[Peachie]

Originally Posted by angiefox10

I know these stories to be true because I am hearing them from a reliable source who can not come forward for fear of losing their job.

That being said... I took the liberty of calling the Sumter County Sheriff's Office who confirmed the break ins to be true. He said he couldn't give me any other information because there is an investigation going on

The homes do not appear to be homes of people who are snowbirds or homes of people on vacation. But homes that people are living in at the time.

Someone posted that we watch each others homes. I looked down my street and I can't see any of the doors of my neighbors. We all have deep entryways that can't be seen from the other homes.

I know there are people here who do not believe this. I don't care. So.. It didn't happen to you.. It's happening to MY neighbors and I care that it stops. Just because you don't believe it doesn't mean it didn't happen. I called the Sheriffs office, you didn't take a minute to call! Easy fix.. Make that call!!!

This is the email I sent to my neighbors....


I don't know if people are aware of it... But there have been quit a few burglaries in The Villages.

For some reason the information isn't being passed around and this is making us easy pickins....

There have been several homes that the front door has been kicked in and the homes have been robbed in a very short period of time. I heard from a reliable source there was another one today on Allaire Loop. The information I have received is there's been break-ins in Sanibel, Collier, Hillsborough and today would be Fernandina.... The homes are homes where people are living now. Not snowbirds or people on vacation. People leave for an hour or two and when they return they have been robbed. They are taking the jewelry and money laying around. I know that one went though the front door and went out the back to a car waiting for them in the Bonifay parking lot. The one today was said to be on the golf course.

As many of you know... I am not adverse to stopping people on the street and asking your business here if you look suspicious, a car I don't recognize or parked in a place that doesn't seem right. I also have no problems calling the police on my neighbors home if I see something suspicious. (sorry Dave and Diane) It's hard to see our neighbor's front doors with the entryways, so we really have to pay attention. Keep an eye out when you leave to see if anyone is watching the houses.

Please pay more attention to what is going on around you. Get license numbers... Ask questions. And PLEASE... let that first call be to the Police! The VCDD has no authority! Put the Sumter County Police in your phone for quick access!

Please pass this information along... not to alarm... but to arm. We can deal with what we know. And.... If you hear anything or see anything... Please let the rest of us know... Knowledge is power!

Thank you,

Angie, it's good to know you have the first hand information. Would you please share with us the exact number of break-ins and also the name of the deputy with whom you spoke?

Perhaps this information would allow us to contact local elected officials with the number of incidences and ask for an update as to how the authorities are proceeding.

[angiefox10]

Originally Posted by CarGuys

It was on Allaire Loop Village of Fernandina, Yes it sounds like Allure Loop which is in not in the area.

1: Sumter Sheriff called Community Watch Dispatch to inform them of the situation.

2: Community Watch South Supervisor was dispatched by Community Watch to meet the Sumter Sheriff on scene.

3: Suspect is a young White male. Black Pants, Black Backpack, Black Bandana

4: Sheriff Dogs were tracking.

5: Situition is still under investigation.


Some Advise-

People in that area should keep garage doors down.

All Home doors locked.

Do not advertise that you are leaving, always make it appear someone is home.

Neighbors watch out for each other. Please report all suspicious individual(s) and call 911 immediately.

Most home intrusions occur between 12-4 ( yes there has been more than one in the last few months.)

There is no hype on this post just facts. It did occur.

All records of events are open for the public to view at community watch.

Many times police events are given to the HOA for posting at a later event by the Sheriff.

The crime rate is under .8% in The Villages. Let us respect the poor victims who were part of that .8 %.

To them it is very real, it did happen.

Thank you!!!!

To the person who asked all the questions. I don't know the exact number of break ins in This area... I know of five now since I've moved in. There could be more. I've heard of others and have no reason to believe they aren't true. Good source.

I told you what my husband told me he saw in court.

I didn't write down the name of the deputy I spoke to. I only cared to verify.

That is all..... I out!

Again... Carguys... Thank you!!!!

[OscarOlden]

Originally Posted by CarGuys

It was on Allaire Loop Village of Fernandina, Yes it sounds like Allure Loop which is in not in the area.

1: Sumter Sheriff called Community Watch Dispatch to inform them of the situation.

2: Community Watch South Supervisor was dispatched by Community Watch to meet the Sumter Sheriff on scene.

3: Suspect is a young White male. Black Pants, Black Backpack, Black Bandana

4: Sheriff Dogs were tracking.

5: Situition is still under investigation.


Some Advise-

People in that area should keep garage doors down.

All Home doors locked.

Do not advertise that you are leaving, always make it appear someone is home.

Neighbors watch out for each other. Please report all suspicious individual(s) and call 911 immediately.

Most home intrusions occur between 12-4 ( yes there has been more than one in the last few months.)

There is no hype on this post just facts. It did occur.

All records of events are open for the public to view at community watch.

Many times police events are given to the HOA for posting at a later event by the Sheriff.

The crime rate is under .8% in The Villages. Let us respect the poor victims who were part of that .8 %.

To them it is very real, it did happen.

Thank you CarGuys. We all need to heed your advice.

[shalomuall]

My neighbor and I were outside around the corner and were concerned with all the sherrifs cars and unmarked car that were going up and down our street. Now we know. oy

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by angiefox10

I question the credibility of the people who won't even call to verify the information... They are the same people in every thread! I knew it was true... I still made the call.... It's not in the paper and there isn't anyplace you can find it. But you can talk to a deputy... I did!

I kNOW and trust CARGUY.


Happinow, we KNOW YOU and trust you but so many people are totally anonymous on here and they can or cannot be truthful. A little skepticism is a good thing.


It would be gullible to swallow stuff from someone who we have little or no history reading on this forum or from someone who has always enjoyed stirring things up.

[shcisamax]

Holidays are always a time when burglars take advantage of people going out to other's homes or traveling. Being extra careful and extra vigilant in the next few weeks is probably a good idea. Probably a better idea is to make it a habit. Lightbulb moment: This is when it actually pays off to have a barking dog.
In all seriousness, we are smaller village communities and we should be able to recognize people that are out of place. If you see something that seems off, it probably is.

[Peachie]

Angie, Carguy provided the info I wanted. (I had a phone call from the time I started my post, I should have checked before I hit the submit button.)

[buggyone]

Originally Posted by shcisamax

Holidays are always a time when burglars take advantage of people going out to other's homes or traveling. Being extra careful and extra vigilant in the next few weeks is probably a good idea. Probably a better idea is to make it a habit. Lightbulb moment: This is when it actually pays off to have a barking dog.
In all seriousness, we are smaller village communities and we should be able to recognize people that are out of place. If you see something that seems off, it probably is.

"Be able to recognize people that are out of place"?

To some extent, that is true. If I would see a car cruising back and forth slowly on the street several times, I would get suspicious. If I saw a young person walking down the street, no problem. Common sense applies to all situations.

If you are worried about a break-in, get a home alarm system. If a 110db siren goes off when the door is kicked in, the burglar is not going to stay around and take something. Most are around $45 per month for monitoring.

I bet someone will post here that it is just as effective to get the yard sign saying you have an alarm. Don't be cheap if you are seriously worried!

[Happinow]

Maybe when you leave your home take a look down the streets. If you see a car parked in the street, as you drive by look to see if anyone is in it. Check to see if maybe someone is crouched down on the seat. If so, take down the license plate. If there's someone in a car parked on the street then be a bit suspicious. Maybe don't leave home right then? It can never hurt to be cautious, and the plate number may help police solve these crimes. We may have to go above and beyond until someone is caught. As I see it the perps are staking out the homes. They would have to be close enough to your house to see you leave. I don't know. Just trying to come up with ideas to catch these creeps!

[redwitch]

Sadly, I remember when a few homes were broken into around Stillwater and Canal a few years ago. The reports of these incidents were also disbelieved on here. It took a regular poster's home being burglarized before many here believed it had occurred. It also caused a few good folks to leave TOTV and never return. Worse, they told their friends how unwelcomed they had been and how they had been called liars because they tried to warn people here that homes were being burglarized.

