5 man Sebastopol Robbery 12/ 20 Hessel area nets 40+ guns, cash, 10lb cannabis, jewelry

[Shandi]

Community: Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office investigates home-invasion robbery.

On Sunday December 20, 2015 at about 2:38 AM, a man called the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office from his residence in the 5400 block of Lone Pine Road, Sebastopol, in the area known as Hessel, in the unincorporated region of Sonoma County. The man stated that he had been the victim of a home-invasion robbery.

Deputies arrived and learned the man had been asleep in his bed with his wife when they heard the glass of a sliding door shatter. Five men entered the home and accosted them. The men demanded marijuana, cocaine and money.

The male homeowner was escorted, at gunpoint, to the garage of the residence. He was ordered to the open two large gun safes.

The thieves stole over ten pounds of processed marijuana, jewelry, and cell phones. They also took $5,000 cash and more than forty guns. The firearms were handguns, shotguns and rifles of varying calibers and models.

After holding the homeowners for nearly an hour and collecting all the items, the suspects bound the victims and fled the area. The suspects had left the scene in a vehicle about 15 minutes before he called 911.

All the men were described as Hispanic, ranging in age from 20-40. Further individual descriptions were not immediately available.

This is an open investigation. Detectives from the Violent Crimes Investigations bureau are actively following leads. Further details may be released only in a manner that does not compromise the integrity of the case.

If anyone has any information pertaining to this crime, they are encouraged to call the Investigations Tip Line at 707-565-2185 or submit a Silent Witness form on our website.

Report #151220-004 ; Prepared by Sergeant Cecile Focha

[Shepherd]

I live in the Lone Pine Rd. neighborhood, so this is a scary incident. I am glad that we have a Bloomfield/Lone Pine/Cunningham Neighborhood Association, which has met monthly for almost a year now. One of the best defenses to prevent and deal with such crimes is knowing your neighbors.

If you live on one of these three streets or streets that connect to them, you would be welcome at our meetings. If that interests you, please send me your name and street address and I can send you information about the next meeting. We also talk about how to respond to other emergences, such as loosing power, flooding, fires, lost pets, etc. We laugh a lot at our meetings and have fun. We all love our rural lives and want to preserve them from threats, including people who drive too fast.

... in the area known as Hessel, in the unincorporated region of Sonoma County. The man stated that he had been the victim of a home-invasion robbery. ...

[Shandi]

I think it's a great idea, and wonder how you could have prevented this crime, even knowing your neighbors. Do you know anyone who grows cannabis, and or has guns? These people live in your neighborhood. How many people are in your group? Or I should ask how many homes?

I remember that you responded to my post about Nextdoor.com about a year ago. Were you able to join, or not enough people? That's how it was for Rohnert Park for about a year, but it's really happening now, and I'm on there nearly every day posting some of the same things I post on Wacco. I've even invited some people on Nextdoor to join Wacco.

... I am glad that we have a Bloomfield/Lone Pine/Cunningham Neighborhood Association, which has met monthly for almost a year now. One of the best defenses to prevent and deal with such crimes is knowing your neighbors....

[Shepherd]

Hi Shandi,
I am not sure how to respond to these questions, but I will do my best. I also joined the online Nextdoor.com. It has been helpful, but not nearly as beneficial as our more geographically-limited face-to-face group that meets monthly. We see each other walking down the roads, sometimes with dogs. When we have too much of a certain food or flowers in our garden, we share them. When someone is away, we can look after their homes.

When I moved here 24 years ago, there were two well-known drug houses. Those men eventually died. If one is observant and vigilant, that can help prevent crimes. If you witness a crime or signs of a crime on the land of someone you know and care for, you are more likely to report it and take protective actions.

Yes, in our rural neighborhood there are hunters with guns and probably others with weapons, for other reasons.

I am glad to be having this conversation on Wacco, though it is not an easy subject to address, and be both protective of one's privacy and open.

I think it's a great idea, .....

[Shandi]

Shepherd,

Thanks for responding so openly, even though it seems like it might be risky for your privacy. I really wouldn't want to jeopardize your safety or privacy. I'm hoping that you have a good sense about protecting these aspects of your life.

