Burglars targeting Villages homes
Posted recently on local news website:
THE VILLAGES -- Authorities have stepped up patrols and arrests in The Villages after a string of home burglaries in the community in 2009. There have been 10 burglaries in the Sumter County portion of The Villages since Jan. 10 and another five attempts, according to the Sumter County Sheriff's Office. The burglaries typically occur during the daytime, apparently after the intruders have scoped out the home and seen the residents leaving or determined no one was home.
The burglars have grabbed mostly jewelry, but also cash, stamps and coins -- more than $78,000 worth.
One homeowner lost $43,000 worth of jewelry, silverware and perfume.
There were a few burglaries in November, but they stopped -- only to resume at an increased pace in January. The spree seemed to start with four burglaries in the Villages of Hacienda, then skipped through Rio Ponderosa, Polo Ridge, De La Vista, Tierra Del Sol, Virginia Trace, Belvedere, Caroline and Amelia.
Burglars made their way into the homes by prying the sliding glass doors open or removing the screens.
The Sheriff's department has reported similar break-ins in Stone Crest as well as three of them within the last month in Spruce Creek and Del Webb. |
Burglars In The Villages May Be Using Golf Carts Posted recently on local news website:
LAKE COUNTY, Fla. -- The normally quiet retirement community of The Villages is being turned upside down by burglars. Thieves have broken into nearly 20 homes near the Sumter-Lake county line. Some think the crooks may be using a golf cart to get around.
A local couple left their home in The Villages to grab some lunch. They weren't gone 90 minutes. When they returned they knew someone had broken in. Thieves had stolen jewelry, watches and the family silver."I never thought anything like this would happen to us, especially after coming from Chicago," the homeowners said.
Lake, Marion and Sumter sheriff's detectives are now investigating up to 20 break-ins in The Villages over the last six weeks. The thieves who broke in also took designer purses and some perfume, leading to speculation that one of the accomplices may be a woman. In a couple of the cases, neighbors said they saw a young woman walking down the block in front of the homes, talking on her cell phone. Detectives think she may have been a lookout, staying in contact with the guys who were inside ransacking the house. Investigators said that the getaway cars just might be golf carts. The location of eight of the break-ins backed up to either a preserve or to a golf cart path. The sheriff's office added extra patrols in The Villages, including deputies on golf carts. |