Ranch burglaries raise security awareness

EAST COUNTY — Two burglaries that occurred 3 miles and a week apart this month have Lakewood Ranch residents talking about best practices for securing homes during the holidays.

On Nov. 9, a burglar stole $20,000 in jewelry from an Edgewater home and a home down the road was broken into on Nov. 16.

Local residents and law enforcement are brainstorming on how residents can keep their homes and valuables safe during the holidays — a time of the year when criminal activity can be higher, Manatee County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Dave Bristow said.

“People can become targets during the holidays just by doing certain things that we may not realize we’re doing,” Bristow said.

To Bristow, burglary deterrents are common-sense concepts.

For example, Black Friday shoppers: Don’t show the neighborhood that 60-inch flat screen television that was 80% off, Bristow said. And don’t leave boxes for electronics or other expensive items outside in plain sight next to the trash.

Break boxes down and tuck them inside the trashcan or recycling bin if possible.

Other holiday-specific theft-prevention tips include keeping the Christmas tree and the gifts under it away from a window that passersby can see from the street.

The most effective way to deter robbers is video surveillance, Bristow said. If a burglar sees a video camera it may prevent him from entering a home, or if an individual does enter the home, the footage will more than double law enforcement’s chances of finding the perpetrator, Bristow said.

Traveling families leaving East County for other cities or states also shouldn’t make it obvious they aren’t home, Bristow added.

Alerting neighbors before leaving for a vacation is also recommended.

“Don’t let newspapers pile up in the driveway, and try to leave a car in the driveway or a small light on that might suggest someone is home,” Bristow said. “These are just real basic things we can do that might make a difference (and deter burglars).”

Residents have also taken to the free online forum lake woodranchtalking.com to discuss holiday burglary concerns.

On the website, residents recommend turning on alarm systems every time an individual leaves his or her home, and leaving lights on in a bedroom, front porch or other entry points.

Leaving a car in the driveway, especially during the day when the majority of the workforce is away from home, may also deter thieves, forum founder Andrew Schoenfeld said.

Burglary breakdown
Although recent burglaries have some Ranch residents questioning the security of the gates at the entrance of their communities, burglaries in East County are dropping.

In the northern sector of Manatee County, which includes Lakewood Ranch and areas east of Interstate 75, burglaries have decreased from 286 to 249, from Nov. 15, 2013 to Nov 15, 2014.

The zone in which the two recent burglaries occurred has seen a decrease so far this year as well. Last year, by Nov. 15 the sheriff’s office recorded 38 burglaries. This year, 31 burglaries have been recorded for the North 80 sector, which spans from Interstate 75 to Lorraine Road and State Road 70 to University Parkway.

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at [email protected].