'Unknown' by The Newscaster Nature Coast News

PAGE 2 - September 19, 2012

The Newscaster - Nature Coast News

Home Solicitor Alert: Citrus Sheriff

Pet Patrol

Dept. Sees Rise in Burglaries

In order to solicit residences, the

Door-to-Door Solicitors Must Have Permit

seller must have a permit issued by the Cit-

As part of its intelligence led po-

rus County Clerk of Courts. Plus, in order to

licing (ILP) efforts, the Citrus County Sher-

apply for the permit, the seller must already

iff s Office is aggressively attacking one of

have an occupational license/tax ID. Simply

its biggest foes – residential burglaries.

put, without a permit solicitors are breaking

Crime studies show that the av-

the law. And currently, there has only been

erage residential burglary costs anywhere

one home solicitor permit issued in Citrus

from $5K to $7K. This includes the costs to

County.

the victim, criminal justice system and law

Det. Craig Fass, a community

enforcement. In 2010, Citrus County aver-

crimes detective responsible for the Sugar-

aged 49 residential burglaries a month, in

mill Woods area, partnered with the hom-

2011 the average was 48, and so far in 2012,

eowner associations (Southern Woods, Oak

(due to new ILP strategies) the average is 38

Village and Cypress Village) to educate those

per month. The costs associated with these

Wicket is a cute as a button black & white

This is Kookie and does he ever have the

living in the community on how to deal with

averages are $343K, $336K and $266K per

Shih Tzu. He is about a year old and is being

sweetest face. He is a Yorkie mix who looks

unwanted or suspicious solicitations. The

month respectively. So, preventing just

rehomed because his owners did not have

mostly Yorkie. He will be 2 yrs old on

result, a 46% decrease in thefts from June

two residential burglaries a month in Citrus

enough time to spend with him. His foster

Christmas Day. He is small and beware he

to August, with four residential burglaries

County adds up to close to $14K in savings.

parents love him so much they almost hate

is definitely a cuddler and thief cause he will

during that time frame, or an average of 1.3

In January, CCSO crime intel-

to see him get adopted. He is very sweet and

steal your heart. Kookie has always lived

burglaries per month. “We quickly realized,

ligence noticed that neighborhoods with

lovable. He is also very playful and loves

with a woman and is very wary of men so

though, that we were just re-locating the so-

increasing residential burglaries were also

playing with his best friend and other foster

would require great patience around a man.

licitors to another area in Citrus County,”

experiencing home solicitation sales. This

dog Max. Adopt A Rescued Pet, Inc. does

Adopt A Rescued Pet, Inc. does home visits

said Fass. “So, we want to nip the problem

was particularly true, for example, in the

home visits prior to adoptions, therefore, we

prior to adoptions, therefore, we can only

in the bud by educating all Citrus Countians

Sugarmill Woods area. From January to

can only adopt to the Citrus County and ad-

adopt to the Citrus County and adjoining

on how to handle this issue. The result may

May of this year, Sugarmill Woods experi-

joining county areas. If you are within these

county areas. If you are within these areas,

be less residential crime and even increased

enced a total of 12 residential burglaries, or

areas, please call Adopt A Rescued Pet at

please, phone Adopt A Rescued Pet, leave

service when hiring people to do jobs.”

an average of 2.4 per month.

352-795-9550, leave your name, number,

your name, number, and pet’s name, for a

Here’s what to do if you are solicited at

To combat this problem, detectives

and pet’s name and we will return your

return call from the foster mom, later, at

home: Ask to see the person’s home so-

began investigating not only the burglaries,

call. All of our dogs have been sterilized,

795.9550. All of our dogs have been ster-

licitor permit. It is issued by the Clerk of

but also the solicitors who were in the area

tested negative for heart worm, on heart

ilized, tested negative for heart worm, on

Courts and will include a passport pho-

prior to the crimes. Detectives discovered

worm prevention, on flea prevention, up

heart worm prevention, on flea prevention,

to. Pledge not to do business with anyone

that the majority of the door-to-door sales

to date on vaccines, wormed, ID chipped

up to date on vaccines, wormed, ID chipped

who is not legally permitted to do home so-

people did not have a legal permit to con-

and vet checked. Check http://www.adop-

licitations.

duct solicitations. This is a first-degree mis-

tarescuedpet.com/for our other pets and the

demeanor in the state of Florida.

Citrus Sheriff Dept. Searching for

ADOPTION CALENDAR with locations,

dates and times. Come see the pets!

Missing Citrus Springs have been following up

Man

Hospice of Citrus County To Present

(Citrus Springs) Citrus County Sheriff s Office members

Petof Memorial Service Service to be held on tips and leads looking forhim missing justRitchie, p.m.of Citrus Springs ever since his

Kenneth John

27,

mother reported

after 3

on Saturday, Sept. 8.

HOMOSASSA--Hospice Citrus County will present a Pet Memorial

Ritchie was last seen that Saturday at a friend’s residence on N. Mendoza

on Tuesday, September 18 at 6:00 pm at the Pet Memorial Garden located at 8471 W. Peri-

Way, also in Citrus Springs, at approximately 8:30 a.m.

winkle Lane., Suite A, Homosassa.

The missing man is described as 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 175 pounds,

For many people their pets are considered their best friends and part of the family. There is a

with brown hair and eyes. Ritchie has three distinctive tattoos: SUMMER ap-

strong bond between families and their pets. Pet Memorials can be a helpful and comforting

pears on his right forearm, RITCHIE on his left forearm, plus a tribal-style

way to remember and commemorate the life of a pet. Join us as we honor the memory of our

Richie

tattoo on his left shoulder.

dear pets.

As is customary in missing person cases, Ritchie’s personal information

Donor opportunities are available to further memorialize your pet. Light refresh-

was immediately entered into the national database for missing persons. BOLOs (be on the

ments will be served following the service. For additional information or to RSVP, contact

lookout) also were issued locally as well as to surrounding counties.

Lynn Miller at352.527.2020 .

CCSO deputies have been conducting their own investigation and following up on

numerous leads supplied by family members, but to no avail.

Citrus County Animal Services - Please call (352) 746-8400 for questions or appointments.

According to the Sheriff s Office, the 27-year-old has been known to frequent the

FEES: Rabies $5, DA2PPv $8, FVRCP $8, Bordatella (cat or dog) $8, Microchip $10, Heartworm

Chatmire area north of Dunnellon in Marion County.

Test $10, Feline Leukemia $10, Capstar $4, County License for Altered (spayed or neutered)

If anyone has information about Kenneth John Ritchie or his whereabouts, please

Pets $5, County License for Un-Altered (not spayed or neutered) Pets $25.

call 911 anywhere or contact Crime Stoppers of Citrus County, Inc., right away. Text CIT-

RUS plus your tip to 274637 (CRIMES), click on www.crimestopperscitrus.com or call

Adopt A Rescued Pet, Inc. 352-795-9550

1-888-ANY-TIPS toll-free. Tipsters may remain anonymous and be eligible to receive a

cash reward of up to $1,000.

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