[Caper]

I just received this notice from a friend and wanted to pass it on.

I just want to let everyone know to use extreme caution when leaving their golf cart unattended at the town squares - particularly Spanish Springs.

Our golf cart was stolen from a lot in Spanish Springs behind the Rialto Theater sometime between 5:30 and 7:00 in broad daylight. The keys to the cart were in my pocket and the glove compartments were locked. According to the officer who took our statement, there has been a rash of thefts (approx. 55) over the past couple of months. They said there is a "ring" operating out of Marion County. While our cart is fairly distinctive, they offered little hope that it will be found.

Since the Daily Sun seems to be remiss in reporting this type of theft or information about this "ring", I thought everyone should know that unless you plan on sitting in your cart at the town square, or parking it where you can keep an eye on it, it may not be there when you get back. Please advise your friends of this.

We will be taking the car to Spanish Springs from now on! At least the car has an alarm!

[DENNIS G]

Sorry that your cart was stolen. Most carts have what is called common key, the same key fit all carts of same make. They do this for fleet carts and most of the carts being sold here were fleet carts at one time of other. If you have gotten another cart and have not changed the ignition key to uncommon key, I recommend that you do. Our friends cart was stolen at the Bowling Alley a couple months ago, the police told him there is no way to trace serial numbers unless it was a registered cart (LSV with plates and 17 digit serial number). We changed the ignition key on his new replacement cart.

[Muncle]

I don't know what the big deal about dumping on the newspaper is all about, but the Daily Sun has had several articles about golf cart theft over the last few months. One would have to be pretty obtuse not to know that there's been an increase in this activity of late. Does the paper report every cart theft or even every burglary? No, but this is a community of over 50,000 people perceived by many of our neighboring "townies" as being more affluent than we are and certainly more affluent than they are. We're a prime target for property crimes and we've got to accept that. Learn to live with it and take reasonable precautions or fret your life away.

Life's a :edit:. Get used to it.

[Talk Host]

Originally Posted by Muncle

Does the paper report every cart theft or even every burglary? No, but this is a community of over 50,000 people perceived by many of our neighboring "townies" as being more affluent than we are and certainly more affluent than they are. We're a prime target for property crimes and we've got to accept that. Learn to live with it and take reasonable precautions or fret your life away.

Life's a :edit:. Get used to it.

I'm sorry, I don't agree. We should not just "get use to" living with crime. Living in the Villages does not automatically exonerate residents from their social responsibilities of fighting crime. If in fact there have been 55 cart thefts recently, that is a "crime wave." It should be on the front page of the paper, on radio and television until the crime wave is over. We are "prime targets," because it is common knowledge that there is no dedicated law enforcement agency in this enormous enclave. Thieves steal where they can get away with it and not get caught. Life may be "a :edit:" but it is our responsibility to make it better and not to just "get use to it."

[aln]

I totally agree with the Talk Host.
I can't get used to inexcusable behavior.
WE need to be vigilant and take note of people 'scoping' carts.
There's usually security of some sort around when it's busy and lots of carts in the area.
These thieves probably are operating when it busy and lots of 'fish in the sea'.
Many of us have cell phone cameras.
Start taking pictures of carts being loaded onto flatbeds being pulled by pickups.
These carts are not being driven to Ocala so they have to be loaded. I'd pay particular attention to this activity in mail station lots or rec center lots. The theives probably drive the cart away from downtown and to lots like that or maybe around Publix or Albertsons or Sweetbay. All flatbed trailors should be considered a suspect.

[nyclicker]

Maybe some of these items would help prevent theft.
http://www.golfcartaccessories.net/c...ite-locks.aspx

[Muncle]

Like it or not, crime has, does, and will exist. It's one of the ugly sides of human nature. You may not want to "get use to" living with it, but if you don't, if you let its existence get to you, you'll go crazy. TV is, by comparison to most places of similar size, a very safe environment. Violent crime is almost nonexistent for now (knock on wood) and property crime is minimal. But yes, it does happen, so it is incumbent upon all of us to take proper actions to reduce the likelihood of being a victim. Lock you house. Take the keys out of your cart when you park it. Even get a unique key system. Will this make your house and your cart totally safe? No. There will still be break-ins and thefts, but you'll make it a bit harder for the bad guys and they'll possibly pass you up and look for an easier target.

You bemoan the lack of a "dedicated law enforcement agency in this enormous enclave". As you well know, this is a political impossibility in that TV straddles 3 counties and at least 2 municipalities. TV cannot create their own law enforcement agency. I will concede that it can do a better job with the Village/Neighborhood Watch patrols and interaction with existing law enforcement agencies.

We'll never agree about the paper. I think they do an adequate job. You evidently find them severely lacking. :dontknow: But I do think you're right about the Democrat candidates.

