Residents Rue Spring Lake Crime Spree

The east side of Hernando County is a world apart from the hustle and bustle of the coast.

Isolated, rural, quiet, it's a haven for folks who enjoy counting stars and waking up to find deer tracks across their lawn.

But, like everything, country living has its disadvantages.

When that peace of mind is eroded, the dark nights seem darker and every rustle in the bushes is a menace.

There are at least 65 people who live on or near Neff Lake Road who can testify to that.

That's how many people showed up for a meeting Aug. 20 in response to a wave of break-ins and vandalism plaguing the Spring Lake community. The large turnout, especially for an initial meeting, spoke volumes to Kathy Fornes about how serious her neighbors regard this problem.

"That's a lot of angry people," said Fornes, who hosted the meeting at her home.

Fornes took action after her outbuildings and car were broken into on three separate occasions. A little investigation revealed that many of her neighbors had similar complaints: stolen property, tires slashed, mailboxes destroyed, fences smashed.

Using crime tracking tools on the sheriff's Web site, Fornes discovered dozens of burglaries and criminal mischief complaints had been filed in the past six months.

What sets this latest crime spree apart from Spring Hill is that a majority of the targeted homes sit on fenced-in properties set way back from the road. Many gates bear signs warning intruders that dogs are loose and on the lookout for intruders.

This works to the advantage of the homeowner in some regards, but the drawback is that no one sees a burglar at work in such a remote location. That especially holds true for daytime burglaries.

"They're either very gutsy or very stupid," Fornes said.

To counteract that isolation, residents are swapping phone numbers and joining an online forum to share information. Because a majority of the crimes appear to be happening in the wee hours of the morning, neighbors will call neighbors to turn on their lights at the first sign of trouble.

"We want to be as obvious and as obnoxious as we can be," said David Bilodeau, a member of the fledgling crime watch. "If we can't catch 'em, we can run 'em off."

Joe Murphy grew up on Neff Lake Road and is concerned about his older parents. This latest crime spree has really changed the laid back, trusting mindset of the area, he said.

The concern is that the people responsible will grow bolder as they get away with minor crimes and begin to break into occupied homes. Remember, this is an area where the Second Amendment is strongly observed.

"Something is going to happen" if this doesn't stop soon, Fornes said.

The sheriff's office provided a deputy familiar with the area to help organize the crime watch group. Fornes and her group appreciate that.

But residents also feel that law enforcement is not dedicating enough resources to tackle the problem. Residents provided information about who they think might be responsible, but have seen few results or feedback in return.

Sgt. Jim Powers, who oversees the county's crime watches, understands their frustration, but gives his assurance "that investigators are working diligently on it."

This crime watch is a huge step towards solving their problems, he said, because people in a neighborhood recognize strangers and suspicious vehicles far better than a deputy.

Just erecting crime watch signs in the near future will help ease some of the problems, Powers said.

Back on Neff Lake Road, Fornes is still coping with the loss of innocence in a place where - up until recently - no one locked their doors.

"This is our world and it's very intrusive," she said.

If you go

The next Spring Lake Crime Watch meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10, at the ARC Nature Coast Facility, 5283 Neff Lake Road.