Wednesday night I was able to talk with our Sheriff Mike Scott for a while at a private fundraiser for Sonny Haas and he made it very clear to everyone that the LCSO is going to keep the pressure on the criminals in Lehigh Acres.

He said that they will figure out that this is not the place to do business the hard way.

The Count

Let us hope that our hard working Sheriff is not "handcuffed" by tax reform.

The tax mandate will definitely have an impact on resources available.

First of all the tax amendment will cut down on the funds available.

The second thing that will affect the funds available is the devaluation of the value of the homes.  When the value goes down then the taxes will also go down.

The accumulative affect of these two events will significantly reduce the amount of funds available for public services.

You the citizens of Lee County will also have an impact on the services available.  It will be the county commissioners who determine which services get cut and by how much.  You can by your communication with the commissioners influence how and where they cut.  Let your voice be heard.

Here is my solution to LSCO funding woes... cut pay in the upper ranks of the department. Raise pay some for deputies out on the beat, encouraging more qualified applicants to join. Most importantly, start finding solutions to real crime impacting people, not the joke that is the media circus around marijuana grow houses.

I wish you could see the dangers of the grow houses KB, I really do.

With reference to the efforts directed toward the grow houses: In a presentation made by Sheriff Scott on Monday evening at the East Lee County Council meeting; "Word has come back to us from the Miami/Dade area that Lee County is no longer a 'soft' area." The efforts of the Sheriff have made an impact!!!

Busting the grow houses is big business! Seeing them in LA is NOT a pretty picture. Where there are grow houses, there are criminals, gangs, and habitual drug users. Which relates to misc other crimes that eventually start increasing over time due to the dope houses. We don't need to see this crap in LA, or anywhere near Lee Co. this doesn't mean that they should reduce resources for other crimes (eg..Home invasions, Auto thefts, etc) . But if they temporarily absolutely must do so, then do so. Anything to get rid of these grow houses. i do not like the thought of reducing deputy patrols in other areas to concentrate on busting these grow houses. But these are hard times for everyone. If you've got a problem, blame it on the big financial and insurance companies that started this whole damn mess in the first place. Everyones paying in some way or another.

Here are some tips to think about....... 

Don't leave your car unlocked or the windows rolled down.
If you can, get an alarm for your car and always keep it armed. Lojack is the best insurance!
Get an alarm for your home (if you can afford it) .
Keep home windows with easy access near the ground locked. Do not leave them open at night.
Do not leave ladders lying around outside un-chained which would give criminals access to higher windows or the roof.
Keep a stun gun or taser (at least) in your home at all times. keep it near in an easy acces location and away from kids. This does not mean I would condone illegal use of a taser. But it is at least something if you are certain you may be attacked.
Keep a taser or at least personal mace inside your car. You may use other objects such as a handgun just as long as you have a permit for it. Learn your gun safety rules and don't be irresponsible. Use common sense! Just because you got a gun doesn't mean you can go and shoot a criminal. Always know the (correct) time and situation when you should make such a move. They have classes for this. Remember,the gun is the last thing you want to consider using. the most it should be used for is scaring a carjacker or thief away by pointing it at them. The trigger is the VERY LAST option. Again, gun owers, learn the rules and take the classes.
Keep your cell phone with you at all times as much as possible. This will give you the chance to hit an emergency number (911) speed dial if you were given the chance in a bad situation.
Reinforce the frames on the main entry doors of your home. This way your doors cannot be easily broken into. Also, Use thick wooden doors, steal or heavy fiberglass doors. Anything that cannot be broken easily to allow entry to your home.
Use motion sensing security lights outside your home. It helps to deter criminals if the entry points are all lit up.
Even in the middle of the day, keep your doors locked. Criminals are getting very risky and breaking in homes anytime of the day.
Don't walk your street at 3 AM in the morning. I used to do this years ago here. Now it's just not all that safe. If you must do so, take a can of mace/stungun and a cell phone (just in case).

Lehigh Acres is not a criminalistic town. It should never be known as one. I don't want to see this place going to pot (litterally).

LCSO Rep (or anyone else), please feel free to correct or improve any of my tips. I don't want to be responsible for actions or words that may seem incorrect or inappropriate.
 

