Friday the 13th - for thieves too
Yesterday, Friday, July 13th, was a day that will be long remembered in our house. It started for me at about 5:00 a.m. when we were awoken by a phone call from my son who lives in Columbus, Georgia. He is stationed at Ft. Benning and was headed out to work when he saw that his Tahoe had been broken into and his radio/CD player stolen, along with everything else in the vehicle that could be taken out. The thieves had broken out the rear window of the SUV to gain access. Sorry, son, a rough dose of reality. What made it more frustrating was that he lives in an apartment complex with a security gate - and the gate had been left open all night because it was broken. After dozing back off to catch those last few minutes of sleep before getting up for work, the phone rang again. 6:30-ish our daughter called to say - you guessed it, HER car had been broken into during the night. What?? She lives in the Tanglewood area south of Orange Park. She too was getting ready to head out to work and noticed her car door was ajar, and many of the contents in her car were gone also. Unfortunately, she leaves her wallet in the console and the wallet with all of its debit and credit cards were stolen. By the time the police arrived, 6:45 or so, the thieves had used her debit card twice to buy gas, get $200 from an ATM machine (she had her PIN written on a piece of paper in her wallet - not smart), and buy $270 worth of stuff from Wal-Mart. So this was Friday the 13th for us. But, it was not a good day to be a thief in Clay County either. The thieves, using the debit card at locations monitored by security cameras, were quickly identified and were arrested before 5:00 p.m. on the same day they broke into her car. Their first purchase with her card was just after midnight at a local Shell. They were in custody less than 18 hours later. We haven't heard all the details yet, but it appears there were 6 people arrested related to this crime. Fortunately, we contacted the police immediately, so all of the fraud with the card is covered by the bank. If a victim delays calling the police (why would you?), the fraud has a $250 cap for coverage. In the perspective of our blog-site conversation, there has been some harsh criticism of the Clay County Sheriff's Department. I have always thought Sheriff Beesler, and his staff, were doing a good job trying to ride herd over crime in our little corner of the world. Well, my family's personal experience as crime victims did nothing but reinforce my opinion. Yes, the thieves were pretty studpid using the card where they had to know cameras were in place, and yes, my daughter should have been more reponsible with securing her wallet and its contents. But, none of that should detract from the prompt, professional response to this crime and its outcome. Thank you Clay County Sheriff's Department. I only hope the police in Columbus have similar good fortune. My guess is probably not. Related: Baxley's blog | login or register to post comments | printer friendly version | Tags: Crime
Submitted by RichK on Sat, 07/14/2007 - 4:02pm.
Baxley, Sorry to hear @ the misfortunes in the family. Thankfully, no one was hurt & hopefully some lessons learned. All to many people have the attitude that it can't happen to them for whatever reasons. The odds can be lowered with some precautions. I hope everything turns out OK for all concerned. RichK
Submitted by OneMann on Sat, 07/14/2007 - 7:25pm.
How'd the rest of your day go? It had to get better along the way. Angela's right about crime on the increase, although I'm not sure it doesn't have more to do with importing more criminals from Jacksonville than any particular deficiency within local law enforcement. But it is on the rise, and we shouldn't expect much of any improvement no matter who wears the top badge in Clay County. The Sheriff's Office's efficiency will, like every other department of local government, increaingly be held hostage by Growth Mismanagement.
Submitted by lilyslore on Sat, 07/14/2007 - 8:06pm.
...but is there an attorney interested in bringing a lawsuit against the rubber stamping of unnecessary developments basd on the fact that increased density causes increased crime? I would love to hold someone's feet to the fire on this issue. After all, allowing just anyone to move in who later turns out to be a drug dealer, child molester or politician is the one to be charged in aiding abetting crime. I certainly wouldn't allow a Pontius Pilate defense here. Can't just wash their hands of complicitiy when it's all done for money at the expense of honest residents. Lily's Lore "And I know that I'm gonna be like this forever I'm never gonna be what I should And you think that I'll be bad for just a little while But I know that I'll be bad for good" Jim Steinman
Submitted by Key2life on Sat, 07/14/2007 - 8:24pm.
