Free Republic

"He touched a nerve," Apthorp said. "These were people just like us, family people, and they were saying, "If he shows up on my property, I'm going to get my gun and shoot him.' These are people you don't expect to hear this from. But when you start messing with people's homes, it brings a whole different level of intensity." Don Connolly walked into attorney Chris Sanders' brick-colored conference room, approached his Chippendale reproduction table and unrolled a large map of a pricey south Pinellas County waterfront community. The map showed 61 parcels of land in Pasadena Gulf Club...

-A man who fenced off lakeside residents' view also bought an underwater stretch behind 61 Pinellas homes that lies beneath docks.- SOUTH PASADENA -- Frank Van Bibber spent $25,000 last year on a state-of-the-art dock. It has two boat lifts, space for three small boats and a shingled roof to cover his 28-foot cabin cruiser. Now, Van Bibber's not even sure he owns it. Last week he learned a real estate speculator bought the submerged land under his dock. Van Bibber worries the speculator may also own the dock. [Times photo: Fred Victorin] This aerial shot of homes along Boca...