One of our neighbors did some excellent detective work. He saw a young man described as tall (6’1″ or 6’2″) thin, about 18 years old and clean cut sitting in the Pavilion park area. The man was riding a blue bike and smoking a cigarette. He seemed to be intently watching the home that was burglarized on Amazon Basin Bend.

Our neighbor approached the man and asked if he had seen anything. The man responded he saw some youths (gothic looking) come from outside our neighborhood on Friday during the day. He acted strangely and our neighbor thought it odd that he knew about the burglaries of two homes.

The young man gave his first name and we believe he lives outside Sanctuary’s phase 5 (Bordeaux gate). This information is being provided to HCSO to investigate.

This afternoon, our neighbor (you’ll note I never disclose anyone’s name who provides information) pointed out that both burglarized homes have trees and bushes leading from streets near the Bordeaux/Chateau area directly to their back yards. Other homes did not have the reduced visibility.

We now suspect the burglar(s) came from the phase 5 area, walked through the wooded areas directly to the rear of the homes that were burglarized on Amazon Basin Bend and Jacobs River Run. The trees and bushes would have concealed them from view by most people, and it could have provided a vantage point to watch when residents left the homes.

One another note, we’ve gotten some tips on suspicious vehicles. Last night a neighbor sent me a text message that they saw a white van and another vehicle going slowly through our neighborhood at about 11:35pm. When they called to the driver, he sped off. I met deputies who responded around midnight and they patrolled the neighborhood last night.

Thanks to everyone for being so vigilant. I think our Neighborhood Watch Program is making a difference.

Tom

At least two homes in the Sanctuary were burglarized today.

19402 Jacobs River Run
19622 Amazon Basin Bend

In both crimes, a rear door or sliding glass door was smashed to gain entry. One home did not have their alarm activated. The other had an active alarm that was going off when the homeowner arrived home at about 2:50 p.m. Entry was gained into the alarmed-home through a broken glass in a regular door, and since the burglar(s) didn’t actually open the door, the alarm wasn’t immediately triggered. We suspect that alarm was set off later, either by a motion sensor or when they exited.

Several neighbors reported seeing (again) a white van with ladder racks on the roof (no ladders) driving extremely slowly throughout the neighborhood. An older white male is reported to be the driver. We have some exact times, so video may reveal the license number. We have no idea if this vehicle is involved, but the driver’s behavior is certainly suspicious. A HCSO K-9 dog possibly tracked a person or persons from the Jacobs River Run address out to Amazon Basin Bend, but we also don’t know any more about that.

Both homes normally have people going in and out throughout the day, so it’s likely burglars were either watching the residents leave, or they approached the homes, knocking on doors or observing that residents were out.

With the uptick in construction activity, we have a lot more people in the neighborhood. Now that we’ve experienced these crimes, it’s more important than ever to immediately report any suspicious activity.

We’ve had many reports of a white pickup truck hanging around in the Sanctuary on Livingston for the past couple of weeks. The truck was seen yesterday at 1:08 p.m. and again today just a few minutes ago.

The vehicle has Ed Monson Electric on the side and Florida license plate V265FC. A neighbor followed this truck and it stopped at a lot on Tylers River Run, then proceeded to Jacobs River Run.

If anyone knows of construction related work being done by this company, please let me know. Otherwise, we’ll continue to watch for suspicious activity. The Sheriff’s Office does an outstanding job and I’m sure will help us keep a watch.

Tom

cc: HCSO

The gates will be under repair today and will have to be removed for a period of time. We’ll keep you updated via the Association Blog and email on the status.

Neighbors in Phase 5 reported a white pickup truck was slowly driving in the community around 1:00 p.m. today. This vehicle has been seen before. One person reported they believe the truck entered from Robertson Trail (see the Google Map of phase 5 below). Two men were seen in the truck and it had a sign on the doors.

The white pickup was seen sitting in the driveway of a home in phase 5. The homeowner was not home at the time.

If you see this vehicle or any other suspicious activity, please call 911 or the non-emergency number 813-247-8200 AND call or text me at 813-579-0235. It’s very important we quickly alert HCSO so they can get here before the truck leaves.

