LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. — Manatee County officials say they are seeing an increase in crime. 

  • Crime rates inch higher in Manatee
  • Sheriff's Office: Vehicle thefts and burglaries
  • New sheriff's substation in Lakewood Ranch

However, they are advising the public to be aware, take precautions and so things as simple as lock house doors and car doors to avoid becoming a victim. 

Authorities are helping combat the problem with a new Sheriff's Office substation in Lakewood Ranch. Officials said deputies there will focus their efforts on reducing that crime rate. 

The facility, at 14544 Arbor Green Trail, is just south of State Road 70 and east of Lorraine Road. The new station is housed in the former sales office for Lennar’s Lakewood National village. The effort was a joint project of the MCSO, Lakewood Ranch developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, Inc. (SMR), and Ranch builder Lennar.

The substation will allow deputies in the expansive District 3, of which Lakewood Ranch is a part, to have a place to work that’s closer than the current District 3 office, which is at State Road 64 and I-75.

Sheriff’s deputies, school resource officers, and rural officers will all utilize the facility, according to authorities. Preliminarily, the office will be open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. There will be a call box on property that can be utilized during off hours.

Lakewood Ranch is one of the fastest growing areas in Manatee County. 

Deputies are targeting that area because the crime rate has risen with the influx of people. 

In 2018, the overall crime rate in Manatee County went up 2.9 percent. And non-violent crimes went up 6.4 percent. 

Sheriff Rick Wells attributes the rise mostly to vehicle thefts and vehicle burglaries, both of which he says are preventable by removing valuables and locking car doors. 

The good news is that violent crimes are down nine percent in the county. 

The biggest challenge is trying to keep up with growth in the area and providing adequate patrols - which likely will be helped with the new substation. 

"We are looking forward to having a substation in this constantly expanding area of Manatee County," Wells said. "Our deputies will now have another office location to work from, which not only increases our response time to calls, but also allows the public a more convenient place to stop, ask questions, and file reports if needed. This is a great addition to the Lakewood Ranch community."