Find the Villages extremely safe compared with just about all of the other places I have lived with respect to crime.

Just think people should use common sense with respect to going out at night alone, opening doors to strangers, etc.

We are very fortunate to have neighbors here in TV who look out for one another and hope other TOTVers are lucky enough to also have neighbors who look out for one another.

[Cajungirl]

When we were purchasing home in TV last month we stayed at friend's home for a couple of days after we checked out. When I arrived at the gate of friend's village, I pressed button and was prepared with my friend's name, address and phone no. No one responded to buzzer and the gate immediately opened for me. No check and balances. It could be anyone coming thru. I was very surprised at that. While at Savannah Center to check Emails, etc. we were asked for ID. I was glad to see that.

[Hancle704]

Announcement from Center Districts follows:

GATE CARD MAINTENANCE AND SOFTWARE UPGRADE TO BE CONDUCTED ON TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2008


The Customer Service Center announced today that the gate card system throughout The Villages will be undergoing maintenance checks and software upgrades. For this 24 hour period, all gates will be locked in the upright position. Residents and guests are to use the gates normally, however, proceed with caution and be aware of the situation.

Additionally, no new or replacement gates cards can be issued on Tuesday during the system upgrade.

For questions or information, please call the Customer Service Center at (352) 753-4508.

I do suspect though that TV has its share of domestic violence, child abuse, rape, sexual assault and other crimes which go under-reported because of the stigma attached to BOTH victims and perpetrators of these crimes. >

For people in TV needing assistance in these area about what to do if this is happening to a friend, loved one, or whomever, please use the FL Victim Services Directory. http://myfloridalegal.com/vicdirect.nsf/Fifth%20Judicial%20Circuit!OpenView

Sumter, Marion and Lake Counties look like they are in the Fifth Judicial District for FL. I put in a link to the victim service assistance contacts for the Fifth Judicial District from the FL Victim Services Directory.

[beady]

Let's talk about security.......

How about putting a notice in the paper about the gates all being open for 24 hours. Announce to all that read the Daily Sun that all gates will be open.......
Makes no sense to me, other than to reduce the phone calls from concerned residents about non-functioning gates. Which could be handled by a message when you call security.


Let's face it the security here is a joke. All for show. ???

[chelsea24]

I absolutely agree with Beady. The security gates are a joke and putting it in the paper is an even bigger joke. But the point is, it's not joke at all! It's like watching a TV show like Law & Order (which I love) or CNN as they clearly describe how to make bombs or get into locks. I don't believe in censorship in general, but I do believe some things should be off limits. Remember the hoopla over Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction. Boy the networks jumped on that one. Now everything is on a 5 second delay. It's ridiculous! What lamebrain decided to post the gates being opened for 24 hours. I'm going to call and complain to the paper. Not that it will get me anywhere.

[ConeyIsBabe]

needleptdoc.......... THANK YOU for posting incident!

Is there any sort of active "neighborhood crime watch" group(s) in TV ? If not, there SHOULD BE :cop:

When I lived in Miami-Dade County and worked for the local police dept. I was an active member of the local Citizens Mobile Patrol; we were under the direct supervision and participation of the on-duty police, we carried police radios, we drove around 2-per vehicle, in our own unmarked vehicles and when we saw anything SUSPICIOUS we called it in to the police officer supervising the patrol.

Then there was the "citizens crime watch" which was neighborhood participants calling their neighbors when anything or anyone suspicious was in their area. That was very effective.

[Muncle]

Had there been no advance notice of the upgrade to the gate system, the same people harping today about the publicity would be yelling and screaming about how unsafe the gates were on Tuesday. And likely these same people would be plowing into golf carts while totally confused as to why the gate was not dropping. I realize some of you firmly believe that there are criminal masterminds who monitor the newspaper daily waiting for this announcement so they can send in caravans of armed thugs to terrorize TV residents, raping and pillaging because we are unprotected by our gates.

Please repeat after me: "The Villages is not a gated community."

One more time: "THE VILLAGES IS NOT A GATED COMMUNITY."

Originally Posted by Muncle

One more time: "THE VILLAGES IS NOT A GATED COMMUNITY."

Muncle We live in a "gated" community in NJ. There are 1,200 homes. The only thing the gate house and guard can do is not let door to door salesman or people with a religious cause come knocking on your door. If someone had criminal intent it would take less that second to find his or her way around a gate. It's nice to have but only keeps you safe in your own mind. Never let your guard down, (no pun intended) and answer a door unless you know who it is. Never lose the ability to stay on your toes and know your surroundings, even at the local strip malls. DON'T BE A VICTIM!!!!

[beady]

Johnny M and Muncle:

In some measure I agree with you both.
..WE ARE NOT A GATED COMMUNITY.
..Even if we were , I agree we should always be aware and alert.
There most definately would have been a lot of flack about not notifing the residents.
..I just feel the annoyance to the powers that be would have been a better choice than an newspaper announcement that the gates are open for 24 hours. The paper is circulated to non-residents. Isn't that an open invitation to ....those folks who would see that as an opportunity. I am not just thinking criminal intent , I am thinking solicitation, politicians...etc.

Beady, I agree with you it should never have been made public. The powers that be should have given enough time to alert gate keepers and rec center attendants to get the word out on a local basis for about two weeks. Most residents would have been in the loop and word of mouth would also have contributed to the knowledge of the "gates up" notice.

[Muncle]

I guarantee without the newpaper notice, there would have been well over 1000 individuals calling various offices in TV Tuesday to comment/complain about the gates not operating. Not entirely a criticism, because such reporting is what gets gates that are broken fixed remarkably quickly in the normal day-to-day operation. With the newpaper notice and with conversations on the subject, there will probably be only about 200 calls.

There will be no ill effect of the gate openings or the announcement. There are not people who would see this as an opportunity to do anything. Even if you ignore "criminal intent" and focus on solicitations of any kind, the open gates have no impact. If some clown intends to go door-to-door pushing a political candidate, water purification systems or Jesus at my door, he's going to do it whether there's a gate in operation or not. They don't stop people at the gates and give them a lie detector about their intent. If the person is stopped and questioned at all, a doubtful premise, she'd just say she was visiting friends or looking around TV. 10 minutes later, somebody would be hearing the 27 steps for personal salvation.

JohnnyM, you're right on with your analysis. Unfortunately for too many people, it's much much easier to play the victim than it is to actually show some common sense and do something. And, no people, I do not want to hear that some people really are victims. Just like not all who are proclaimed to be heroes are in fact heroes, not all who claimed to be or are anointed as victims are actually victims. But, as usual, I digress.

[chelsea24]

I never thought of this as a Gated Community, however, it is SOLD as a gated community. At least that's what our realtor mentioned several time. I disagree with one important thing, Yes there ARE bad guys out there that DO skim the newspapers looking for openings of any kind. Let's all stay aware and be aware for each other. I firmly believe in Neighborhood Watches. :cop:

[beady]

On the lighter side of this issue.........

I just returned from doing some errands in the Southren Trace area. I live in Piedmont so I had to go through 2 gates to access and return. When going into Polo Ridge, the gate was up.....I was the third car in line. Both cars in front of me stopped and waved their cards....remember the gate was up. Returning home to Piedmont same scenario. This time I was the 4th car in line. All three cars in front of me stopped and waved their cards. I laughed all the way home. ..........Guess it wasn't necessary to warn people of the permanent opening today, they didn't even notice 1rnfl 1rnfl 1rnfl

[ConeyIsBabe]

I don't get it ???????? What's the purpose of the gates ? What am I missing ? :dontknow: