[jblum315]

Keying cars is a crime as old as time. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Cain keyed Abel's car (or his donkey?) People do it because they're mean, because they're envious, because they're drunk, maybe because they're ****ed off that there's no P in Sumter. I don't see it as a reason to condemn a community. It happens everywhere.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Skip

Last year there was a rash of vandalism to cars parked in the lots around Lake Sumter Landing. Many cars had their radio antennas or wipers ripped off. Then there was the incident of broken windows to cars parked over night behind AAA.

We had friends visit this weekend and they got interested in buying a house here and moving from further up north. We had talked about the safety here in The Villages too.

On Sunday (7/7/13) about 3 PM we got back to her car parked below Merrill Lynch behind the Tuscan Day Spa at LSL and found that her brand new car had been keyed by some vandal. The scratch was deep and ugly, not a casual accidental scratch by someone carrying something between cars.

The Sumter County Sheriff's Dept. was called and a crime report was made but the officer stated that without direct evidence (like a willing eye witness), it's nearly impossible to catch the perpetrator(s). He would not answer the question of whether other car owners had reported keyed cars here this weekend.

Our friend was devastated to tears because of this and vowed never to buy here in a place that has such cruelty going on. (Understandable!)

Did any TOTVer have the same crime occur on Sunday or any other day recently? Perhaps sharing the details will help stop this ongoing problem at LSL.

Please don't tell us that this can happen anywhere and it's not just a problem in The Villages! These crimes have been happening at LSL for too long and the businesses around here are noticing the discontent of our residents unwilling to come to the square in the evening and now even in daylight hours.

Skip

How awful and how devastating and a very good case for cameras. I think it was some nasty kids who have too much time on their hands and disrespect for seniors. I will get yelled at for this statement, but that is what I think. It is my experience that most kids are nice, but there are always a few.

How very sad that this happened to people who may have been quite happy here. It is so unfortunate.

And Skip it was very real and very personal to you but I don't think it is a common occurrence or we would hear about it on this forum. Someone always knows someone who knows someone and it almost always gets talked about on this forum.

It makes me so angry that this happened to you and your friends.

[Bonny]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

How awful and how devastating and a very good case for cameras. I think it was some nasty kids who have too much time on their hands and disrespect for seniors. I will get yelled at for this statement, but that is what I think. It is my experience that most kids are nice, but there are always a few.

How very sad that this happened to people who may have been quite happy here. It is so unfortunate.

And Skip it was very real and very personal to you but I don't think it is a common occurrence or we would hear about it on this forum. Someone always knows someone who knows someone and it almost always gets talked about on this forum.

It makes me so angry that this happened to you and your friends.

I have to say, I know a few Villagers that are very capable of doing something like that.

[Bonnevie]

my son's car was keyed once and the body shop people told me girls do it a lot....darn that Carrie Underwood song!

[Cedwards38]

Another take...........I got keyed once and didn't discover it until days later. Who knows where it happened? The reason I know it occurred several days earlier is that when I mentioned it at work, a couple of my colleagues told me they noticed it days earlier, but it got right by me. Not saying this might not have happened at The Villages, but.................

[57ChevyFI]

Originally Posted by Skip

Developer won't install security cameras (like Walmart) because he says it gives the impression of high crime in the area. (!)

However, when gates were accidentally being broken off at villages entrances, The Villages first step was to install video cameras so they could catch and charge the person involved (usually us residents) for the repairs.

Skip

SO you are 100% sure there are NOT cameras in the Lake Sumter area?

[57ChevyFI]

Originally Posted by gocubsgo

Wonder where Community Watch Patrol drivers were? Obviously not there.

1000 people at the square, 400? or more cars. Good point!!! Hard to believe the two community watch people didn't see everything and every car their entire shift. You could just blame all the Villages and their guests at the square as well, who didn't see anything. Also the Sheriff's department would be a good target to blame.

[rubicon]

"When you have eliminated the impossible whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." S. Holmes

You have a person visiting The Villages "Florida's Friendliest HomeTown". This visitor observing the beauty and originality of The Villages and the activity and energy found at the Town Square. This visitor/car owner returns to where the car was parked and finds deep seated scratches all along said car.

The police are called and inform the car owner that a report is taken but nothing can be done. When asked if other cars were damaged (keyed) receives no response.

