You can learn anything from the internet
 

Look at this.


3 Ways to Kick Down a Door - wikiHow


It says that if the kicking doesn't work, it shows you where to use a hammer and then a crowbar.


Ain't that just calming to all of us?

I agree with this comment. We have seen a lot of police covering the Pinellas St area lately. They just can't be everywhere and see everything. We need to be on the look-out too. In talking with one of the Sherrif's Deputies at the scene of yesterday's break-in, he told us that there are currently 9 officers "in training" within the Sheriffs Dept. :police: They will be added to the force soon to help keep us safe. His other comment was, "ya'll are growing so fast here in The Villages that we can't keep up with all the new areas." They are really trying to keep us safe and I think we need to give them some credit.

Just curious- if there IS a "pattern" to the break-in's, i.e.; same predators who are targeting their victims, (and likely the police have already asked the victims the same question); but could there be a common link?

Should all the victims get together and discuss whom they may know or whom they may have done business with-that might be a common denominator? Just a thought- in case the chosen victims are not "random"..??

Seeing we are holding class for burglars, please do not break in my door use a “Bump Key”.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=131j0htYIoU]BUMP KEY IN ACTION - YouTube[/ame]

I am a bit curious as to whether this is a recent phenomenon or has this happened throughout the building of The Villages? Is this just something about the constructtion areas this time? Seems strange to have an uptick just at this particular time.

I was wondering too. I don't remember break-ins like these being reported in 2011 when we bought our new home in a new neighborhood. Are they just being better reported now, or are they a recent development?

Seem's a lot of folks keep blaming construction workers and landscapers, I kind think it's people who don't want to work.

To say the Sheriff's Dept. is inept is way off base; they cannot be everywhere at once.
To say we should have better protection because we pay more taxes is also off base and shows a very elitist attitude. Everyone in Sumter County deserves protection.
We need to be more vigilant as neighbors and call the police when we see or hear anything out of the ordinary.
Starting neighborhood watches are a great idea.

Cheers for the Sheriff's Dept!

Think twice before putting boxes from that new TV, computer, etc, out for trash/recycling! It advertises where they can get new items!

If You See Somthing , Say Somthing.

Jewelry stolen in latest burglary in The Villages

January 13, 2014 By Meta Minton 13 Comments
Jewelry was stolen from a home sometime Sunday morning in the 500 block of Callahan Drive in the Village of Charlotte.
The front door of the home was kicked in sometime while the homeowners were out between 8:45 and 10 a.m., said Lt. Bobby Caruthers of the Sumter County Sheriff’s. The sheriff’s office was contacted at 10:29 a.m. that morning.
It appeared that the burglars also gained access to a safe stored in a spare bedroom closet. It was unclear what was removed from the safe.
This makes nine burglaries which have taken place in roughly the past two months in The Villages.
The burglaries have occurred on the following dates:
• Nov. 3 in the Village of Pinellas at Cedar Grove.
• Nov. 20 in the Village of Sanibel.
• Nov. 21 in the Village of Fernandina.
• Dec. 18 in the Village of Glenbrook.
• Dec. 19, again in the Village of Sanibel.
• Dec. 24 in the Village of Polo Ridge.
• Dec. 26, again in the Village of Fernandina.
• Jan. 3 a lanai screen was cut in a home in Village of Bridgeport at Miona Shores. An arrest in that case was made Friday.
Lt. Nehemiah Wolfe urges Villagers to take advantage of the sheriff’s free home inspection program. Through it, a member of the sheriff’s office will visit a home and provide tips on securing the home. You can schedule an appointment by calling 689-4600.
He added that neighbors looking out for neighbors is also effective.

Most policemen will tell you that the only thing that prevents crime is a deterrent. Patrols will not stop breakins; just make them harder. Police investigate crimes, thus taking the perps off the street, one at a time.

All I can say is keep your eyes open for strangers and use your head. Not saying this is what happened but. If you ride around on recycle day just look at some of the advertisements people put out front. New TV boxes, new safe boxes, new computer boxes etc. Take the time to break them up, tare them up, turn them inside out or something. don't just show off what you just bought. just like the people who leave their garage doors open and probably leave the golf cart keys in them. golf clubs stolen out of golf carts uptown or wherever. It's an open invitation to a desperate person. JMO

I think one of the previous posts was excellent.