I think the main reason I like Nextdoor, or your version of it, is that notifications can be immediate, especially in regards to safety and welfare issues when a neighbor or neighborhood is threatened. Knowing people on a face to face basis is always preferable, though not always possible. I have friends who live in the Sebastopol countryside, and the homes are very far apart on large acreage, so it's not actually possible to see what might be going on at any given time, or to even know the neighbors. There have been issues with barking dogs, and efforts to communicate with the offending neighbors, have been met with anger and resistance. Not what many of us would expect from our country neighbors. I've seen posts about people who've bought expensive homes in the country, and are disappointed that it's not the peaceful life they had envisioned.

I'm thankful that I live in a very peaceful, quiet neighborhood, that is only interrupted by the sound of sirens coming to the rescue of a senior who's fallen, had a stroke, or worse.... is leaving their home feet first, never to return.

Nextdoor is a lot like Wacco in some ways, because you get to know people from what they write, and how they respond to other members. Some people feel a need to name call or put others down. This is a red flag for me, and I've come to know who some of these people are. At least Nextdoor doesn't call themselves "conscious and progressive". They are just neighbors, which means a melting pot of the "good, bad, and the ugly", a microcosm of the public at large, but in close proximity.

I've made some enriching contacts in both places, and treasure those connections. It seems that your neighborhood group can step up to prevent or respond to any nearby crime in many cases, but not all. I think safety from intruders is everyone's worst nightmare, although it doesn't keep me awake at night. It's my cat that does that!!

I do wish the local police dept would give classes in gun use and safety. I've fired guns before, but that was target practice in Hawaii, a long time ago. Since I can't have a dog, I'm thinking about other ways I might be prepared to defend myself, quickly. I have to take personal responsibility, since my house mates even object to me wanting the door locked at all times. Calling me "paranoid". Not at all, just "aware" with a desire to be safe. Is this paranoia?

If I see anything suspicious, even though I may not know my neighbor, I will alert security/management immediately.

Hi Shandi,
I am not sure how to respond to these questions,....

[gypsey]

Shepherd and Shandi-
This is an interesting thread that speaks to some of the challenges of rural life that aren't often discussed, including neighbors with independent or different lifestyles, protecting oneself in a remote area, and building community as a safety net.
That said, I noticed in the original article that the home invaders seemed to be aware of what their targeted victim had of value and where these items were located..
My other observation is that who needs 40 guns to go "hunting"? Just sayin'.

[Shandi]

Gypsy, I noted that Shepherd ended with this, "there are hunters with guns and probably others with weapons, for other reasons." So, it's anyone's guess what those "other reasons" might be. Could it be that criminals live in the country too? I've read some things on Wacco that would indicate this is a reality. It seems that people live in the country for various reasons, and some aren't for the joy of being in nature. Can anyone think of other reasons why people might want to live in the country? Does anyone know people living in the country who aren't real neighborly, and actually avoid contact with neighbors? It seems to indicate that "extreme privacy" is a priority to them. But Shepherd's good neighbor group is probably aware of them, and would know who to report in case of criminal activity.

The particular incident indicated some kind of relationship or indirect knowledge of the victim's possessions. "Loose lips sink ships" and lay the groundwork for criminal activity. Seems like they are "Informed and Aware", which is the same qualities that we can use to protect and defend ourselves. It's a hell of a lot better than being "uninformed and unaware" of our surroundings and people nearby.

As a photographer, I tend to see things that others don't. I'm very thankful for this, and some day it may be my only defense. It's a really wonderful skill for photographers. Only this morning I saw, not one, but three 4 leaf clovers!

I think it's beneficial to get beneath the surface of the many fantasies that we have, but I realize that not everyone is a "truth seeker". Many times, what's revealed is not a pretty picture.

Barry, I hope it's o.k. to respond since this post was directed to Shepherd and me. I will try to do as you asked, and hold back until there are 5 responses to a post. Does this apply to others who are frequent posters, or just me? Do you see me as a troll? Just wondering....

Shepherd and Shandi-
This is an interesting thread that speaks to some of the challenges of rural life that aren't often discussed, including neighbors with independent or different lifestyles, protecting oneself in a remote area, and building community as a safety net.
That said, I noticed in the original article that the home invaders seemed to be aware of what their targeted victim had of value and where these items were located..
My other observation is that who needs 40 guns to go "hunting"? Just sayin'.