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Hernando Today

Armed And On Edge

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By KYLE MARTIN

Hernando Today

Published: February 10, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - The second the chimes sounded inside his home, Bill Tsompanidis knew he had an intruder.

Tsompanidis, owner of Sportsman's Attic gun shop, grabbed his handgun and moved out to the living room. He flicked on the TV. Cameras on his property relayed the image of someone dressed all in black strolling up his driveway.

Nine flood lights flipped on as the intruder approached the house with an arrogant swagger.

Tsompanidis compares it to wrestling promoter Vince McMahon's infamous "power walk."

The intruder froze when he saw the light come on inside the house, then darted away into the darkness. Tsompanidis barreled outside in time to see the intruder and two other dark figures running for cover.

The original intruder hopped onto his bicycle and began furiously pedaling - straight into Tsompanidis' sights.

"Freeze! Don't move!" Tsompanidis bellowed.

'Heightened Concern For Safety'

Rewind 12 months to a time when Woodland Waters was more immune than most communities to petty crime. Planted in a semi-rural area north of Weeki Wachee, the upscale neighborhood certainly presented a lucrative target. But with only one exit from the community and a maze of streets to navigate, most thieves didn't want to take the risk.

Then the economy took a nosedive and suddenly folks got desperate. A new phase of construction cleared out a previously wooded area and opened up a new back way into the neighborhood from Star Road.

Over several months, residents began to notice unfamiliar cars creeping along the streets late at night. Strangers would knock on doors at 10 p.m., asking for people who no one knew. Sometimes it wasn't a "lost friend" knocking on the door, but a "pizza delivery."

Then the thefts began. Folks headed off to work in the morning would notice GPS devices missing from their windshields. Pry marks were discovered on garage doors.

"There is heightened concern about safety and security," resident Norm Hatch said in an interview Monday.

Hatch recently discovered that a security gate at the back of his property had been rammed to gain access into the subdivision. That same night, a neighbor's trailer was stolen.

Thoughts turned to personal protection. A crime watch was formed between neighbors to share observations via e-mail and phone calls. Resident Denise Jolliffe rallied a group of about 11 women to attend a firearms instruction class in Pasco County.

They were taught how to safely handle a gun and the difference between target practice and defensive shooting. Women tend to place an emphasis on accuracy, but if you're home alone with a burglar, it's best to look down the barrel and just start shooting, Jolliffe said.

"Don't hesitate if your life is in danger," Jolliffe said.

Most of the women walked away from the training with an interest in purchasing a gun. It's a familiar story for Tsompanidis.

'People Are Scared'

For the past 23 years Tsompanidis has been arming the public through his gun shop on Commercial Way, the Sportsman's Attic. Except for the period following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, business has not been better.

The reason: "People are scared."

The most recent figures from the National Shooting Sports Foundation show a 28 percent jump in gun sales when compared to January 2008. Experts are divided over whether a downturn in the economy really sparks a crime wave.

But there are obviously enough people - women especially - who buy into the theory to purchase a weapon, according to Tsompanidis.

Fear that President Barack Obama would ban semi-assault rifles did prompt a small rush on the high-powered weapons at the end of last year. But that was really a minor portion of the sales, Tsompanidis said.

Handguns emerged as the big winner, with revolvers and 9 mm calibers at the top of the list. Concealed weapons classes hosted at the Sportsman's Attic are packed.

Because of his livelihood, Tsompanidis's home in Woodland Waters is outfitted not just with guns, but an elaborate security set up, including a perimeter alarm. When the intruder walked onto his property during the early morning of Feb. 5, Tsompanidis was ready.

Hogtied With Shoelaces

When Tsompanidis yelled "freeze," the intruder immediately stopped in his tracks.

The burglar was dressed all in black, "ninja style," with a covering over his face. He took one look at the gun trained on his chest - and Tsompanidis' menacing scowl - and dropped to the ground.

Tsompanidis patted him down to search for hidden weapons and was surprised by what he found. The burglar was wearing three layers of knee-high socks, each stuffed with random electronics like iPods and GPS navigators. His pockets were equally jammed.

Tsompanidis pulled the hood off the suspect's head to find a teenager looking back at him. The teen told Tsompanidis he was certain to lose his basketball scholarship now that he was caught.

Barefoot and shivering in the 20-degree chill, Tsompanidis hogtied the suspect with shoelaces and went inside his house to call the cops. The 17-year-old suspect later admitted to six other vehicle burglaries in the area and was charged as a juvenile with the felonies.

Car Hopping

Is there a link between crime and the economy? It's a possibility, but not for the crime spree known as car hopping, said Sgt. Donna Black, sheriff's spokeswoman.

The practice of targeting unlocked cars has been going on for years, and its popularity is spreading. Typically, it's a group of teens prowling a dark neighborhood and stealing loose items inside. At least five people have been arrested this year, including a ninth-grader.

The word has spread about how lucrative this crime of opportunity is and how easy it is to sell or trade the stolen goods, Black said. The prevention is simple.

"Cars that are locked are not being entered," Black said.

Reporter Kyle Martin can be reached at 352-544-5271 or kmartin@hernandotoday.com.

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