[KathieI]

Originally Posted by senior citizen

.

.......What are the TV thieves doing with the appliances???? Giving them away to family or friends?

Interesting??? I thought it was curious that they couldn't locate any of the appliances??? They are not easy to hide, wonder where they are???

[Posh 08]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I was wondering the same thing.....!

This might help answer your question or raise more.

Florida Laws: FL Statutes - Title XLVII Chapter 903 Bail - Florida Attorney Resources - Florida Laws

Accused Persons Entitled to Bail; Amount of Bail; Considerations and Findings; Surety Bond; Surrender by Defendant of Operator's or Chauffeur's License as Security; Receipt; Expiration Date; Extension; Written Notice; Return of License - Mich. Comp.

Hard to second guess the Judge without knowing backgrounds etc.

[LABSX2]

Originally Posted by senior citizen

I am wondering if background checks are done on any of THE VILLAGES workers in general???

We don't have the level of new construction (if any at all to speak of) in Vermont that TV has going on.......so it is a concern.

What has been on the increase up here are locals breaking into out of stater's unoccupied "camps" and "cabins", stealing the copper for salvage.

Some are brazen enough to steal jewelry and entire sterling silver trays and tea sets in the pricier ski areas.......taking them to pawn shop for cash.

Times are hard and this type of crime seems to be increasing all over.
Prices are high on metals.....which make all these type criminals come out of the woodwork.

What are the TV thieves doing with the appliances???? Giving them away to family or friends?

Yes, the economy is bad, but the leading cause of crime is not for people to put food on their table, it's to buy drugs. I seriously doubt that they are giving the applicances away. They are more than likely selling them or trading them for drugs. I work in the Detective Bureau of my County Sheriff's Department and this is what we see that most crimes of this nature are drug related.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by LABSX2

Yes, the economy is bad, but the leading cause of crime is not for people to put food on their table, it's to buy drugs. I seriously doubt that they are giving the applicances away. They are more than likely selling them or trading them for drugs. I work in the Detective Bureau of my County Sheriff's Department and this is what we see that most crimes of this nature are drug related.

That is just what I thought too...and they get sold on Craigs list or driven to the coasts to be fenced. Two guys including the worker from the villages who was arrested to remove them and the girl to sell them on Craigs list?

You can see I watch a lot of detective shows.

I wish we could eliminate all illegal drugs entering this country.

[ljarnold]

Thanks Graciegirl. I am one of the people off campus.

[VillagerNut]

Just an FYI for anyone that wants to know what is really happening in The Villages as far as crime. Anyone can call any of the Sheriff's Dept that service your area to request the crime stats for your area. You can call the non-emergency number and ask for someone in records. For Sumter County the number is 352-569-1600 and ask for someone in records. Please ask for a small time period like the last 2 weeks for The Villages Sheriff's calls. They will email it to you!

Also I want to help folks understand why the gates are like they are in The Villages. If you have gates that do not have a way for everyone to get in then the streets are considered PRIVATE. So FEMA will not pay for the clean up of any storm/hurricane/tornado damage. In 2007 all the gates received a button or a person at each gate so the roads are still considered public. If they were private, it also would mean The Villages would have to have a mandatory HOA (Homeowner's Assocation) to pay for everything instead of having the CDD Maintenance amounts. The gates are there to slow the cars down so the golf carts have a chance to pass behind them in most cases. Also the gates supposedly take a photo of the vehicles coming into the area.

Crime is a lot of time a crime of opportunity. If you give them the opportunity, the criminals will take advantage of the situation! We live in a great place but remember we still live in the real world where bad things can happen! Be on Guard and watch out for each other! Call 911 if you see something that does not look correct! Thank you!

[anarick]

I did a search on how the gates work in TV and found this thread. Although I understand the reason for allowing easy access I'm disappointed at the same time cause I thought TV was a gated community.
They mentioned that the stolen appliances were taken from newly constructed homes that were probably left open. Have there been any breaking and entering crimes in TV and who replaced those stolen appliances.
So how would out-of-towners, like us, protect themselves from theft? Should we get alarms? and if we get an alarm how would it get turned off when we're not there?

[NotGolfer]

Originally Posted by anarick

I did a search on how the gates work in TV and found this thread. Although I understand the reason for allowing easy access I'm disappointed at the same time cause I thought TV was a gated community.
They mentioned that the stolen appliances were taken from newly constructed homes that were probably left open. Have there been any breaking and entering crimes in TV and who replaced those stolen appliances.
So how would out-of-towners, like us, protect themselves from theft? Should we get alarms? and if we get an alarm how would it get turned off when we're not there?

The appliances were stolen b/4 the homes were inhabited!!! The Villages is NOT "gated" as you were thinking....the gates are to slow traffic (as are the round-abouts). IF you want an alarm and feel you need it by all means have one installed. This community isn't any less safe or more dangerous than any other community in the U.S. From my personal perspective...it's relatively safe for it's size.