The sheriff should get all the burglary victims together in a conference room with a chalkboard. The victims would be asked where they shopped before the robbery, services that sent people to their homes, common purchases from common stores. Just find all things that might have a common link and do some Colombo-esque detective work.

This would also allow all the victims to get some closure in talking with the others in a same type of situation - and might resolve any PTSD issues they may have from their experience of having their home violated.

Great point about the hidden door design. Just wondering, were the homes targeted the same style, or model, cottage or designer or CYV'S? Patio Villas, or were they all different?

Can you shot to kill if they break in if they are unarmed? At our age I am courteous if fear of life requires the one breaking in to be armed to be a life threatening criminal.

Florida's "stand your ground" law permits residents to employ deadly force if they fear imminent danger.

So do they have matching prints from any of these locations???

Ask Angie Fox. She is the contact person.

How does Met Minton access this information? She makes a phone call, she gets a phone call, the Sheriff sends her an email or does she knows the road to public records thru the net. Answer that question and win a free trip to Brownwood.

It appears 6 in new areas of TV and 3 in "older" Villages---generally speaking this is where the burglaries have recently happen in TV. Just want to remind that there are many hard working good people trying to make a living for their families and we shouldn't "pigeon hole" construction workers as the major suspects in these burglaries. Let the police do their job.

There was also a break-in on the historical side around Christmas, as reported in The Villages on-line news.

Another thought, and perhaps this has already been mentioned, is the gate camera's and their timestamps? If the burglaries have been identified as happening in a window of time, I would think this technology could provide some clues at the very least.

I heard that a neighbor took a photo with his phone of the vehicle and the police viewed the gate photos and have ID'd the car......that's what I heard 'on the street'. for what it's worth.

That is correct. Although five have occurred in the Sanibel Charlotte area, possibly by the same perp with the kick in of four front doors, and entry through one back door in Fernandina. One was in Miona Shores, One in Glenview and one in the Historic area and where was the other one? POLO Ridge.


They are going to catch these guys and we somehow are going to help them by being vigilant and reporting anything just a little bit off.


Here it is. NEWS BELOW IS FROM JANUARY 3. Not most recent.
Bridgeport at Miona Shores home burglarized while couple sleeps

January 3, 2014 By Meta Minton 20 Comments
A Village of Bridgeport at Miona Shores home was burglarized early Friday morning as a husband and wife were sleeping in their bedroom.
The wife attempted to wake the husband at 3:37 a.m. thinking she heard a noise, but they went back to sleep. The woman then got up at 4:15 a.m.
She immediately noticed that their dogs, usually secured behind a doggie gate, were roaming about the house, located in the 1100 block of Miona Shores Drive, according to Lt. Bobby Caruthers of the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.
She and her husband soon discovered that a screen on the lanai had been cut. Entry was gained through a sliding glass door.
Items taken in the break-in included a 50-inch flat screen television, a digital camera and a Macintosh computer, Caruthers said.
This makes eight burglaries which have taken place in the past 60 days in The Villages.
Of the seven burglaries, four included forced entry by kicking in the front door, two gained entry through forcing open a sliding glass door and the final burglary was to an automobile, according to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.
The burglaries have occurred on the following dates:
• Nov. 3 in the Village of Pinellas at Cedar Grove.
• Nov. 20 in the Village of Sanibel.
• Nov. 21 in the Village of Fernandina.
• Dec. 18 in the Village of Glenbrook.
• Dec. 19, again in the Village of Sanibel.
• Dec. 24 in the Village of Polo Ridge.
• Dec. 26, again in the Village of Fernandina.
Villages Homeowners Association Director-at-Large Irv Markely, a resident of the Village of Bridgeport at Miona Shores, has been trying to keep his neighbors aware of such incidents and sent out an email blast to his neighborhood encouraging vigilance.

"I heard that a neighbor took a photo with his phone of the vehicle and the police viewed the gate photos and have ID'd the car......that's what I heard 'on the street'. for what it's worth."
street is the best news I've heard.

