[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Lovey2

Not quite accurate. Originally Happinow, who lives in Sanibel, said there were 3 burglaries in Sanibel. She was talking about the third one, and several people disputed that she knew this for fact, she does, and someone even inferred a lot of "new" people were posting and not to be trusted because we were new. I was pretty sure you were in on that thread, Gracie. Happinow was quite clear that there was a 3rd in Sanibel.

You are correct. I completely misinterpreted what she said .

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Lovey2

OH, for Pete's sake. Can't we just take the advice as given, be more cognizant of what's going on in the neighborhood, and leave it at that? What's with all the "false reporting" and fact finding.

[Sable99]

Originally Posted by KathieI

Personally, I want to thank the OP for alerting us to this crime and to the poor victims for wanting us to know this happened to them. Although it scares me to hear of these crimes, it also alerts me as to be smarter and don't take anything for granted. I remember a few years ago when there were a couple of robberies near Stillwater and Morse (I know these were true because one of my good friends home was robbed), our neighborhood met to discuss how we can all help each other. One of the men cut the poles for us to put in our slider doors so they can't be pried open and we discussed various things we as individuals should be doing to increase our security. At that time, I ordered motion lights for my lanai and outside my house and we were all on alert watching each others homes. Sounds like a good time to do that again.

Yes, crime happens everywhere, especially in most of the cities I lived in, and not much crime happens in The Villages, but that doesn't mean we should put our heads in the sand and not heed these warnings.

The motion lights are a great idea!

[dillywho]

The SO will come to your home and make security suggestions (no charge). One of the things the deputy who came to our house told us to do, is to simply put a small dowel in the track above the slider. The dowel rides along the track, which prevents anyone from lifting the door from the track. He showed me how the door could be lifted out even with a board blocking the bottom track. Can't be done with the dowel on top. Do both.

I let at least one of my neighbors know when I am going to be gone, especially any length of time or if we are both going.

Don't tell people via your answering machine that you're not home or post plans on social media. I keep my landline forwarded to my cell phone (for various reasons) and people don't know that I am not home. Most times, I am here.

Please don't put your trash out early! A guy down the street from us was broken into several years ago because he put his trash out on Friday for Monday pickup. Arrange to have a neighbor set your trash out on trash day. We even "share" trash with some so it looks like someone is in town.

You can "share" your driveway when you're gone, too.

We do have an alarm system that also serves as medical, etc., as well. The only way someone would know it is here is when it is breached. The siren is deafening! You want the element of surprise and don't want them in your house in the first place.

I stopped a young man on a bicycle going up and down the driveways one day and asked if I could help him. He explained to me that he was checking the electric meters and showed me what he was doing. Remember, vigilance was what caught the package-swiping thief last week.

Make it a point to go outside several times a day for something, even if you just walk around the house checking the yard/landscaping/and what's going on. Residential activity is pretty deterrent to criminals. If you see something that just doesn't look/feel right, ask questions or make a call. Law enforcement won't mind coming out and their presence at various times is pretty good insurance.

[Lovey2]

Originally Posted by dillywho

The SO will come to your home and make security suggestions (no charge). One of the things the deputy who came to our house told us to do, is to simply put a small dowel in the track above the slider. The dowel rides along the track, which prevents anyone from lifting the door from the track. He showed me how the door could be lifted out even with a board blocking the bottom track. Can't be done with the dowel on top. Do both.

I let at least one of my neighbors know when I am going to be gone, especially any length of time or if we are both going.

Don't tell people via your answering machine that you're not home or post plans on social media. I keep my landline forwarded to my cell phone (for various reasons) and people don't know that I am not home. Most times, I am here.



Please don't put your trash out early! A guy down the street from us was broken into several years ago because he put his trash out on Friday for Monday pickup. Arrange to have a neighbor set your trash out on trash day. We even "share" trash with some so it looks like someone is in town.

You can "share" your driveway when you're gone, too.

We do have an alarm system that also serves as medical, etc., as well. The only way someone would know it is here is when it is breached. The siren is deafening! You want the element of surprise and don't want them in your house in the first place.

I stopped a young man on a bicycle going up and down the driveways one day and asked if I could help him. He explained to me that he was checking the electric meters and showed me what he was doing. Remember, vigilance was what caught the package-swiping thief last week.