It seems that even TOTV history repeats itself. It didn't happen to you; it wasn't reported in the newspaper; and so on and so forth so, of course, it didn't really happen and the person reporting it is a troll. Maybe rather than insisting that the folks reporting issues like this prove it happened, those who doubt could pick up their phones and call the appropriate county sheriff to see if a break-in or two had in fact occurred and then report what was said by the deputy. That way, we'd definitely know if it was a troll or someone trying to be helpful and warning us this is occurring.

[bdabob]

Here is an email sent to neighbors from the owners who were robbed in Fernandina yesterday. Why do we have so many "doubting Susan's"???


Thought everyone should know, our house was robbed while we at the grocery store. Only gone about an hour. Took cash and jewelry but search all drawers and closets. Even took tools from garage and broke open a small safe with just important documents inside.
Got in by prying open slider on back of house. Police came and got a lot of finger prints off door and safe. Hope they catch the sob.
We're ok but feel violated.
Tell all neighbors to be on the lookout for strangers in the area.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by bdabob

Here is an email sent to neighbors from the owners who were robbed in Fernandina yesterday. Why do we have so many "doubting Susan's"???


Thought everyone should know, our house was robbed while we at the grocery store. Only gone about an hour. Took cash and jewelry but search all drawers and closets. Even took tools from garage and broke open a small safe with just important documents inside.
Got in by prying open slider on back of house. Police came and got a lot of finger prints off door and safe. Hope they catch the sob.
We're ok but feel violated.
Tell all neighbors to be on the lookout for strangers in the area.

Thank you for this real information. It wasn't a kick in front door but it was a middle of the day crime. Friends who live in a gated community in Sarasota had a similar thing happen there, a series of burglaries in broad daylight when people weren't home... and it was found to be landscapers/yard maintenance people who would watch when people would leave together.


Seems like neighbors could help with who was there at the time of the other burglaries. That is probably being done and I feel these low lifes will be caught. Another thing...a lot of security cameras being used even in residential areas will help solve this too. I HOPE.


In answer to WHY do we have so many "Doubting Susan's" is to believe everything posted on a public forum would be naïve, particularly because some people do not know the facts or present them accurately. I have read this forum for a long time and rumors and half truths are the order of the day.. Some posters are always, always dependable but many other's don't jump, they LEAP to conclusions and present gossip as fact.


Skepticism is healthy. It would be silly to trust information that has no reasonable or credible back up.


The reasons WHY posters would lie are many. NOT everyone can live here and many feel left out and bitter.

[AriaGrandparents2013]

Great post Angie...........

[Lovey2]

Originally Posted by Happinow

Why would you think someone would post something like this if it weren't true??? I, for one, am getting tired of good people on here trying to alert others of danger and then being told in a round about way they are not credible. The OP doesn't have to prove anything because I don't believe they would post something like this without knowing that it happened. Come on, give us a break and thank the person for letting us know we need to be extra diligent about our security and safety. Just stop it already.

I'm with you. Too much dissension on here, just for the sake of it. As The Villages grow, so does the opportunities for the "bad guys". I am guessing it is the "NEW" areas, and being posted by the "NEW" people, because we still have a lot of construction going on in our areas, and not too many people question unknown/unmarked cars and trucks driving driving around, assuming it's legit. As posted by both you AND Angiefox...we just need to PAY ATTENTION. If it doesn't happen great, if we can stop one incidence, you did good!! I for one, Thank You for reminding me to be aware.

[Bizdoc]

I suspect that several factors are at work which make new areas more attractive targets.
1. There are lots and lots of pickup trucks and work vans coming and going. No one thinks it odd to see a work van parked on a residential street.
2. The unattended gates are set in the up position for the day (to facilitate easy entry by trucks) or open automatically for everyone.
3. New area = new residents = new stuff. No one wants a 10 year old TV.
4. In new areas, neighbors are still learning each other's patterns.
5. Remember, you may not think that you are "rich", but for someone living on minimum wages, you have lots more than they do. And that makes you good pickings.