A predictable feeling of anger comes over the car owner and is immediately followed by a feeling of helplessness because the perpetrator(s) walks away from all of this free to strike again.

This sort of scenario has been reported repeatedly on TOTV and I fact on this thread.

It is apparent given the ever increasing size of The Villages and the fact that The Villages experiences a continuing influx of people from all over the world that in fact the subject of "safe seems relative.

Perhaps it is time that The Villages leadership considers installing camera's throughout The Villages and steps up patrolling by the local police both at the public squares and throughout neighborhoods

[BobnBev]

Maybe it's time to think about a Villages Police Department. The Sheriff can only do so much, with limited resources.

[tommy steam]

Originally Posted by Skip

Last year there was a rash of vandalism to cars parked in the lots around Lake Sumter Landing. Many cars had their radio antennas or wipers ripped off. Then there was the incident of broken windows to cars parked over night behind AAA.

We had friends visit this weekend and they got interested in buying a house here and moving from further up north. We had talked about the safety here in The Villages too.

On Sunday (7/7/13) about 3 PM we got back to her car parked below Merrill Lynch behind the Tuscan Day Spa at LSL and found that her brand new car had been keyed by some vandal. The scratch was deep and ugly, not a casual accidental scratch by someone carrying something between cars.

The Sumter County Sheriff's Dept. was called and a crime report was made but the officer stated that without direct evidence (like a willing eye witness), it's nearly impossible to catch the perpetrator(s). He would not answer the question of whether other car owners had reported keyed cars here this weekend.

Our friend was devastated to tears because of this and vowed never to buy here in a place that has such cruelty going on. (Understandable!)

Did any TOTVer have the same crime occur on Sunday or any other day recently? Perhaps sharing the details will help stop this ongoing problem at LSL.

Please don't tell us that this can happen anywhere and it's not just a problem in The Villages! These crimes have been happening at LSL for too long and the businesses around here are noticing the discontent of our residents unwilling to come to the square in the evening and now even in daylight hours.

Skip

I am for cameras in the squares parking lots. Just letting people know that they can be caught might just stop someone from doing these things. Why they aren't there is beyond me. Lots of large shopping areas all over the country have them to prevent or catch people who do this sort of thing.

[Indydealmaker]

Police DO NOT prevent crimes. Ask any cop on the street. Police are no longer allowed to police in such a way as to pull bad dudes off of the street before they can do the crime. Police investigate crimes that have been already committed and they attempt to catch the bad guys. Theoretically, the resulting punishments of the criminals is a deterrent to others.

However, the threat of being caught and punished is no longer a deterrent because our increasingly liberal society feels more responsibility for the poor perps than the victims.

Increased police patrols are not a serious deterrent either because no matter how many cops are on the street, there are always going to be more bad guys who appear quite skilled at being where the cops are not.

The only answer is for people to be more aware and not have their collective heads up their rear ends thinking that there is ANY really safe place. There are only "relatively" safe places, like The Villages.

It also might help if parents started parenting, but that is another topic.

[eweissenbach]

Originally Posted by tommy steam

I am for cameras in the squares parking lots. Just letting people know that they can be caught might just stop someone from doing these things. Why they aren't there is beyond me. Lots of large shopping areas all over the country have them to prevent or catch people who do this sort og thing.

Cameras at the parking lots and the squares seem like a logical and reasonably inexpensive precaution. Not sure what the developer's reluctance to install them could possibly be caused by, unless he/they just don't want to get into the security business.

[tommy steam]

Originally Posted by Skip

Developer won't install security cameras (like Walmart) because he says it gives the impression of high crime in the area. (!)

However, when gates were accidentally being broken off at villages entrances, The Villages first step was to install video cameras so they could catch and charge the person involved (usually us residents) for the repairs.

Skip

If you notice there are really no signs telling Peope anything, like dont climb on the cowboy at brownwood . I think the powers to be don't want to take away from the friendliest home town thing.

[DougB]

Nothing unfriendly about taking someone's picture! My mom loves when I wave at her from the live cams in the squares.

[red tail]

Originally Posted by BobnBev

Maybe it's time to think about a Villages Police Department. The Sheriff can only do so much, with limited resources.

then we have to start covering 20 year pensions and all the expenses that go with facilities,etc etc etc. marion,sumter, and lady lake do a fine job just the way it is. I for one have no complaints with what we have.