I will call ranking officers of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office to ask for more frequent daytime patrols in our neighborhood. Although no crime has yet been reported, this situation is disturbing and could be an indication of possible criminal activity, especially with the home break-in on Bordeaux Way just outside our back gate.

In a second incident, a neighbor reported that the steel cables (and Neighborhood Watch sign) I hung along Old Livingston Road were cut. I will check it tomorrow, but it may mean people are again entering between the vacant homes on Mexican Sun Drive. Some work is being done on a partially completed home on the cul de sac, and the workers may have cut the cables to gain access and avoid the entry gate. I will attempt to repair or replace the cables attached to the fence posts.

You’ll recall my alert about a burglary of the house immediately outside the Sanctuary back gate on Bordeaux Way. Kim Ferrante obtained some additional information that we wanted to share.

The burglarized home is normally occupied but the homeowners were not home at the time. The burglar(s) broke in by crashing a sliding glass door in the rear of the house. The home does not have an alarm system. The crime occurred during the mid-day.

Although we don’t know if a second incident is related to the burglary, an older white van was seen at about 5:00 PM on the same day attempting to enter the Sanctuary at the back gate. The driver was punching numbers in the key pad and eventually followed somebody into our neighborhood. He was seen driving on lots in Phase 5. Our concern is they might have been dumping material or casing homes in the Sanctuary.

Please be extra vigilant and on the lookout for any suspicious activity. Get descriptions and license numbers if possible, and call 911 (or non-emergency 813-247-8200) then call or text me at 813-579-0235.

Check our website for updates and the Association Blog for the latest information on this incident and all Neighborhood Watch and Security updates.

The most up to date alerts are posted on our Association Blog.

Please keep your contact information updated. You can go to the website here and automatically send new contact information or change your email.

Update: A neighbor saw an old white Jeep with a sign on the side that said “Hauling.” The driver was going very slowly through the neighborhood for about a half hour.

I was notified tonight that the house immediately outside the back gate of the Sanctuary was broken into during the day. The burglars apparently spent a significant amount of time going through the home, taking everything of value.

A neighbor also reported a white van was attempting to gain access into the Sanctuary through the back gate in the late afternoon (around 5:00 PM). After unsuccessfully trying to enter codes into the key pad, they were able to follow a resident into the neighborhood to gain entry. The white van was seen driving on unimproved lots in the Phase 5 area. We don’t know if they were dumping trash or what they might have been doing.

Please keep a lookout for any suspicious activity. The Sheriff’s Office Bulletins recommend leaving outside landscaping lights on at night, however, many burglaries occur during daytime hours, so if you see a vehicle or people who look suspicious, please call 911 and provide as much descriptive information as possible. The HCSO non-emergency number is 813-247-8200. I learned that the HCSO does not always keep a record of calls to the non-emergency number if an officer is not dispatched to meet with a resident and only a BOLA is sent to deputies. However, it is important to be safe and report all vehicles or persons, especially if you see them parked near a home. We have some excellent deputies covering our area.

Once you report activity to the HCSO emergency 911 or non-emergency number 813-247-8200, please call or text me at 813-579-0235 so I can follow up if necessary with the Sheriff’s Office and notify the Neighborhood Watch Captains.

Neighborhood Watch:

The entry gate that was damaged on Tuesday became stuck tonight in the closed position. Bob and I went up and had to open both sides until repairs can be done. We discussed ideas for how we can address the issues we are having with people hitting the gates. We’ll have more to share with you soon.

A white Toyota vehicle deliberately crashed into the entry gate (twice) trying to gain access to our neighborhood. Bob checked the gate this afternoon and the actuator arm is damaged beyond repair. The gate company will replace the arm.

We have the incident on video and will be reporting it to the HCSO.

A white pick-up truck was parked this morning on Sea Rider Way. The truck motor was running with one person inside. A neighbor approached the vehicle and they drove off at a high rate of speed. Unfortunately, the neighbor couldn’t get the license number.

Please keep a watch for this vehicle.

A 3/16" steel cable and sign installed

I strung a steel cable and placed a Neighborhood Watch sign to create a barrier from Old Livingston Rd. to the cul de sac on Mexican Sun Drive.