[gfmucci]

Originally Posted by Muncle

Learn to live with it and take reasonable precautions or fret your life away.

This is the essence of what Muncle stated...and I very much agree with the Serenity Prayer philosophy this comment represents.* Adapt and protect yourself from what can't be changed...change what you can.* Learn the difference.* Learn to live with what can't be changed.* Those who think they will ever live in a place totally free of crime are deceiving themselves and are fretting their life away if they are dismayed by it.

I appreciate the tip about changing your locks on the carts.* Talk about ripe for the pickin'.* What if all houses had the same locks and there was a string of burglaries.* Would we give up the house when it only costs a few bucks to take action to change our locks?* We do sound like a helpless group of ol' f---s sometimes.

[Talk Host]

Originally Posted by Muncle

You bemoan the lack of a "dedicated law enforcement agency in this enormous enclave". As you well know, this is a political impossibility in that TV straddles 3 counties and at least 2 municipalities. TV cannot create their own law enforcement agency. I will concede that it can do a better job with the Village/Neighborhood Watch patrols and interaction with existing law enforcement agencies.

One of the options available to The Villages is "Contract Coverage" with the three Sheriff's Departments. That is to pay for dedicated patrols inside the Villages proper. This is a system used in many states where local police departments are not a viable option. (In fact, when I was a deputy in Ohio, I was contracted to Poland Township. I was a county deputy, but my paycheck came from Poland Townshp." The deputies would be completely commissioned as they are now, and would be available to assist on backup calls outside, but their primary job would be to patrol our streets. That would be a giant step in the right direction.

[gfmucci]

Originally Posted by Talk Host

One of the options available to The Villages is "Contract Coverage" with the three Sheriff's Departments. *That is to pay for dedicated patrols inside the Villages proper. *This is a system used in many states...

I agree this is an option but not a good one.*

Here's why.

Which ever part of TV you live in, you are in one county or another - counties that are responsible for effective law enforcement.* As a strong and unified political force in each of these three counties, Villages residents should demand effective law enforcement, with appropriate funding.* I understand each County is somewhat rural, especially Sumter.* They probably have a rural government and law enforcement mentality...meaning that they have minimal resources, capacity, and expectations for their effectiveness - with primary reliance on the older rural ethic of neighbors taking care of business.

I have a difficult time*accepting what amounts to "double taxation" by paying for supplemental contract law enforcement when the taxes we're paying, or maybe a smidgeon more county wide, ought to buy effective enforcement.* What you want to bet that each portion of TV in each County in which its located already pays a disproportionately larger share of taxes per square mile than does the NON-Villages portions of those counties?* We should press for improved presence of law enforcement through the taxes we're already paying before we cave into the idea of paying only out of our pockets for supplemental policing.

[renielarson]

As someone who is in TV often by myself I want to change my ignition key to an uncommon one. Any recommendations where I can go for the best price to do the switch?

[Muncle]

Originally Posted by gfmucci

What if all houses had the same locks and there was a string of burglaries.

Oh, they haven't told you about that one? The builders got a great price on door locks and only have to keep one master key. It makes it much easier.


I'm kidding! :joke: evil6

[Talk Host]

Originally Posted by gfmucci

I agree this is an option but not a good one.



I have a difficult timeaccepting what amounts to "double taxation" by paying for supplemental contract law enforcement when the taxes we're paying, or maybe a smidgeon more county wide, ought to buy effective enforcement. What you want to bet that each portion of TV in each County in which its located already pays a disproportionately larger share of taxes per square mile than does the NON-Villages portions of those counties? We should press for improved presence of law enforcement through the taxes we're already paying before we cave into the idea of paying only out of our pockets for supplemental policing.

Las Angeles city residents pay taxes to support the Las Angeles County Sheriff's department and they pay for the Las Angeles City Police department as well. The same is true in Kansas City, New York, Chicago and every other city that has a police department. Yet, those sheriff's patrols do not routinly work inside the cities. Actually the Sheriff is not required to provide police patrols, they do it only as a supplemental service to the tax payers. Many counties in the United State provide only jail services and process serving.

If the Marion County portion of The Villages represents only 3% of the entire county, then we will get only 3% of the sheriff's patrol (maybe less). I don't think it is reasonable to think that the sheriff is going to increase anything inside the Villages. We have to look out for ourselves, even if it means paying a "smidgen" extra for added safety.

The Villages has it's own Fire/Rescue department, yet we all pay taxes for Marion, Sumter and Lake County Fire/Rescue. I haven't heard anybody squawk about it. Is there a difference in the two discussions?

[renielarson]

Muncle...your humor keeps me alert

Are you really kidding? :

OMG...do I now need a golf cart ignition switcher and a door lock switcher?

I am getting paranoid.... :realmad:

Just joking too... ??? ??? ??? ???

I totally agree with Talk Show host!!!!