Make it a point to go outside several times a day for something, even if you just walk around the house checking the yard/landscaping/and what's going on. Residential activity is pretty deterrent to criminals. If you see something that just doesn't look/feel right, ask questions or make a call. Law enforcement won't mind coming out and their presence at various times is pretty good insurance.

all good advice...never heard of the dowel, will get that!!

[shcisamax]

I hesitate to post this because I expect someone is going to say something derogatory or accuse me of making it up or in some other way way comment to make me wish I hadn't shared this. But I do want you all to know the police are really on this.

There was an unmarked truck on my street yesterday morning at a house that had no one home and had postal notices in the door. Two men got out with wands to spray the grass. They said they were from Massey but had not yet gotten their truck painted with the logo. Someone took down the license plate as they left and later called Massey to ask if they had unmarked trucks. They said, "No." The police were called. Four cars arrived with five policemen. They are NOT messing around. As it turned out, the guys WERE from Massey but the woman didn't know they didn't have the logo. Guess they will now get that logo on their truck pronto. Although it was a false alarm, the police said everyone did the right thing under the circumstances. So know that they want to get calls with any suspicious activity.

[Cobh521]

There was an unmarked truck on my street yesterday morning at a house that had no one home and had postal notices in the door.

I am only offering a suggestion. If someone is away and there are notices from vendors or the post office, it may be in their best interest to have a neighbor remove them and give to the owners when they return. I have done this on several occasions and the owners were grateful.

[Cisco Kid]

Sooner or later someone is going to post a photo of police cars at a house with a door kicked in.

Then this thread may get some action.

[Lovey2]

We came from an area where a lot of our neighbors were snowbirds. We are in the habit of looking out for homes that look unoccupied...removing any papers, mail in doors, and even putting our trash out at the empty homes. We have continued to do so here. Hey, thinking of a neighborhood watch kinda thing. Anybody have that going on in their immediate neighborhoods??

[kittygilchrist]

I drove through Sanibel yesterday, Lovey, just keeping an eye out. I can drive around once a day on watch. Neighborhood watch is a good idea but to be most effective would need a leader and org meetings.

[Lovey2]

I'm thinking we may hafta get something going here around Brinkley, Albara. We've had the models to rely on for lotsa traffic, but I think most will be closed after the 1st. (?) Maybe we can talk it up at the NYE get together. Yes, I will drive thru the neighborhood more, too...good idea!

[KathieI]

Sometimes the police have a PR person who can help you organize a community watch. They held one meeting a month with us in Los Angeles and helped keep the program going. Must say it was very effective.

Shcisamax, that was a good job. Keeping your eyes open and alerting the police of suspicious situations. I found the police to be very responsive here when we were having an issue in our neighborhood. They took care of the total situation and told us to call them anytime we had a problem.

[swimdawg]

Originally Posted by Cisco Kid

Sooner or later someone is going to post a photo of police cars at a house with a door kicked in.

Then this thread may get some action.

I know.....this thread needs some action....sooo boring!

And with that said, YOU get the Swimdawg Post of the Day Award!

[angiefox10]

I think this has turned into a VERY positive thread... I love problem solving. I for one have gotten some good ideas on how to be a better neighbor. Things I can do to protect my neighbor's and my home.

Please keep the ideas coming and please don't be afraid to post if you see something. I would rather you post wrong than to not post anything and have more homes broken into as a result of no one being aware.

Does it really matter if they came through the front door or the back? The important thing to get out is that someone is out there and we need to keep our eyes open.

[Lovey2]

Originally Posted by angiefox10

I think this has turned into a VERY positive thread... I love problem solving. I for one have gotten some good ideas on how to be a better neighbor. Things I can do to protect my neighbor's and my home.

Please keep the ideas coming and please don't be afraid to post if you see something. I would rather you post wrong than to not post anything and have more homes broken into as a result of no one being aware.

Does it really matter if they came through the front door or the back? The important thing to get out is that someone is out there and we need to keep our eyes open.

Exactly!! And, it seems to me, these are broad daylight robberies. We are used to patrolling at night only. Just think, if every time you left your house, you took a few extra minutes to drive a few surrounding streets...AND....ASK questions. If it's a neighbor, they'll thank you...if it's not...your neighbor's will still Thank you. I had a neighbor almost chase my Aunt and cousin off my dock one day, because she didn't know who she was!! I, and my Aunt, appreciated the effort. I lived alone at the time!! The police can't be everywhere and they don't know our neighborhoods like we do...let's get out there!!