54,000 loss reported in robbery of Lakewood Ranch home

LAKEWOOD RANCH -- A Lakewood Ranch resident reported robbers stole more than $54,000 worth of property between 2 and 10 p.m. Friday, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.


The victim was out of town, when an  unknown person or person pried open the sliding glass door just north of the bedroom door that leads into the living room. Once inside the home, located in the 7200 block of Ashland Glen in the Country Club,  the suspects removed watches from the night stand west of the bed. 


The suspects also went into the walk-in closet and stole  more watches, jewelry and a bag that contained a .45 caliber Glock handgun with two magazines that were loaded, the sheriff's report said.


The victim's hospital I.D. was also in the bag. The intruders fled in an unknown direction. 


A  crime scene unit responded and processed the scene and the gun was entered into crime data bases via serial number.


The theft was reported by the sheriff's office in a press release Monday night.


Community development supervisors have discussed steps they could take to improve security at the Ranch, ranging from improving lighting to scheduling more security and traffic patrols.


This past summer, a Bradenton man was arrested in connection with two armed invasions in the Edgewater village:


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