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.