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Deputy Warns Residents Of Con Artists

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By PAUL CATALA The Sun

Published: October 15, 2008

When Hillsborough County Sheriff's Deputy Rob Thornton asked how many in his audience had been a victim of a crime, at least five out of about 50 people raised their hands.

Thornton said that wasn't a lot, but he said even those few could possibly have been prevented with a little extra precaution and security.

On Oct. 7, Thornton, along with Hillsborough County Sheriff's Deputy Jeff Service, gave area residents a few pointers on how to make their homes safer and avoid becoming victims of business scams. The meeting was held from 9 to 10 a.m. inside the Florida Room of the Atrium Building, 945 N. Course Lane.

Thornton, who has worked in Sun City for five of his 15 years in law enforcement, said although the community is considered one of the safest in Hillsborough County, there are still regular incidences of crime and fraud.

"Be aware they're out there. Every single way there is to get into your pockets, they're going to try - and they're going to try and they're going to try again," said Thornton.

Since Sun City doesn't have a sheriff's office crime analyst specific to the area, no official crime statistics are kept, Thornton said. He said in September, there were two residential burglaries, with the perpetrator or perpetrators entering the homes through open garage doors.

Thornton began his presentation on scams by informing guests about a recent report of a woman who had gotten robbed after letting a person purporting to be from Bright House Networks into her home. He said the thief even had business cards with logos and paperwork with him, making the inquiry look legitimate.

Another report concerned someone disguised as a pest control worker. According to Thornton, "99 percent of the time," door-to-door sales are scams.

"All these things have happened right here in town; be cautious," he said. "Don't open the door for salesmen. If you don't open the door, they'll stop."

Along with displaying examples of actual fraud paperwork, the deputies passed out home security pamphlets produced by the sheriff's office. The brochures outlined ways to secure doors and windows; using lighting to deter criminals; the benefits of security film on windows; and putting identification on valuables.

In addition, deputy Service explained the "crime triangle": the criminal's desire, ability and opportunity to commit a felony. He said the citizen's ability to take away "opportunity" can put a damper on planned criminal act.

"This is because the criminal is going to go to the easiest house to burglarize," he said.

In addition, Service said just because someone might own a million-dollar home in Sun City Center, it doesn't mean it's any safer than a $50,000 home in Riverview. He said contractors often use the same materials for doors and locks in high- and low-end homes.

Other topics the two deputies discussed during a question-and-answer session, included ways to safeguard automatic garage doors during a vacation; how to disable a "punch" key jabbed into handles using WD-40 oil; and the importance of photographically documenting valuables.

The Sun City Center Special Sheriff's meeting on home security came a week after state Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink launched a Safeguard Our Seniors taskforce to find ways to protect seniors.

In the past year, Sink's office has opened 474 investigations into financial fraud against the elderly. Sink said the new task force will meet several times over the next few months and recommend anti-fraud laws in time for the spring legislative session, helping to protect the state's elderly from financial fraud.

After the presentation, Sun City resident Jim Brandt said he would bring some of the information back to his neighborhood's security patrol. He said he found the tips to be "very informative."

"We're always open to learning anything we can do to be safer," said Brandt, a four-year Sun City resident. "The need for prevention is always there."

Paul Catala is a reporter with The Sun. He may be reached at pcatala@mediageneral.com. Tampa Tribune staff writer Catherine Dolinski contributed to this report.

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