Are we really this wussie to not gather ourselves up against this? I am disappointed with the head in the sand, somebody else's job, let the police, don't panic, etc.

Get up and do something, neighborhood! Let's ride those carts all over, OK? How about committing 1/2 hour a day to riding the hood?

When we were at the Sheriffs office.. The Lt. said this is true. He indicated they knew who was involved in this break in.

I would go to the end of the earth for you tall one, but our hood is really small. And a huge majority is armed.

Received this email this evening.
 

Subject: This email came from a Charlotte neighbor, we need to take pay attention

Some of you probably know that we were robbed on Sunday. Yes it did make the newspaper this morning. The purpose of this email is for information and awareness. We left on Sunday at 8:45 AM for church and returned at 10:15. This time frame is not a routine time that we leave every Sunday. We believe that someone was watching on Yarborough on Sunday and waiting for someone to leave. Many neighbors were outside washing cars and walking, so it was not a quiet time. Somewhere in that time frame, our locked front door was kicked in and the thieves came for money and gold jewelry. Our locked safe was in a closet and was no match for a crowbar or some tool of that nature. All closets were rummaged through. Any gold jewelry is gone as well as some cash we had in the safe. Nothing else of value was taken. The police were here within minutes of our call at 10:21. They brought the K9, questioned neighbors, and fingerprinted (very carefully). They were professional and immediate. Because some neighbors saw things out of the ordinary with a strange car parked on Yarborough, the police have a promising lead. We pray that this will lead to an arrest. Thank heaven for alert neighbors and cameras at the gates.

So this is what we have learned and want to share: Your locked front door will not keep them out. A safe is not “safe” against thieves. Our important papers are going to a safety deposit box. Heirloom jewelry that was in it is irreplaceable and should be at the bank as well. Cash should be kept somewhere one wouldn’t think it would be. Think about an alarm, cameras, motion lights, etc. The police have other suggestions that I won’t put in an email.

Our deepest thank you to those of you who gave statements, helped with the door, sent emails, phoned, gave advice, and just came over to give us hugs. We will be busy with a new door and insurance today and checking all accounts in case numbers were stolen. We will not be victims, and are vowing to keep our neighborhood safe from anyone who wishes to come in and violate what we have worked for years to accomplish. If you walk your dogs or walk just for exercise, please take your camera/phone and snap pictures of any car that seems out of place in your immediate neighborhood. We will be talking to young people that we know don’t live in our immediate area (tell your children and grandchildren that we are overly friendly if we talk to them), and we will be vigilant in helping to protect you. Thieves will know that we are watching EVERYONE and may think twice. Hide your valuables or get them out of the house entirely. Get to know your neighbors, the cars they drive, and WATCH. It can’t happen here or to us, just did.

Good luck!

Thank you so much for posting this..

I'm so sorry this has happened to these people. I'm with Kitty... I think we should all just take a little extra drive on these wonderful Florida days and let people know we are out there.

Well ok, you can ride 10 minutes, but I was actually thinking that Sanibel and Fernandina are mine to watch along with gilchrist. and lucky you to know who is prepared for a gunfight.

thank you so much for posting this and very sorry anyone has to go through this. We certainly will be more observant in the future!

I have come several times and found my garage door open. Someone else's garage door opener must be the same, and triggers my garage door. I'm sure glad my next door neighbor, watches everything that goes on around the neighborhood. I feel I have been lucky so far, but I need to remedy this situation. Maybe another garage door opener, on another frequency?

I am fully aware that I must lock the door from the garage to the house, even if I am home, as these thieves are brazen and desparate for money.

I hope they catch these dirt bags.

Sent 2BNTV a pm.

Joe/2b, your remote can be reprogrammed. I have instructions how to do it...
K.

Thank you, duffysmom, for posting this. My heart goes out to those who had the break in. The advice in the email is excellent.

You are assuming that the dectectives working on this have not already explored the common link? Wouldn't be one of the top things they would look for? Give them a little credit!

Killing someone with a phillips screwdriver does make a lot sense..............

Suggest you call the sheriff's department with that question, details of the investigation are not common knowledge on TOTV.