I have an old wooden dowel in ours because that's what we had around and that's what my parent's have used for eons.

Perhaps it might not be a bad time to consider adding some surveillance cameras and a DVR. They've become incredibly affordable. I was in both BJ's and COSTCO today and saw several options. Up to now I've only had a mild interest in these types of systems mostly because I find the technology fascinating but the fact that this occured while your dogs were at home :22yikes:, what Kathie said about losing her dog after a break in :( and the fact that I'm home by myself with my dogs has me thinking about this stuff a lot differently now! :read:

Minty,

i am so sorry this happened to you. What a shock, sure hope they recover your valuables and catch the dirty rotten scoundrels!!

A good tip that someone put out a while back, is to keep your car fab by your bed. If you here something unusual ,press the panic button and your car will start beeping loud enough to attract the neighbors attention., and probably scare off the Robbers.

Well, this morning I noticed a young guy, shabbily dressed walking down our street, then walking between and around back of the houses across the street. We called those neighbors. Then another young guy walked up our driveway and was standing in front of our car by the garage.
I called 911, while my husband went out and ask the guy who he was.
He said he was with our lawn service and was checking for high spots in the yard. But was carrying no equipment. Bob said "In our driveway". The guy said ' Oh, I'm sorry' and walked away.
The guys were gone when the police arrived, but I had a given them a very good description of both, so they went looking for them.
Several neighbors also noticed the guys and were watching them.
I hate if I called the police on our lawn service, but I don't feel guilty...
And the police were glad we called...

Good for you!
 

You did the right thing, Minty. You and everyone, please be vigilant and take care. We had a neighborhood watch back in Illinois. I can't see why that can't be started here. It's another deterrent. ;)

I know this is not a true gated community, but doesn't the gates take pictures of all the license plates? Just wondering.:shrug:

Minty,

Your vigilence is commendable. I am also sorry to hear you have gone through this. As a numbers person, I always tell people the chance of a property crime (burglary, golf cart theft, golf club theft, etc) happening to you here are very miniscule - our numbers are large and the number of incidents is very low .... unless it happens to you.

Just curious.... did Mr Minty ask the guy to name/confirm the landscape company? If he came up with the right company name that might be a little reassuring...if not, danger, danger.

If they are indeed checking the house out....and are not the lawn people...then they are very BOLD...walking up and down the street, in between homes, checking things out in the middle of the morning!! We have now installed a padlock on the gate at our Villa. We have instructed any of our renters or family that they are to leave it on!

This is very sad that it happened to you Mint! I am very glad you and your family are safe, but I am so sorry it happened to you.

You did the right thing calling the police this morning! I would have done so as well.

We saw two men hanging out on a golf cart in Alhambra one evening. They were just sitting in it doing nothing near the mail box center. We stopped at the gate and notified the gate guard, who immediately called Community Watch to have them drive around the area. I know they are not the police but they have a direct link to them and can get them if needed.

Might be worth calling them and asking them for some extra patrols in your neighborhood in the next week or so...just to let the burglars know you are watching!!

we try to be viligent as well. we rode by our neighborhood pool fairly late one night--saw a black pick up truck in the lot--drove into the lot and parked in front of the mail boxes and watched them for a while. Turned out to be the company that empties trash, etc., but felt that we needed to check it out. Of course, we had our cell phone ready to make a call if necessary.

07,
Yes they did identify our lawn service.
But we have only lived in this house since mid-Nov. and haven't had weekly mowings, so didn't recognize the guys.
But it turns out one of the neighbors did recognize them and they were our lawn guys. :oops:

The police are doing extra patrols in our area, and our house.

So sorry Minty
 

Sorry to see it happened to you. I have been very fortunate to never have it happen to me. I understand you must feel terrible. As a snowbird I am very lucky to have neighbors in TV that watch my place like a hawk. Of course anything can still happen . Keep your eyes open and don't hesitate to call the police. Good luck in finding the crooks.

Minty, that is shocking and I'm sorry it happened to you. I always think my dogs will bark if people attempt a break in and that will scare them away. Obviously not, I have to start being more mindful.

Re the police in Belvedere warning everyone to be careful ... I live in Belvedere and was unaware. Good information, thanks Chels.

Interesting. Nobody brings a gun to these parties except the bad guys.

So..let's suppose you are asleep and an intruder breaks into your house. What do you do? If memory serves, I think I read in the Sun, some time back, that you should pretend that you are still asleep...even if he is in your bedroom. How could you do that? What would you do???

These breakins are getting downright scary. Last year, they were basically localized. Not this go-round -- they're all over from the historic side to Rio Grande to Virginia Trace to Hadley.

From what I've heard, the police think they're all the same group (but copycats are bound to start if they haven't already). It appears a young woman in her 20s is the lookout. She stands on the street on a cell phone while the home is broken into.

Another theory by the police is that it might be subcontractors since the house are not normally searched (the thieves seem to know exactly where to go) and only really valuable items are taken (a hidden coin collection in one instance, Minty's good jewels sigh, etc.) and they do seem to know the homeowners' schedules. I would suggest that if you have a lot of work done that you get your lock rekeyed as well as putting doweling on sliders (not just the lanai doors but any sliding windows as well).

I'm so glad that no one has been hurt as yet and, Minty, I'm so sorry to hear that one of the victims is someone that we know and like so much.

I just read about your horrible experience Minty and am so sorry that it happened to you. Thank God though that neither of you were hurt and they dogs didn't get hurt either. I always worry about break ins and my cats.

Dogs
 

Sorry this happened to you. It's a terrible thing to have your privacy invaded. I, too, am glad that nothing happened to you or your doggies.

It amazed me that they weren't at least a little concerned about the dogs. Our dog would bark, but would probably befriend anyone who came in the house. I always hope that if anyone tries to come in while we're here, she'll let us know.

Hope they catch these people soon. I think with lots of people keeping watch for strange events, they will be caught.

Raise your hand if you think this will be written up in the Daily Sun.

There have been several in Polo Ridge that did not make it.

Does TV have any restrictions on the breeds of dogs one may have?

Some communities don't allow certain breeds, like Pitt Bulls, or Rottweillers. They can be, and usually are, wonderful dogs unless intentionally mishandled.

They can also be more discouraging to a burglar than a schnauzer.

Just wondering.

As for having work done on our house, we did just have a summer kitchen added. We had many workman around, plumbers, electricians, stucco people, cabinets, screens. All the guys seemed very nice. The only ones inside our house was the electrician to do some extra things we wanted. And the main contractor.
But most of the guys met our dogs on the lanai.
One of our dogs was an abused rescue, and he is very wary of strangers in his territory. We have to introduce him to new people very slowly. He's very suspicious and growly until he knows you. But then he'll love you to death.
The final inspection on our work was done yesterday.
I absolutely hate to think it could be a worker, but the police are going to interview every single person who worked here.

Whoever broke in was only in our bedroom and bath (we think), and the bedroom door was closed, so the dogs couldn't get in there, but I'm sure they were raising cain.

And our break-in has not been in the Daily Sun. (yet?)

The detectives said they are all working overtime, 6 and 7 days a week,
until they catch this ring of crooks.