Deputy: Lutz Isn't Immune to Crime

Authorities in District 1 of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office are responsible for patrolling Lutz and Northdale.

We recently talked to Lutz native Deputy Chris DePolis, who works in the community outreach division of the sheriff's office. He talked with us about crime trends in Lutz and what residents can do to prevent crime.

Patch: What are the biggest crime trends in the Lutz area that the sheriff's office sees?

DePolis: You can't rely solely on stats, but according to the sheriff's office crime mapping application, there were approximately 131 burglaries, 140 thefts, and 74 incidents of criminal mischief reported between Aug. 14, 2011, and Aug. 13, 2012, within the census designated area of Lutz. There were also 21 incidents involving drugs, 30 incidents involving fraud, and 2 robberies.

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Residential and vehicle burglaries are always a primary concern for most neighborhoods. It's important for residents to keep themselves informed and aware of the various types crimes that are currently affecting their community. Utilizing the crime mapping tool on HCSO's public website is a great way to do that.

Patch: Which district is Lutz in at the sheriff's office? 

DePolis: Lutz is located within the confines of the Sheriff's Office's District I Patrol Area. The District I Office, under the command of Major James Burton, is located at 14102 N. 20th St. in Tampa. Residents may contact the District I Office at 813-247-0600.

Patch: What are some crime prevention tools that HCSO encourages residents to take advantage of to deter crime?

DePolis: Participating in a Neighborhood Watch program is probably the most effective way for residents to deter criminal activity and help keep their neighborhoods safe. There are a handful of neighborhoods in the Lutz area that currently have active Neighborhood Watch groups, but there's always room for more.

The Community Outreach Division of the sheriff's office also offers free home and business security evaluations to Hillsborough County residents. A law enforcement deputy, certified as a Florida Crime Prevention Practitioner (FCPP), will come assess the property and make recommendations for improved security. 

To find out more about Neighborhood Watch, to request a security survey, or to inquire about any of the other crime prevention programs offered by the sheriff's office, please contact the Community Outreach Division at 813-247-8115.      

Patch: What is  a misconception that people have about the Lutz area in terms of public safety?

DePolis: I've been around Lutz my whole life. I grew up near Lutz and went to Lutz Elementary as a kid. I think that because Lutz is still primarily rural in nature and still has a lot of existing cattle and farm land, that it's retained this kind of small town, "out in the country" type of feel.

Even though some areas of Lutz are populated with a lot of subdivisions, it doesn't feel suburban. So one misconception among Lutz natives or long term Lutz area residents might be that because it's a reasonably safe place to live, that it's OK to leave car doors unlocked or to not have a residential security alarm. Unfortunately, that's just not the world we live in anymore. 

Residents, regardless of where they live in Hillsborough County, should always try to remain vigilant, be aware of their surroundings, and protect themselves against the opportunity of crime. Remember, if we remove a criminal's opportunity to victimize us, we've effectively thwarted or prevented crime.

Do you have a question for the sheriff's office? Let us know in the comments section and we'll see if we can get it answered for you.