[samhass]

I received an email this morning from a neighbor about an alleged robbery
on Sayle Drive. Please be careful and vigilant.

[chelsea24]

Yes, last night we were out with friends from Belevedere and they said the police and canine unit were warning everyone in their neighborhood because a screen had been pushed in on one of the houses.

Be on the alert.

[bimmertl]

Was it a robbery or a burglary? There is a considerable difference.

[samhass]

This is the body of the email I received. I can't confirm the veracity of this email. I am asking if anyone has heard anything about this.

Gail,
> >> The detective was just here and said we should warn our neighbors,
> >> because the usual scenario lately is that once a house has been hit by
> >> this burglar they suspect, they usually hit several more in the same
> >> neighborhood within a short period of time.
> >> In several cases, an attractive woman around 26 years old, has been seen
>
> >> slowly walking down the street, or standing a couple houses away from
> >> the house being robbed, talking on her cell phone, (probably to the
> >> person in the house, as a lookout).
> >> The police want anyone who sees ANYTHING suspicious or out of place to
> >> call 911 so they can come investigate.
> >> They said these burglaries are a top priority to get solved...
> >> So even a very small thing is worth calling them for...
> >>
> >> I'll keep ya posted.
> >> Gwen
> >>

[ConeyIsBabe]

When I lived in s/FL I participated in the local Citizens Crime Watch which patrolled the commuity at night, with the cooperation of the local police department, two volunteers per unmarked vehicle, with police radio, in constant contact with the police officer assigned to monitor the group. This was a very effective and successful crime deterrent for the community. If any suspicious activity was observed by a volunteer, it was transmitted via the police radio to the officer who took immediate action.

Is there any Neighborhood Crime Watch in TV ?

[Mintjulep]

Samhass,
It was us that was burglarized. That was my email to our neighbor Gail.

It happened while we were at dinner.
We were home just past 8:30, took our dogs out and noticed a bunch of my small cardboard-type jewelry boxes in the backyard. Empty... Checked our backdoor and they had broken the lock on the bedroom slider.
They had ransacked my jewelry armoire and took all the good stuff. 3 diamond bracelets, several gemstone rings and necklaces, watches. Actually, I'm still remembering things that are missing. But my guesstimate at this point is minimum $3000 worth that was stolen.

But I cannot say enough good things about the Sumter County Sheriffs
Dept. They were here in a heartbeat, so extremely polite and professional. And took everything so seriously.
They brought in dogs, a German Shepard and a Bloodhound. And even a helicopter. And at one point we probably had nearly 10 police cars in front of our house, talking to the neighbors and etc.
The crime lab guy was here til past 4:30AM fingerprinting and taking DNA samples.
They all kept telling us how sorry they were that this happened to us.
And the 2 detectives who were at our house at 9AM the next morning were also just wonderful to us.
They kept saying they would work as hard as they could for us to get this solved and hopefully recover my jewelry.
I owed a business that was broken into a few years ago in NC and didn't get a tenth this much attention from the police.

I hope they can recover some of my special pieces that were taken,
but the main thing to us is that we were unharmed.
And neither were our dogs that were in the house at the time...

[chelsea24]

Oh Minty, I'm so sorry this had to happen to you. Thank God you didn't walk in on them. Guess they weren't afraid of the dogs either! Wow!

Yes, I completely agree with you on The Sumter County Police or Sheriff's Dept. We had to call them once too and they are absolutely the best.

Take care sweetie, chels

[donaldlmiller]

I love THe Villages. I recently bought a home in the Hood of Hadley. My main concern about the Villages is security. It is a gated community but noone checks cars coming into the Village. Anyone can come to the gate and get through. I believe that everyone should either have to use the key cards or have to check in with the gate keeper to get in. If we are going to have a guest we simply tell the gate shack who and when they will be there and when they will be leaving. They receive a window tag and then everyone knows they are legal. When they leave they return the guest pass and they are checked off the list. After hours requires the use of only the key carda or gate cards.
I know this would require more of the guard shacks but I truly believe it would bring a better sense of security to the residents of THE VILLAGES.

Don Miller

[samhass]

Minty, I am shocked that it was you. You email really got around. I am so glad you are safe.

[Bryan]

FYI Donald, this is NOT a gated community (with some small exceptions) but we do have "monitored access". All of our roads (again with some small exceptions) are public roads maintained by tax dollars so anyone who pays their taxes (i.e. has a license tag on their car) can use them. To do what you suggest would mean making all our roads private roads with the total upkeep and maintenance cost going to TV residents in addition to additional costs for more manned guard shacks. In general, this is probably cost prohibitive and not worth the effort.

[Boomer]

Mint,

I am so glad that you're all OK. That is scary.

Boomer

[donaldlmiller]

Thanks Bryan. I too agree that the cost would prohibit many fro enjoying THE Villages. We must all help each other keep a watchful eye. It is a great palce to be and live but with the increase size it too will have its social issues as well. Let us all keep a watchful eye and help take care of each other. Isn't that what America is suppose to be?

Don Miller

[sandybill2]

Minty--I'm so sorry that you had this experience but am thankful that you are o.k. and your dogs were not harmed. We will certainly be more aware of our surroundings and anything or anyone that seems out of place.

[KathieI]

Minty, welcome back to posting. We missed you.
So sorry to hear about the robbery and am very glad you and your hubs and the doggies weren't harmed. That is the part that really scares me. I once was burglarized at my home in LA and 2 days later my dog died. They probably poisoned him to get access into the house. Glad all else is okay with you guys. Don't forget to come to the lunch on the 20th. I'd love to see you. Kath

[Mintjulep]

Thanks guys for all the kind words.

The worst thing was the creepy feeling of sleeping in the bedroom knowing that a few hours earlier someone had been going thru all our things. They even went thru our bathroom linen closet and medicine cabinet.

And I don't know HOW long it will take to get rid of all this fingerprint dust!! That's some nasty stuff.
I keep washing and still wind up with black fingers when I open things they've fingerprinted...

They also said we were the first burglary that had dogs in the house.
I'm sure they were yapping like mad, being the schnauzers they are.
If only they could talk...