[anarick]

Originally Posted by NotGolfer

The appliances were stolen b/4 the homes were inhabited!!! The Villages is NOT "gated" as you were thinking....the gates are to slow traffic (as are the round-abouts). IF you want an alarm and feel you need it by all means have one installed. This community isn't any less safe or more dangerous than any other community in the U.S. From my personal perspective...it's relatively safe for it's size.

Thanks for your comeback.
We're in Fernandina, a new area, and we're concerned because our home, after it's built, will be relatively alone for some time before we move in permanently.
Sounds like an alarm is the way to go. I never had one before.
Do you know how it will work, I mean, if the alarm goes off and we're not there? Is it safe to leave a car or golf cart in the garage?

[2 Oldcrabs]

We had an alarm tied to "central station" for 30 years up north. It only went off 2x in 30 years. 1st time the wife set it off by accident.(had to show her drivers license to the cop) The second time lightning hit the ground in the neighbors yard and shook our house soo hard it set off the motion sensor. Central station cost about $30/month or $360/year. How much is your insurance deductible? We did not put an alarm in. We use light timers in severval rooms and have a relative check on the house. We move to TV because IHMO it is one of the safest communities we have seen.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by anarick

Thanks for your comeback.
We're in Fernandina, a new area, and we're concerned because our home, after it's built, will be relatively alone for some time before we move in permanently.
Sounds like an alarm is the way to go. I never had one before.
Do you know how it will work, I mean, if the alarm goes off and we're not there? Is it safe to leave a car or golf cart in the garage?

You are no alone. Many of us were the "first" home in a neighborhood and survived without being attacked. Besides if one was going to steal something I would go where there were a lot of houses for cover.
I wonder who you have been talking to? Yes, it is safe to put your car or golf cart in the garage.
Although there have been instances of theft in the past, it is not of epedemic proportions as you are suggesting.
Relax................
PS: Welcome to TV!

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by anarick

Thanks for your comeback.
We're in Fernandina, a new area, and we're concerned because our home, after it's built, will be relatively alone for some time before we move in permanently.
Sounds like an alarm is the way to go. I never had one before.
Do you know how it will work, I mean, if the alarm goes off and we're not there? Is it safe to leave a car or golf cart in the garage?

I don't see a need for worry. I really, really don't. This is one of the safest places in this country. It is just like the area of Ohio where I am from. There are folks who post on here who will alarm you. Please don't let them. It is wise to lock your house and when you get neighbors, get to know them, they will watch out for your house. Your neighborhood will be filled in, in such a short time. Please don't worry.

[anarick]

Gracie & Boogie

Thank you. Hopefully we'll meet in the near future.

[senior citizen]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

copied from The Daily Sun today May 16, 2012

Appliances taken from 16 homes in string of crimes.
Staff Report.

The Villages-Three people were arrested in cnnection with a string of burglaries in The Villages that resulted in household appliances being taken from 16 different homes, according to Capt. Kevin Hofecker of the Sumter County Sheriff"s Office.

Hofecker said the burglaries started around March 1 and ended around April 12 with the arrest of a suspect.

The burglaries took place, according to Hofecker, at newly constructed homes in The Villages that were nearing completion.

The suspects took new appliances from the residences before the homes were occupied., he said.

The stolen items, according to Hofecker, ranged from washers and dryers to microwaves and ranges.

The first arrest came April 13 after Sumter sheriff's Detective Brad Wasson pieced together video surveillance evidence.

In the video, Wasson was able to see a black Chevrolet truck leaving the area with a load of appliances.

The video showed a portion of the license number, and Wasson was able to determine ownership, according to reports.

Wasson was able to identify the driver of the vehicle as Steven Michael Haislip, 26, of Belleview.

Haislip was arrested and charged with one count of grand theft, according to his arrest affidavit.

Bond was set at $7,000 according to jail records.

Wasson learned that Haislip and others were being directed to the homes by a construction worker in The Villages, who told them where the stocked homes were located, Hofecker said.

On May 1, Daniel Keith Sipes, 39, of Belleview was arrested on the job, according to reports.

Sipes was charged with one count of burglary, and h is bond was set at $2,000, according to jail records.

A third suspect, Cynthia Elizabeth Vilar, 26, was arrested at her residence located in the 13000 block of SE County Road 25 in Belleview, Hofecker said.

Vilar was charged with one count of burglary and one count of grand theft, according to arrest affidavit. Bond was set at $7,000. according to jail records.

Authorities have not been able to recover any of the missingi items, Hofecker said.

(Copied for the interest of folks off campus.,GG.)

Thanks Gracie. The above seemed to be at the end of the line when the brains were handed out. Hard to believe they felt they could steal like that, without anyone noticing or connecting the dots to the original construction worker. Just brazen thievery.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I don't see a need for worry. I really, really don't. This is one of the safest places in this country. It is just like the area of Ohio where I am from. There are folks who post on here who will alarm you. Please don't let them. It is wise to lock your house and when you get neighbors, get to know them, they will watch out for your house. Your neighborhood will be filled in, in such a short time. Please don't worry.

I couldn't have said ti better myself. To listen to some people talk you'd think that we live in South Jamaica Queens or South Central L.A. We live in one of the safest areas of the country.