LMJ Neighborhood Watch

Hello LMJ CrimeWatch neighbors,

For those of you new to CrimeWatch, there has been a number of thefts in the middle of the night from unlocked cars and driveways in the past 10 days in both the Isle of Pines and Live Oak Estates, and there have been many sightings of a white truck and other vehicles driving slowly through the neighborhoods in the middle of the night.  They are stealing everything from small items to pressure washers.  But last Tuesday a house was broken into in the middle of the day on one of the 5 acre lots on Lacebark Pine.  My understanding is that the thieves smashed in the sliding glass doors in the back of the house, stole guns, jewelry and electronics, and they also ransacked the house destroying items for no reason.  There is also a question as to whether these are the same thieves that are stealing from unlocked cars in the middle of the night.

UPDATE

Now we have another strange thing happening.  Thursday afternoon there were many reports about 2 males, approx 20 yrs old were driving around the neighborhood in a white Sebring convertible.  I have talked to several people about this and sounds like they were all over the neighborhood that afternoon – but only stopping at specific homes.  They pretended to be from around here selling various items such as vacuums – and at some of the houses they actually claimed to be starting a cleaning business and had paper towels with them.  They were telling people that they would clean their house for free that day to show how good they were.  No one that I know let them in.  We think they were out looking to see who was home, who has dogs and what people have.   One of our CrimeWatch members took a photo of their business card and wrote down their license plate and called the police.  (YEAH!) We have also followed up with our Crimewatch Deputy who is asking for a stronger police presence out here.  And many of you have commented that you are now seeing patrol cars in this area and the Citizen’s Patrol car as well!

Reporting Crime

PLEASE FILE A REPORT if you have had anything stolen over the past 10 days!!  I know some of you didn’t bother because it wasn’t a very expensive item – but we’ve only had a few of the many thefts actually documented (about 25%)  so the police are just now learning through our CrimeWatch about how many incidents there have been.  If you are one of the victims – even if you are not filing a claim with your insurance company, please call the non-emergency #  407-836-HELP (4357) to file a police report, or you can file quickly online through this link:  http://www.ocso.com/Fileapolicereport/tabid/126/Default.aspx

Catching the Thieves

The police need tag numbers, photos and reports filed.  Descriptions of suspicious vehicles doesn’t really help a lot.  I know a lot of frustrated neighbors are now taking turns driving around the neighborhood late at night looking to see if the thieves are back again.  But other neighbors are now seeing those cars driving through the neighborhood and they are mistaking them for the thieves.   PLEASE be careful – there are a lot of people out here with guns and everyone is a little nervous right now! 

We are working on your suggestions from the meeting:

·         One of our CrimeWatch Members is working to create a website that will have updates & tips posted.  I’m looking for a cool photo of our lake or our community for the main page – so if you have one please send it to me.
·         Another member is working on the car decals.  The idea is that we would offer small car window decals that say “LMJ” so that people that live in our community will be easy to recognize.  (One of our members pointed out that it would be a positive thing to just have “LMJ” rather than “LMJ CrimeWatch” which makes it seem like our neighborhood needs a crimewatch all the time!)
·         And another CrimeWatch Member has a relative that just opened a pawn shop near home depot on Narcoossee Rd.  He said that anyone that has had items stolen can email him a list and he will keep an eye out for them  David@FantasyPawn.com   

My apologies for a late & long message, but I was keying in data for over 50 homes that asked to be added to our crimewatch list in the past 2 days!  Please share this email with other neighbors in case they are not on our crimewatch list.  As you know – its free to join – just have them send an email to me at SuzArnold@mindspring.com with their name, address, and phone #.  We now have over 350 homes out of 565 homes in the 4 neighborhoods of Isle of Pines, Lake & Pine Estates, Live Oak Estates, and Lake Mary Jane Shores.  With so many neighbors keeping watch, we are getting a lot of tips and suspicious reports on cars and trucks, and we have had 3 neighbors get license plates  – so the police are starting to track down the thieves! 

Keep your eyes open – if the thieves keep coming out here – they WILL get caught SOON!

Suzanne Arnold

CrimeWatch