[capecodbob]

Video cameras, good lighting, and an active neighborhood watch/police can usually convince these jerks to go elsewhere. Need a couple of arrests with newspaper coverage, to top it off.
These crimes are done mainly because these creeps think they can get away with it (none of the above anywhere to be seen) and/or no one will confront them.

BB

[coolkayaker1]

Is there an organized voluntary citizen's neighborhood watch patrol?

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by coolkayaker1

Is there an organized voluntary citizen's neighborhood watch patrol?

No. And I don't think we need one.

[buggyone]

Does anyone honestly think that Community Watch or the police or a Zimmerman style Neighborhood Watch would have the capability of patrolling all the parking lots in all spots 24 hours a day?

How would cameras cover all the possible parking spots?

How would identities from camera images be made? From the RFID chip we all got in our neck at our home closing? That only works when going by the gates.

[eweissenbach]

Originally Posted by buggyone

Does anyone honestly think that Community Watch or the police or a Zimmerman style Neighborhood Watch would have the capability of patrolling all the parking lots in all spots 24 hours a day?
probablynot
How would cameras cover all the possible parking spots? with wide angle lens should be realistic
How would identities from camera images be made? HD images and video enhancement should make it possible. From the RFID chip we all got in our neck at our home closing? That only works when going by the gates.

. Since I have not yet purchased a home I should be undetectable! Good to know! Actually the technology should be fairly easy and affordable - the monitoring might be the difficulty.

[My Daily Run]

I live near LSL and I work in LSL and I see large groups of teenagers all the time in the parking lots behind Coldwater Creek clothing store near the box office and behind Starbucks. I see them running around between cars. Usually on weekends but being the summer I may have seen them during the week (don't always know what day it is living here). Drive by at night and see them. It is more often then none. Check it out...you may be surprised. I am not saying that they are responsible but they are loitering.

[TexaninVA]

Originally Posted by BarryRX

Here's how safe The Villages is.........we've just had three pages of commentary because a car got keyed. It doesn't get much safer than that. By the way, in Chicago over the July 4th weekend, 64 people were shot and 11 were killed.

This comment does indeed provide a certain comparative perspective

[TexaninVA]

Originally Posted by 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.

I think Indy makes an accurate observation, even if some may feel uncomfortable about it. Deterrence is important, and while it can be abused, just seems like the pendulum has swung too far and needs to be adjusted.

[TexaninVA]

Originally Posted by coolkayaker1

One possible solution: put dynamite in a dummy car triggered by anyone getting in the vehicle, then leave it unlocked with an iPad on the front seat.

Hmmm, this has potential. As long as you minimize the charge to avoid collateral damage to innocent bystanders, I'm thinking this could work.

[Junebugs]

Originally Posted by pooh

Cameras don't always "catch" the bad guys. This past Christmas, our children drove to TV from Chicago. They stopped at a Cracker Barrel in Marietta, GA for a bite to eat....in the early afternoon. In a short while, their car was broken in to, presents, suitcases, electronics were stolen. Crooks were clever, they knew how to do their dirty work without the surveillance cameras seeing them or plates on their vehicle.

I have heard about cars being broken into at Cracker Barrel parking lots. Because they are frequented by travelers (with luggage), the crooks realize they are more likely to find something in the trunk.

[rockyisle]

We parked behind Tuscan Spa last night to go to the movies. I had told hubby about the car vandalism. When we came out, our car was fine, but I did notice that CW trucks were buzzing around the parking lots.... so I'm guessing that someone reads TOTV... Nice to see their yellow lights flashing.... Don't we all feel safer now?
Skip - I am so sorry for your friend and the damage to her car. I know it would give me pause on moving here had it happened during my first visit.

[Skip]

Originally Posted by rockyisle

We parked behind Tuscan Spa last night to go to the movies. I had told hubby about the car vandalism. When we came out, our car was fine, but I did notice that CW trucks were buzzing around the parking lots.... so I'm guessing that someone reads TOTV... Nice to see their yellow lights flashing.... Don't we all feel safer now?
Skip - I am so sorry for your friend and the damage to her car. I know it would give me pause on moving here had it happened during my first visit.

Community Watch was notified of the incident. Yup, it can hurt new home sales and community reputation. Thanks for your remarks.

Skip