[PR1234]

The Sun says there was another break-in last Friday on Vance Trail, and over $20,000 worth of jewelry and $300 in cash were reported missing. What I want to know is how do these theives always seem to know the homes with the jewelry? A theory I have is maybe someone works for a local insurance company and is letting the bad guys know who has their jewelry insured???
What's your theory???

[chelsea24]

Where is Vance Trail? What Village is that???

I agree it could be that, so some workman that has been in all of these houses. Guess it is time to lock and load!

[CAL]

I believe it is in Caroline off of the Stillwater Gate entrance.

Here is a report from one of the Vance Trail residents to her neighbors about the burglary.

For those of you who didn't know, there was a break-in and burglary on our street. I just spoke with a policeman with Sumter County Sheriff's dept and he told me that there are some suspects and they feel that they are accessing the houses by golf cart paths and a prime area is houses that back up to the preserve. He advised to keep lights on inside and out and to report any suspicious activity IMMEDIATELY and not wait and not to call Village Watch. It will delay the response time. 911 will do it. I have also programmed my phone with the sheriff's office 352 793-0278. They have added overtime to the staff and as you have probably seen, they are patrolling our area. Be vigilant but be safe. Tomorrow evening is prime time to be cautious if you are going to Mardi Gras at the square.

[graciegirl]

I don't have jewelry of value here, I wonder if they have some kind of connection to a jewelry store, if someone had something recently repaired or bought something?

[chelsea24]

Thanks for the info. I was thinking, what about a cleaning service??? They go everywhere? Just a thought.

Often with crime, "victims" do not want to be seen in that light of someone who has been taken advantage of in some way so some of these break-ins here in TV may not even get reported especially if they do not get anything of value and/or come in through an open door. Unreported crime statistics link-- http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/...in521212.shtml

These just might be co-incidences that these thieves are targeting only houses with jewelry.

As for Mardi Gras today, you can always leave a bunch of lights and the TV on.

[chelsea24]

We didn't end up going, but if we did, I'd let my pet python loose!

[graciegirl]

On the way home from Mardi Gras, about 6:30, we passed a dark green pick up, empty, parked in the golf cart lane on Odell near the Amelia mail drop.

[Cassie325]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

On the way home from Mardi Gras, about 6:30, we passed a dark green pick up, empty, parked in the golf cart lane on Odell near the Amelia mail drop.

I am assuming you called the sheriff's office GG


....whether they have something to do with the break ins or not....that is an accident waiting to happen.

[spk7951]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

On the way home from Mardi Gras, about 6:30, we passed a dark green pick up, empty, parked in the golf cart lane on Odell near the Amelia mail drop.

We passed by that area around 5:30 and the vehicle operator was being questioned by three deputies. Not sure what it was all about but it certainly made my wife curious.

[Mintjulep]

I rarely wear my jewelry since in TV, so it was never seen by the workman we had on our summer kitchen. Or repaired or etc.
I still don't understand why we were targeted.

But I received this email today from a neighbor.
Don't know the original author.
But thought it may be worthwhile to post.


The home around the corner from us on Durango that was hit a few days ago - friends of ours - plays golf with the husband. He advised that they had tried to break in through a window without success and then a slider without success (their back yard is on Tierra del Sol Golf Course) and being unsuccessful, they immediately went to the front door - he said they must have used crowbars as the door jamb was completely torn out, the door broken, the dead bolt broken and door taken down........ It was mid-afternoon and hard to believe that neighbors ignore pounding, etc and no one even saw it happening!

The burglars took all her jewelry and all silver flatwear service and face creams..... Don't know if she hid any jewelry in the bottom of those jars...... They are folks with money - each has one of those very fancy $20,000 golf carts. Seems like someone knew something that they would be out, etc. Makes me want to buy "killer dog"

================================================== =======

This afternoon (Friday) there were strangers on Wisteria St who may have been scouting out the area prior to an attempted breakin. When asked by the homeowner what purpose they had on this street and what were they doing on her property they gave conflicting reasons. The homeowner contacted the police but the men were long gone before they arrived. We need to be vigilant of any activity in our area that doesn't look right, strange cars etc. And contact the police immediately. All of our doors should be locked and garage doors down. I don't have any other details.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Mintjulep

I rarely wear my jewelry since in TV, so it was never seen by the workman we had on our summer kitchen. Or repaired or etc.
I still don't understand why we were targeted.

But I received this email today from a neighbor.
Don't know the original author.
But thought it may be worthwhile to post.


The home around the corner from us on Durango that was hit a few days ago - friends of ours - plays golf with the husband. He advised that they had tried to break in through a window without success and then a slider without success (their back yard is on Tierra del Sol Golf Course) and being unsuccessful, they immediately went to the front door - he said they must have used crowbars as the door jamb was completely torn out, the door broken, the dead bolt broken and door taken down........ It was mid-afternoon and hard to believe that neighbors ignore pounding, etc and no one even saw it happening!

The burglars took all her jewelry and all silver flatwear service and face creams..... Don't know if she hid any jewelry in the bottom of those jars...... They are folks with money - each has one of those very fancy $20,000 golf carts. Seems like someone knew something that they would be out, etc. Makes me want to buy "killer dog"

================================================== =======

This afternoon (Friday) there were strangers on Wisteria St who may have been scouting out the area prior to an attempted breakin. When asked by the homeowner what purpose they had on this street and what were they doing on her property they gave conflicting reasons. The homeowner contacted the police but the men were long gone before they arrived. We need to be vigilant of any activity in our area that doesn't look right, strange cars etc. And contact the police immediately. All of our doors should be locked and garage doors down. I don't have any other details.

You know I thought about cars, that someone might be watching a Lexus or Mercedes but I hadn't thought about the expensive golf carts. Some thieves may think to follow someone home driving one of those. How often do we have someone right behind us when we pull into our driveway that just continues down the street. Now I sound paranoid, but that could be how they pick their places.

[In awe of TV]

Don't the homes in TV have alarm systems?

I wouldn't think of living without an alarm system in my home.

We live in a different age now and what was safe before, is not now.

It's very disconcerting to hear about the robberies in such a happy place - makes me sad.

I agree that neighbors must watch out for each other and report anything and everything that seems suspicious.

[Raymonds25]

I purchased a Sentry fire-safe some years ago. Here's some info on a safe approximately to what I have:

- Exterior Dimensions: 17"H x 16"W x 19"D
- Capacity: 1.2 cu. ft.
- Weight: 135 lb.

Although I initially purchased the safe in case of fire, the size and weight would discourage a thief from taking it. Then again, the safe can even be bolted to the floor!

Just my input on making things more difficult for the burgulars.