Have you ever been a victim of crime in Florida? (Jacksonville: apartment, houses)
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Just curious, since a lot of posters seem to find crime as one of Florida's biggest issues (and it certainly is). If you have been a victim, tell us what type of crime and where, if you want to. I am just wondering if crime has actually effected anybody on here.
I personally was pickpocked of 20 dollars in Coconut Grove, Miami, and nothing else in my many years of Florida living.
Last edited by compelled to reply; 07-14-2007 at 08:10 PM..
My son and only child was murdered in Winter Park 5 years ago. He was a full-time honors college student who would have graduated in 2 more months. He was in his own apartment and some local thugs didn't think anyone was home, kicked his door in, pushed him to the floor, and attempted to rob his apartment. (He and his roomate were film and music majors and had all kinds of recording equipment in a third bedroom they used as a studio). Apparently these animals heard about it and came to steal what they could haul out. Well, my son fought back and one of them shot him and they ran off. My son made the 911 call (as well as many others in the building), the paramedics arrived in less than 5 minutes, but he lost his life within minutes of arriving at the hospital. No arrests have been made to date even though there was a rash of the same thing happening at other off-campus apts. within a mile or two of my son's apartment. It's very frustrating and the hardest thing I have ever had to deal with in my life. He was my only child and my parents' only grandchild so this has taken a huge toll on our family in many ways.
My only saving grace is that my son's long-time girlfriend and him had a baby together that same year. (at that time, I scolded both of them for being so careless and now having to grow up too fast, etc... but now, I know that my grandson's birth was meant to be). My grandson is now 5 and he lives with his mom and her fiance in Palm Coast and I get to see him often.
So, yes, I have been a victim of the worst kind of crime one can experience in Florida, or anywhere.
My son and only child was murdered in Winter Park 5 years ago. He was a full-time honors college student who would have graduated in 2 more months. He was in his own apartment and some local thugs didn't think anyone was home, kicked his door in, pushed him to the floor, and attempted to rob his apartment. (He and his roomate were film and music majors and had all kinds of recording equipment in a third bedroom they used as a studio). Apparently these animals heard about it and came to steal what they could haul out. Well, my son fought back and one of them shot him and they ran off. My son made the 911 call (as well as many others in the building), the paramedics arrived in less than 5 minutes, but he lost his life within minutes of arriving at the hospital. No arrests have been made to date even though there was a rash of the same thing happening at other off-campus apts. within a mile or two of my son's apartment. It's very frustrating and the hardest thing I have ever had to deal with in my life. He was my only child and my parents' only grandchild so this has taken a huge toll on our family in many ways.
My only saving grace is that my son's long-time girlfriend and him had a baby together that same year. (at that time, I scolded both of them for being so careless and now having to grow up too fast, etc... but now, I know that my grandson's birth was meant to be). My grandson is now 5 and he lives with his mom and her fiance in Palm Coast and I get to see him often.
So, yes, I have been a victim of the worst kind of crime one can experience in Florida, or anywhere.
That is just terrible. I wish the best of luck for your family and your grandson, and the worst fate possible for the crooks. Nobody on this earth should ever have to endear such a tragedy, and I feel your pain. I actually apologize for brining the topic of Florida crime up now...
Thank you for your kind words. My prayer each night is that the detectives will make arrests, there will be a trial, and that these animals will be brought to justice! At least it is not considered a cold case...they are still retesting evidence, questioning people, etc. I have faith that justice will be done for my son eventually.
random crimes of course i grew up here, and ive seen many drive bys and stuff, but im not from the nicest place...
the funniest thing happened when my dad was in a parking lot, and he had accidently locked his keys in his car. some guy saw he was having problems and happened to be walking around the parking lot with a tool to pry open the door, so he helped my dad get back in his car.
Beaches I am SO sorry to hear about your loss. I am glad to hear however that you have a wonderful grandbaby to spoil and love to peices.
I live in a pretty nice neighborhood, houses go for 250-350,000 here.
I just heard of a family who for some reason sleep with the windows open at night...evidently they open ALL the windows in the house. Someone came through one of the open windows and stole a laptop out of the house.
That has me a little freaked out. I don't understand someone who breaks into peoples homes, are they so desperate, drugged out or in search of a adrenaline buzz that they don't consider that the owner of the home has every right to shoot you once you have broken into their home?
I am often up late at night...my desk looks right out a window where I can see the road. I often see cars in the neighborhood at night AND I have taken down descriptions and called the police on occasion.
Its just me and my daughter living on our own so I am a little paranoid I guess. BUT I would rather be the nervous type with my eyes always open and not miss something important.
We always leave lights on, even on the back porch. Its imposible to know if someone is awake in the house or not. All too often I am awake and watching TV.
Thank you for your kind words. My prayer each night is that the detectives will make arrests, there will be a trial, and that these animals will be brought to justice! At least it is not considered a cold case...they are still retesting evidence, questioning people, etc. I have faith that justice will be done for my son eventually.
And you know, SC, sometimes it can take a long time, but amazingly even older cases get solved. It must be an exhausting wait though. My best wishes to you.
My only "physical" crimes happened when I lived in NYC and luckily I came out okay from both.
In Florida, the only crime I've experienced has been a "paper" crime - an identity theft. What a nightmare! It just goes on and on. There's nothing I could have done to prevent it, it was an inside job by an employee at a company who had access to my records (social security #, etc.).
Outside of those 2 crimes in NYC, which admittedly were times when my guard was down, I always felt pretty safe in NYC. The first time, I felt too safe in a top notch neighborhood and let my guard down momentarily. The second time I was far too physically ill to be out and about, but I hadn't been out much in months, so I went to a party in a neighborhood I did not know well.
In Jacksonville, I feel pretty safe too, but I'm older now and I'm not out partying like I did in my earlier years (see, it's Saturday night and I'm at home typeing away ?), so I'm sure it's due to lifestyle as well.
My only "physical" crimes happened when I lived in NYC and luckily I came out okay from both.
In Florida, the only crime I've experienced has been a "paper" crime - an identity theft. What a nightmare! It just goes on and on. There's nothing I could have done to prevent it, it was an inside job by an employee at a company who had access to my records (social security #, etc.).
Outside of those 2 crimes in NYC, which admittedly were times when my guard was down, I always felt pretty safe in NYC. The first time, I felt too safe in a top notch neighborhood and let my guard down momentarily. The second time I was far too physically ill to be out and about, but I hadn't been out much in months, so I went to a party in a neighborhood I did not know well.
In Jacksonville, I feel pretty safe too, but I'm older now and I'm not out partying like I did in my earlier years (see, it's Saturday night and I'm at home typeing away ?), so I'm sure it's due to lifestyle as well.
Yeah, lifestyle can have a lot to do with street encounters,etc.
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?), so I'm sure it's due to lifestyle as well.
