[spk7951]

From today's Leesburg Daily COmmercial:




Man takes care of lawn, jewelry

Published: Saturday, March 09, 2013

THE VILLAGES

MILLARD K. IVES | Staff Writer

millardives@dailycommercial.com

A Leesburg man is in jail after being accused of breaking into a home and stealing $5,000 in cash and jewelry -- the same home where he was performing lawn maintenance.

Matthew John Kalarovich II, 25, was charged with burglary and grand theft, and initially placed in the Sumter County jail in lieu of $7,000 bail. According to jail officials, a judge raised his bail to $17,000 in light of his criminal history.

Lt. Bobby Caruthers, spokesman for the Sumter County Sheriff's Office, said Kalarovich was conducting lawn maintenance at a home in The Villages on Tuesday when the homeowners left for Plant City sometime around noon.

Kalarovich allegedly entered the home through an unlocked door and stole the items. Sheriff's spokesman Capt. Kevin Hofecker said on Friday that some of the stolen property has been recovered after it was discovered that Kalarovich sold some of the jewelry to a second-hand gold dealer in Leesburg.

It is not clear how long Kalarovich has been employed with the unidentified lawn maintenace company, but Caruthers said the homeowners reported that it had been different employees who had worked on their lawn before.

Caruthers said the sheriff's office would determine if Kalarovich could be linked to any other burglaries in Sumter County. According to the Lake County jail website, Kalarovich has been arrested at least three times since 2006 on burglary charges, including more than a dozen counts during a February 2012 arrest.

In a press release on the arrest, Sheriff Bill Farmer offered the following safety tips in securing your home.

n Never allow maintenance workers unsupervised inside your home;

n Always lock and secure your residence when away;

n Secure all valuables and important documents in a safety deposit box at your financial institution;

n If you have a home safe, make sure it is properly secured to the floor and kept locked; and

n Do not share codes and lock combinations with anyone.

If anyone would like more information on how to better secure their home, the Sumter County Sheriff's Office offers free home security surveys where a deputy -- certified in home protection -- will inspect the residence and offer suggestions on better protection. To schedule an appointment, residents in The Villages can call the Sheriff's Village Annex at 352-689-4600; and other residents can call the sheriff's office in Bushnell at 352-569-1600.

[kittygilchrist]

Originally Posted by spk7951

From today's Leesburg Daily COmmercial:




Man takes care of lawn, jewelry

Published: Saturday, March 09, 2013

THE VILLAGES

MILLARD K. IVES | Staff Writer

millardives@dailycommercial.com

A Leesburg man is in jail after being accused of breaking into a home and stealing $5,000 in cash and jewelry -- the same home where he was performing lawn maintenance.

Matthew John Kalarovich II, 25, was charged with burglary and grand theft, and initially placed in the Sumter County jail in lieu of $7,000 bail. According to jail officials, a judge raised his bail to $17,000 in light of his criminal history.

Lt. Bobby Caruthers, spokesman for the Sumter County Sheriff's Office, said Kalarovich was conducting lawn maintenance at a home in The Villages on Tuesday when the homeowners left for Plant City sometime around noon.

Kalarovich allegedly entered the home through an unlocked door and stole the items. Sheriff's spokesman Capt. Kevin Hofecker said on Friday that some of the stolen property has been recovered after it was discovered that Kalarovich sold some of the jewelry to a second-hand gold dealer in Leesburg.

It is not clear how long Kalarovich has been employed with the unidentified lawn maintenace company, but Caruthers said the homeowners reported that it had been different employees who had worked on their lawn before.

Caruthers said the sheriff's office would determine if Kalarovich could be linked to any other burglaries in Sumter County. According to the Lake County jail website, Kalarovich has been arrested at least three times since 2006 on burglary charges, including more than a dozen counts during a February 2012 arrest.

In a press release on the arrest, Sheriff Bill Farmer offered the following safety tips in securing your home.

n Never allow maintenance workers unsupervised inside your home;

n Always lock and secure your residence when away;

n Secure all valuables and important documents in a safety deposit box at your financial institution;

n If you have a home safe, make sure it is properly secured to the floor and kept locked; and

n Do not share codes and lock combinations with anyone.

If anyone would like more information on how to better secure their home, the Sumter County Sheriff's Office offers free home security surveys where a deputy -- certified in home protection -- will inspect the residence and offer suggestions on better protection. To schedule an appointment, residents in The Villages can call the Sheriff's Village Annex at 352-689-4600; and other residents can call the sheriff's office in Bushnell at 352-569-1600.

thanks for sharing this. we need to know.
Kitty

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by kittygilchrist

thanks for sharing this. we need to know.
Kitty

Loser! He should be so ashamed.

It was on Wesh2 News this morning along with his picture.

Wonder who he worked for.

[Uptown Girl]

In addition, maybe it's a good idea NOT to leave until after your lawn workers ( or any other workers) are gone, NOT while they are still there, especially if they are not familiar to you.
This slug probably chose to join a lawn company with the specific intent to get up close to private homes.

However, we here in TV are easy pickings if we get too comfortable and forget our 'street smarts'. Not that we have to be fearful or on high guard, just aware of the picture we are presenting out there and alert to our surroundings.

Terribly upsetting for those homeowners. At least they know the culprit is in jail.

[gerryann]

This creep is on Facebook and even has posts showing wads of money and jewelry.

[gerryann]

Originally Posted by gerryann

This creep is on Facebook and even has posts showing wads of money and jewelry.

I was trying to find out who he was working for....that's the reason I was looking in Facebook.

[Topspinmo]

been arrested at least three times since 2006 on burglary charges, including more than a dozen counts during a February 2012 arrest.

Why is he out of Jail?

[jblum315]

My lawn workers frequently work when I'm not home, but I never leave a door unlocked.

[gerryann]

Originally Posted by Rc Moser

been arrested at least three times since 2006 on burglary charges, including more than a dozen counts during a February 2012 arrest.

Why is he out of Jail?

Makes you wonder if any background checks are done on workers??? Why would a landscape company hire a felon?

[elevatorman]

Another article Daily Commercial - <p>3 kids honored after helping cops</p>

[tommy steam]

Originally Posted by gerryann

Makes you wonder if any background checks are done on workers??? Why would a landscape company hire a felon?

I agree!

[gomoho]

Originally Posted by Rc Moser

been arrested at least three times since 2006 on burglary charges, including more than a dozen counts during a February 2012 arrest.

Why is he out of Jail?

No room at the Inn???

[De Lis]

I have seen a couple of men that look as though they are out on parole! It scares me a little.

[rjm1cc]

Originally Posted by gerryann

Makes you wonder if any background checks are done on workers??? Why would a landscape company hire a felon?

The Federal government is discouraging criminal background checks.

[kaydee]

Maybe I missed it but does anyone know who this slug worked for and also what Village did the victim reside in? Tks in advance.