Colony vandalism cited for crime hike

Longboat Key Police Chief Pete Cumming released crime statistics for 2013 revealing that vandalism and trespassing offenses are up 54% and 32% respectively compared with a year ago. In the report released Jan. 2 to Town Manager Dave Bullock, Cumming attributes the increase in offenses to the condition of the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort.

Cumming also reported that traffic stops are up 27.5% in 2013 compared with a year ago. He credits the August installation of the Key’s license plate recognition cameras for the increase in traffic stops. There were 1,536 traffic stops in 2013 compared with 1,204 traffic stops in 2012.

The department has also worked with the Planning, Zoning and Building Department to create the position of a code-enforcement officer who will be supervised by the police department.

“This reorganization will minimize duplication addressing code violation and provide a more efficient level of service,” said Cumming in the report.

In 2013, Cumming also noted his department cross-trained patrol officers to supplement marine patrol officer duties through an in-house program, added another police boat and reorganized the structure of the department and gave promotions to experienced officers.

“The 2013 calendar year has been challenging and yet productive,” Cumming wrote. “We’ve made important progress this year building what will be the foundation for future improvements.”

Fire causes Sea Gate evacuation
Firefighters responded to a two-alarm fire 11:26 p.m. Jan. 3 at Sea Gate Club condominium, 2524 Gulf of Mexico Drive after a resident pulled the fire alarm.

Firefighters determined the fire was contained to an air/heating system within a unit on the 12th floor.

Residents waited in the building’s community room until personnel declared the building safe.

Longboat Key Fire Rescue announced this week it will offer home inspections to residents.

The inspections will analyze homes and identify hazards with an inspection report that will list recommendations.

Call 316-1944 for more information.

conducts annual inspections of all multi-family and commercial structures. However, the department only has jurisdiction over common areas and hasn’t been able to inspect living areas.

According to a news release, the department responded to two residential fires over the past year that possibly could have been prevented by inspections. Both homes didn’t have working smoke detectors, and one had flammable material stored inside the living area.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected]