Originally Posted by VillagesFlorida (Post 1051801)

A few years ago there was a bunch of thefts where it was determined that the thieves cased the home at night, when lights were on, and it was easy to see what was inside the house. At dusk my blinds are all closed for the night. Our villa backs up to a golf course but that is not a guarantee that someone is not casing the place out. Also, around the same time, thieves were lifting sliding doors out of their tracks and getting in to a home that way. We know it can be done because my husband on two occasions has lifted our neighbor's door out of its track to let locked-out tenants in. There are easy fixes for this issue. Let's make it very difficult for these scum bags to rob us.

Originally Posted by VillagesFlorida (Post 1051837)

Yes, we installed regular screws in the upper tracks, leaving them low enough to prevent the doors from being lifted up to remove them. Years ago we had an intruder start into our side courtyard at just about dusk. We were in our lanai and heard the gate open. When my husband confronted him he turned and ran. The police arrived too late to catch him. Ever since that night, probably 15 years ago, we have had a padlock on our gate. Let's see, garage door down and locked, front door locked, blinds closed, gate locked. Unfortunately, this is how we have to live if we want to keep the possessions we have worked for. The crooks are looking for something they can sell easily, or pawn, for a quick drug fix. They do not care who they rob. Two years ago, while on vacation up north, I had a beautiful diamond ring, my wedding band, and a Hawaiian heirloom-style ring stolen from the nightstand while we were out golfing. The thief busted the door in and made off with about $11,000 of my jewelry. Lesson learned: Never leave anything in plain sight. At least make it difficult for them to find your valuables.

Originally Posted by VillagesFlorida (Post 1051837)

Yes, we installed regular screws in the upper tracks, leaving them low enough to prevent the doors from being lifted up to remove them. Years ago we had an intruder start into our side courtyard at just about dusk. We were in our lanai and heard the gate open. When my husband confronted him he turned and ran. The police arrived too late to catch him. Ever since that night, probably 15 years ago, we have had a padlock on our gate. Let's see, garage door down and locked, front door locked, blinds closed, gate locked. Unfortunately, this is how we have to live if we want to keep the possessions we have worked for. The crooks are looking for something they can sell easily, or pawn, for a quick drug fix. They do not care who they rob. Two years ago, while on vacation up north, I had a beautiful diamond ring, my wedding band, and a Hawaiian heirloom-style ring stolen from the nightstand while we were out golfing. The thief busted the door in and made off with about $11,000 of my jewelry. Lesson learned: Never leave anything in plain sight. At least make it difficult for them to find your valuables.

Originally Posted by VillagesFlorida (Post 1051837)

Yes, we installed regular screws in the upper tracks, leaving them low enough to prevent the doors from being lifted up to remove them. Years ago we had an intruder start into our side courtyard at just about dusk. We were in our lanai and heard the gate open. When my husband confronted him he turned and ran. The police arrived too late to catch him. Ever since that night, probably 15 years ago, we have had a padlock on our gate. Let's see, garage door down and locked, front door locked, blinds closed, gate locked. Unfortunately, this is how we have to live if we want to keep the possessions we have worked for. The crooks are looking for something they can sell easily, or pawn, for a quick drug fix. They do not care who they rob. Two years ago, while on vacation up north, I had a beautiful diamond ring, my wedding band, and a Hawaiian heirloom-style ring stolen from the nightstand while we were out golfing. The thief busted the door in and made off with about $11,000 of my jewelry. Lesson learned: Never leave anything in plain sight. At least make it difficult for them to find your valuables.

Originally Posted by Villager Joyce (Post 1051856)

I hate that you feel you need to live life like a prisoner in a fortress. There must be a way for you to feel safe. The bad guys/gals win if you let them keep you from living. I'm not saying be stupid. We close and lock our doors. We rarely close all the curtains.

Originally Posted by sunnyatlast (Post 1051880)

I don't know a single person here who 'lives like a prisoner in a fortress' here in TV. This is the kind of stereotyping and labeling of TV that is so far out of bounds and gives a totally distorted picture of crime here. Yes, there is crime, but it is statistically very low compared to other cities and suburbs of this size.

But I DO know wise people like ourselves who have a monitored alarm system, and a nice affordable one to start with is Simply Safe.

Too many older Villagers sneer at the idea of having an alarm system, but the whole idea is that when that alarm goes off with sirens blaring, it keeps the intruder OUT of the house and sends him/her running and the police are called within a minute once they talk to you on the monitoring call. Do you really want that intruder in your house and personal space like in your bedroom? Keep them OUT with sirens etc. going off.

The other thing that bugs me is the worry about possessions. We all have insurance on possessions, but we don't have enough insurance for our bodies and minds if we are attacked/assaulted physically and with firearms/knives. Get the alarm system and use it!

Originally Posted by Villager Joyce (Post 1051886)

I responded to a person who sounds as though there is a checklist each day -- garage door down, doors locked, blinds closed. THAT is prison for me. I sincerely feel badly that someone feels that way. While you were typing your response to me, I was removing my response because I didn't feel like defending myself against posts from people who didn't get the fact I was being compassionate.

Originally Posted by sunnyatlast (Post 1051913)

I did sense you were being compassionate and I realized you saw that it sounds like they're living in a prison, which I think that type of "living" is, also. The bottom line for me was that others were chiming in in support of that kind of thinking without actual experience of living and owning a home here.

I was responding to the impression of that prison-like existence that is conveyed and supported with more comments to that effect, to newcomers and newbies or those considering coming here. There is a lot of negative, unfounded stereotyping of this beautiful place which is the best place many of us have ever lived in.

I apologize if my post seemed too directed at you because it wasn't intended to be.

Originally Posted by aware1 (Post 1051671)

Just to give a heads up to all you out there keep an eye on your garages i have never ever had anything stolen until i moved here my garage door was open while i was cutting my grass and working on the yard and when i went inside to get a drink someone came into my garage and stole my mini mower and the charger that goes with it DAMN shut your garage doors or else.

Originally Posted by sunnyatlast (Post 1051880)

I don't know a single person here who 'lives like a prisoner in a fortress' here in TV. This is the kind of stereotyping and labeling of TV that is so far out of bounds and gives a totally distorted picture of crime here. Yes, there is crime, but it is statistically very low compared to other cities and suburbs of this size.

But I DO know wise people like ourselves who have a monitored alarm system, and a nice affordable one to start with is Simply Safe.

Too many older Villagers sneer at the idea of having an alarm system, but the whole idea is that when that alarm goes off with sirens blaring, it keeps the intruder OUT of the house and sends him/her running and the police are called within a minute once they talk to you on the monitoring call. Do you really want that intruder in your house and personal space like in your bedroom? Keep them OUT with sirens etc. going off.

The other thing that bugs me is the worry about possessions. We all have insurance on possessions, but we don't have enough insurance for our bodies and minds if we are attacked/assaulted physically and with firearms/knives. Get the alarm system and use it!

Originally Posted by Bonny (Post 1052003)

Hmmmm..... OP has not come back ? ;)