Just to chime in on the Sheriff's Office clearance rate... those numbers can be awfully skewed based on how the administration logs incidents and crimes. The increase in the amount of crime could be directly related to how Sheriff Beseler wants deputies to report crime versus how Scott Lancaster wanted crimes reported. So to me, those numbers need to be taken with a grain of salt. I think you have to ask about the methodology of collecting the numbers. Just a thought. Submitted by Angela on Sat, 07/14/2007 - 10:17pm.
The increase in crime is directly related to the people who are committing the crimes in Clay County. The facts that the crimes are not being cleared and allowed to get out of control is directly related to the Sheriff. He asked for and was given 48 million dollars in the last budget cycle which included 25 additional officers to protect the citizens in Clay County. I am just about tired of hearing the increase in crimes directly comes from Jacksonville. Am I suppose to believe that since Sheriff Beseler become the Sheriff that all the criminals in Jacksonville suddenly discovered Clay County. I will agree increase in growth causes increase in crimes. So, now I am suppose to believe that counties with large populations just allow their Sheriff to blame it on growth and let the crime get out of control. I don't think so. In 2006 they were 314,255 calls for service in our county unless Beseler skewed those numbers too. I don't think all of them were calling to find out what was the traffic hold ups on Blanding or Hwy 17. Despite the fact that several calls have been made to 911 asking what is the cause of the serious traffic problems on those roads. I hope those people were given the proper information that mismanaged growth was the reason. Talking about mismanaged growth. I think we need a new Planning Commission in Clay County. One that knows another word besides yes. If not they need to be closely watched. I think Commissioner Rutledge and his idea to put zoning issues in with the regular consent agenda is a big red flag. I think all the citizens need to know that recently Commissioner Rutledge and our county manager was again summoned to a large land owners office. Just keeping you informed. Someone does need to be held accountable for the out of control growth and crimes, but then thats just me speaking out loud.
Submitted by pioneer on Sun, 07/15/2007 - 1:36pm.
Angela I assume you mean the breakfast meeting at Reinhold Corp.?Why, sugar, don't you know that was just a few flapJACKs with Uncle Jack? As for the starting over with the Planning Commission...Sugar, don't you know important advisory committees are stacked only with FOC's (Friends of Commissioners)? Just look at the make up of the committees (Charter Revision, Transportation Advisory, to name two). After all, they must be on these committees to have a launching point for the offices they will run for in 2008! OH! How negative that must sound...I forgot...We citizens have often been told that these FOC's have a "vision" for our county, while you and I ( the average citizen) have political AGENDAS.
Submitted by Angela on Sun, 07/15/2007 - 2:15pm.
I guess you heard about the meeting too. I will say this about me- I have an agenda that is to expose all of these individuals and their friends that have raped and pillaged our county. Then I have a vision of a county that is concerned about the taxpayers for a change that live here and would support quality of life issues versus payoffs from their friends. I guess the Commissions should have been put under the ethics policy that was established. You know what they say backdoor friends are the best friends. Submitted by pioneer on Sun, 07/15/2007 - 2:38pm.
Angela, Do you mean the NO ethics policy? The one where commissioners, etc. are expected to police themselves? After reading what the policy, rules, and human services committee approved, I see no MEAT. What a meaningless ( but I guess "feel good" )amendment the Charter Revision Commission added to 2006 ballot. State law already has an ethics code. They were also quick to add the "bigger government" Uncle Jack and Uncle John amendment (The amendment adding 2 more commissioners so that FOC's that now serve on advisory committees can run for the extra 2 seats!) Love those VISIONARIES! It must be in the syrup of the flapJACKS. If only the sweetness could rub off on us... People are talking about ...Here are the recent blog postings with the most comments. |
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Baxley,
Your daughter should count herself very lucky. Because the facts show that almost 70% of the people in Clay County will not have that same sort of luck. This looks like a case of stupid criminals, which was in her benefit too. However, this increase resulted in over 6 million dollars worth of property loss to our citizens last year.
Hopefully the posting of the crime stats and the information that has been posted on the website will and has force these individuals to be more responsive to the citizens and the crimes being committed in our county. A 11% increase in crimes such as this being committed cannot and should not be tolerated. If exposure is what it takes and the newspaper aren't doing the job. Then citizens need to stand up and say we will not tolerate this in Clay County.
If these actions have resulted in your daughter getting her stuff back then all that posting has been well worth the heat you sometimes get for speaking out.