There is a lot of good advice in the comments.

When it comes to alarms, the best ones are those that are monitored, of course, but an audible alarm that would alert the neighbors is a good second best. The neighbors become your alarm company.

When reinforcing the doors remember to reinforce the frame as well.

The sheriff's office will do a confidential Residential Security Survay for anyone who requests it ... for free. If you live in the East District - call Larry Gutridge at 477-1802 for details. If you live out of the East District call 477-1400 and your request will be directed to the proper individual.

Training on proper gun use is very important. The sheriff's office offers a variety of safety classes to the public at the sheriff's gun range (this does NOT include Conceled Weapons Permit classes). Call 690-3928 to get the details of courses offered.

If there are any questions please contact Larry at 477-1802.

I am hearing that there are some bad guys out there hitting homes with Alarm systems. They figure that they have about 9 minutes and be gone before LCSO get there.

Is there any truth to that?

The amount of time they have is veriable. It could be far less than 9 min. if a patrol is near.

Here are some precautions you can take to assist yourself. 

1. Include an external audible alarm with your system so that your neighbors function as a secondary alarm company. Not only can they call LCSO they can also begin to obser your house from safety and report what they see.

2. Disburse your valuable items through out the house so that the burglars do not have everything in one room making it easy for them. They know the longer they stay once the alarm has gone off the more likely it is they will get caught.

Be wise and be safe.

Posted By LCSO Rep on 23 Jun 2009 03:24 PM

The amount of time they have is veriable. It could be far less than 9 min. if a patrol is near.

Here are some precautions you can take to assist yourself. 

1. Include an external audible alarm with your system so that your neighbors function as a secondary alarm company. Not only can they call LCSO they can also begin to obser your house from safety and report what they see.

2. Disburse your valuable items through out the house so that the burglars do not have everything in one room making it easy for them. They know the longer they stay once the alarm has gone off the more likely it is they will get caught.

Be wise and be safe.

 

 

That is great advice! I never thought about that. Thank you.

What are the top 10 items that they steal?

I am not sure that I will get the top 10 in the right order but the following are in the top ten list.

1. flat screen TVs

2. lap top computers

3. guns

4. jewelry

5. small electronic equipment, GPSs, SURIUS radios, cameras, CD players, CDs

6. Cash that is left out

7. credit cards

8. ATVs

Most of these (except the ATV) can be disbursed around the house. The most frequently stolen item is the flat screen TV, the most difficult to hide. So be sure that you have make, model and serial number in hard copy. If you are going to take the time to put and identifying mark on anything make sure the flat screen TV gets it first. I would recommend using your driver's license number for this one. If that number is on it not only can it be identified as stolen when the person carrying it does not have that license number, it will allow our evidence people to be able to contact you and arrange for the return of your property.

Please take the extra steps to help us all be safer.

Thank you, LCSO Rep.

I have LoJack on my laptop computers. (www.lojackforlaptops.com)

It would be nice if there was an anti-theft for your flat-screen tv's. Or is there?

For our personal items, we have a 750 pound gun safe that is also firesafe.

not to mention the big hog that protects your mansion...

Florida

Florida is a "shall issue" state, and issues concealed carry permits to both residents and non-residents. Florida recognizes permits from any other state which recognizes Florida's permit, provided the non-resident individual is a resident of the other state and is at least 21 years old.^[43]

Vehicle carry without a permit is allowed either in a snapped holster in plain view, or when the firearm is concealed if the firearm is "securely encased". "Securely encased" means in a glove compartment, whether or not locked; snapped in a holster; in a gun case, whether or not locked; in a zippered gun case; or in a closed box or container which requires a lid or cover to be opened for access.^[44] (Note: this legal condition is not the same as "encased securely.") Vehicle carry without a permit is permitted when concealed even if it is not "securely encased" if the firearm is not "readily accessible". Vehicle carry on one's person inside a vehicle without a permit is not allowed.

