The head of the Water Oak Homeowners Association on Monday asked the Lady Lake Commission for its help after two cars were stolen over the past few days from the gated-community.
A Water Oak woman contacted Lady Lake police Friday morning when she discovered that her 2007 Buick was missing. Police contacted OnStar which led them to the vehicle at 1223 Pamela St. in Leesburg.
A man living on Trevino Drive in Water Oak told police that the key FOB had been stolen from his Hyundai Genesis. The next day, someone came and stole the vehicle, using the key FOB taken the day before. That vehicle was also recovered in Leesburg.
Several other unlocked vehicles in Water Oak had been rummaged through, police said.
Frank Frontario, president of the Water Oak Homeowners Association, told commissioners the 2,000 residents of Water Oak aren’t used to locking their car doors at night.
“We now know these kinds of things can happen in Water Oak,” he said.
He said residents are ready to take steps to prevent this from happening again. He said residents are being encouraged to lock doors and install motion-detection lights. Water Oak has a neighborhood watch program and residents are looking to beef up the program, Frontario said.
He had praise for the Lady Lake Police Department, whose investigation is ongoing.
Frontario asked that patrols in the 300-acre community be stepped as a result of the stolen and ransacked vehicles.
Town Manager Kris Kollgaard said she had already spoken with Police Chief Chris McKinstry and patrols would be increased.
