Crime

As if we need another reminder at how quickly our property is parted from our clutches, here's a news release sent out March 25 by the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office:

Numerous vehicle burglaries were reported in the Cypress Links area between Sunday night and Monday morning.  There were also more between Monday night and Tuesday morning in St. Augustine Shores.

Deputies began writing reports Monday morning when residents discovered that their vehicles had been entered.  All of them were entered through unlocked doors.  There were 16 vehicles entered at 15 residences on Cypress Links Blvd.  Four of them occurred in the 4900 block, one in the 5000 block, seven in the 5200 block and three in the 5300 block.

Among the reported stolen items were numerous compact discs, a Garmin GPS system, two satellite radios, a cell phone, a silver pendant, computer software, a wallet with assorted ID and credit cards, a checkbook, and one vehicle had a half tank of gas siphoned from it.  The total value stolen was just over $4,000.

Deputies are working at least nine additional vehicle burglaries that occurred over night in the southern St. Augustine Shores area.  There were seven vehicles entered on Sevilla Dr. and two more on Sarto Ct.  All of them were also entered through unlocked doors.  The investigation is continuing.

Anyone with any information concerning these car burglaries should contact Property Crimes Unit Detectives at the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office at 824-8304.  You can also remain anonymous and possibly be eligible for a reward by calling Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida at 1-(888) 277-TIPS (8477).

By MY ST. JOHNS SUN STAFF

St. Johns County authorities arrested a 29-year old teacher at Bartram Trail High School Monday afternoon on charges of cultivation of marijuana, maintaining a drug dwelling and possession of drug paraphernalia after deputies executed a search warrant of his St. Augustine home.

ST. JOHNS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Krug

A Sheriff’s Office news release sent out Tuesday said investigators with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Special Investigations Unit of the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office arrested Robert Jeremy Krug, 29, of 1001 Lee St. The release said agents investigated the operation for six weeks before executing the warrant. Police said they found 66 marijuana plants and a pound of processed marijuana worth an estimated $70,000 in street value. Police also seized $6,000 in cash, according to the release.

Thursday afternoon the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office released the following information about an incident that took place in the County Road 210/Interstate 95 area of northwest St. Johns County:

Detectives with the Sheriff’s Office Special Victims’ Unit are investigating a home invasion and sexual battery that occurred today at a residence in the area of I-95 and C.R. 210.

Deputies responded to the call at a town home in the 400 block of Scrub Jay Dr., at 12:30 p.m. The female victim stated that the male suspect got into her residence through an unlocked garage door. The suspect threw the victim on the couch. He then threatened to harm the victim’s two young children, who were upstairs, if she did not comply. He then allegedly committed sexual battery on the victim before he fled from the residence believed to be on foot.

By DANA TREEN/The Times-Union

A woman was found dead Monday on the side of Florida 13 in St. Johns County, and authorities now say she was reported missing by her husband Sunday in Jacksonville.

Maria E. Hernandez-Martinez, 51, left her Wandering Pines Trail home to go for a walk about 6 a.m. that day and never came back, her husband told police. Oscar G. Hernandez, 66, said he first checked the hospital and jail before reporting her missing about 2 p.m.

  I'd like to bring attention once again to what seems to be another growing problem.  I wrote once before about the litter and vandalism, it seems to have escalated now to home burglaries. While there is crime anywhere you go, lately, it seems to be escalating. Let me point out right off the bat, I have NO law enforcement experience, and there are many more qualified to write on the subject, but I notice things.  A) Many, many people leave their garage doors open for extended periods of time, even when they are not home.  While out walking or biking, I can and do notice all the nice and valuable things that people stash in their garages.  I would never tdream of taking anything, but a theif would.  Easy access, maybe some of you even leave the doors to the house from the garage unlocked?  On a nice quite street, it would be real easy to slip in and out without anyone noticing.  Believe it or not, there IS a JCP ordinance stating that garage doors must be kept closed except when entering and leaving.  Having spoken to Mr Curran-Kelly, he says he just doesn't chose to enforce this, because as he puts it, "it gets hot in there."  That's nice, so while your garage is cooler, it's also vulnerable.  Hey, I keep my garage locked, no skin off my back.  Just a hint for those of you that currently leave them open.  Do you have sons that bring their male friends in the house?  Very recently, a group of male JCP teens were arrested for breaking into homes via THE GARAGE!  Since they are minors, I don't know if this was made public, but I have a reliable source.  You may be able to find out if an arrest was made, I don't know.  B) NO SOLICTING!  These signs are everywhere!  These "kids" going around to collect for college or overseas schooling should not be here!  They are obviously not from the neighborhood, and when I questioned them, they gave vague answers.  When informed of the "No Soliciting", they reply that the cops know they are there.  Funny.  I never mentioned cops.  Same with the "church" solicitors.  I believe Mr Pettus gave a good account of these people collecting on the corners of Rt 13 and Racetrack Rd.  Well, they are now in the neighborhoods.  Watch out.   Anyone get the people trying to give away a WARM 6 PACK OF COKE!!!

Someone had the great idea to make the hand taser available for everyone! Like if there is not enough violence on the streets now they are going to make this device available not only to regular people like you and me, but also to criminals and even teens!

What make these people believe that the existent crime will be less if you carry a taser (more like a stun gun) with you? The true is that although this device was created to subdue criminals to law enforcement, they are also a "knife of double blade" which means that if it falls in the wrong hands it could cause serious injuries to others depending on the body area where they are applied (head, eyes, genitals). And I am not a doctor but it doesn't take a genius to figure that out either!