Open carry when on foot is not permitted in any public area, except for lawful self-defense or hunting. (When hunting on private land, or on properties expressly approved for hunting by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or Division of Forestry, open carry is permitted.) State preemption laws prohibit localities from regulating firearms, other than with regards to zoning laws (i.e., for restricting where gun sellers may locate their businesses.)

Firearm regulations are uniform throughout the state, and a carry permit is valid throughout the state, in all areas other than in a few specially-defined areas. These specially-defined prohibited areas include:

• federally-controlled areas (such as national parks, inside the boundaries of which guns must be kept securely locked.),
• in or around specially-marked buildings/grounds (notably, mental hospitals and any hospitals with provisions to treat mental illness, where concealed carry is a felony even with a permit (F.S. 394.458). F.S 394.458 does state concealed carry is prohibited "unless authorized by law". Since F.S. 790.06(12) does not prohibit concealed carry in hospitals that treat mental illness by permit holders, it can be inferred that concealed carry with a permit is allowed. Caution is advised since there currently is no case law. In other words, no case has been referred to a Grand Jury nor has any person been tried for violating the law. One Florida resident was arrested but the charges were subsequently dropped after their attorney successfully argued the permit holder was excepted. Be advised each county's prosecutor may have a different opinion.
• any place of nuisance,
• Sheriff's Office,
• Police Station,
• Jail,
• Prison,
• Courthouse,
• Polling Place,
• any Governmental Judicial meeting,
• any school or college,
• lounges,
• bars,
• airports,
• professional athletic event, and
• any federal buildings or property.

As of October 1, 2005, Florida became a "Stand-your-ground" state. The Florida law is a self-defense, self-protection law. It has four key components:

1) It establishes that law-abiding residents and visitors may legally presume the threat of bodily harm or death from anyone who breaks into a residence or occupied vehicle and may use defensive force, including deadly force, against the intruder.

2) In any other place where a person “has a right to be,” that person has “no duty to retreat” if attacked and may “meet force with force, including deadly force if he or she reasonably believes it is necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another to prevent the commission of a forcible felony.”

3) In either case, a person using any force permitted by the law is immune from criminal prosecution or civil action and cannot be arrested unless a law enforcement agency determines there is probable cause that the force used was unlawful.

4) If a civil action is brought and the court finds the defendant to be immune based on the parameters of the law, the defendant will be awarded all costs of defense.

As of July 1, 2008, Florida became a "Take your gun to work" state. A new statewide Florida law went into effect on this date prohibiting most businesses from firing any employee with a Concealed Weapon License for keeping a legal firearm locked in their car in the company parking lot. The purpose of the new law is to allow CWL holders to exercise their Second Amendment rights during their commutes to and from work. Notable exceptions include companies with a primary business involving the manufacture of fireworks, the operating of nuclear reactors, or at sites involving Government facilities and defense contractor facilities. Currently, a test case involving Walt Disney World Resort is going through the courts, involving a former Disney security guard who was fired, despite having a CWL, for having a firearm locked in his car on July 1, in violation of Disney's pre-existing and strict no weapons allowed policy. Disney claims that they are exempt from the new state law, on the basis of their having a fireworks license for conducting nightly fireworks shows at Disney World.^[45][46]

Florida law allows private firearm sales between residents without requiring any processing through an FFL. Florida law also permits larger municipalities to elect to require a concealed carry permit for a buyer to purchase a gun at a gun show from another private individual without any delay, but in practice, this applies only to a few of the largest municipalities (Miami, Orlando, etc.) where it has been invoked.

Currently, Florida's Concealed Weapon License is one of the most widely-recognized, state-issued concealed weapon permit. The resident Florida Concealed Weapon License is recognized in thirty-two different states, while the non-resident Florida Concealed Weapon License is recognized in twenty-seven states.^[47]

Well, it appears that Sheriff Scott is in some hot water, recent activities have drawn attention onto Scott and the information is starting to flow. This will be an interestinf story to follow during the next few months.

Phone records and interviews reveal a tight personal bond, which branched into campaign involvement and possibly influence over personnel actions. A corruption investigation targeting the felon, Dick Spence, and his relationship with local law enforcement officials was under way earlier this year when Scott demoted, transferred or fired several deputies connected to it.

Read the full NewsPress article here: