Lakewood Ranch not immune to crime

It became painfully obvious after two recent armed home invasion robberies in the gated Edgewater neighborhood at Lakewood Ranch that no one, anywhere, is immune to crime.

 Fortunately, in those home invasions a suspect is in custody and no additional crimes of that kind have been reported at the Ranch.

But this week, there were reports of crime at the Ranch that were costly and annoying to residents and businesses alike.

Someone caused about $300 worth of vandalism at Greenbrook Park on Monday, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office reports.

Two water fountains were damaged along with a bathroom stall door, which was kicked in, according to a sheriff's report.Ranch supervisors have long struggled with this sort of vandalism to community property.

And then there was the report of backflow preventers being  cut and stolen from four businesses at Lakewood Ranch, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

Sometime between 5 p.m. Monday and 8 a.m. Tuesday, a thief (or thieves)  cut the copper pipes and took five backflow preventers from behind the businesses at at 11535 Palmbrush Trail, Lakewood Ranch.

The businesses  affected were AAA, Luxury Nail and Spa, and UPS. A sixth backflow preventer was cut from the copper pipe but was left behind the property of M&I Bank.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the sheriff’s office at (941) 747-3011.

— For more information on Manatee County crime visit www.manateecrime.blogspot.com