Break Ins
 

Spent the weekend away with a friend and I sure was glad I wasn't here. My landlord stopped by last night to let me know a few houses got broke into during the weekend - one was right next door.

So needless to say I didn't sleep well last night heard every sound inside and outside the house. I finally turned the fan on to try to block the noise and that helped.

Come to find out it was just some kids in the area but still don't like the feeling at all!

Living in the back woods, we all get complacent about not locking our doors, and cars. This gives great access to kids on a spree, or drug addicts looking for something quick to pawn. Prevention is the best cure. Make sure your doors are locked. Lock all the windows except the one you are sitting in front of if you are on the first floor. If you are on the second floor its a bit easier to leave a window open for fresh air. Lock your car. Your car stereo may not seem like much, but you will miss it when its gone. That plus whatever CDs and info you had in your glove box.

Take heart that with a lil prevention, most looking to do pranks, or a quick rush theft, will skip your place. Place out a sign for an alarm company, even if you dont use one. You can get stickers at walmart or other places. If you have a friend who uses ADT ask them for one of their extra stickers, and plop it on your front door. Theives want to get in, and get out, and alarms will stop most. Dogs are another good deterent. They bark and draw attention to whats going on.

We have had a string of thefts in a quiet lil back woods town. They just started a citizens watch, and are teaching the folks to write down the license plate # of unfamiliar cars. They had a total of 2 break ins for the last 10 years, and now they have had 12 in the last 2 months. Folks are scared.

Ugh! That feeling stinks, Lambchop! I'm glad nothing happened at your house, but I'm sure it still feels like a personal violation.

Soon, you'll get past it, but I know it takes time. :hug:

My neighborhood seems to have been the ground zero of thefts for awhile. It's usually someone going into houses thru the garages while the homeowners are doing yard work in their backyards.

Altho, lately people have been getting their cars broken into...one was the lady who we gave our puppy to earlier this summer. She left her car in our neighbors driveway while she went into the neighbor's house before coming to ours. Her wallet was stolen in the two or three minutes she was in the neighbor's house. (she never did pay us for the puppy...my dad didnt bug her for it either. He was just glad the puppy got a great home)

I really miss my big dog TinyMonsters. I never felt scared when he was around...and he slept on the floor in my room with me. If anyone ever tried coming in thru my window or the back door, they'd have had 100+ pounds of snarling black fur in their faces.

Now I'm a lot more nervous. If I wasnt allergic to dogs now and didnt have MS, I'd go get another Bouvier like Tiny. I'd never be scared with a Bouvier around.

My aunt just got a new puppy last week (a pug named Stella) so at least she's got a little barker to warn her if someone's going to be coming thru the door.

I know the feeling lambchop. :hug: This weekend there was a murder on the north east side of DeKalb, just a few miles from our house. The murder suspect lives in our old neighborhood.

I used to think DH was a worrywart for always wanting the patio door barred and the front door and car doors locked at all times. Now I'm the one doing the locking and checking.

Most of these are drug related and involve fights between those involved. You never know when they'll start attacking innocent victims or households though.

We're in the boonies, and it seems as though every daily newspaper has a report of burglary. Over the weekend someone broke into a home about ten miles from us and stole a purse and cell phone while the residents were home and asleep! That scared the crepe out of me. Somebody's going to get hurt.

We try to keep our home from being "easy". We have two motion detector lights, and probably will install two more. What's creepy is, they come in the daytime when you're away, and just smash a window and climb in. grrrrr. And how many people can afford an alarm system?

Sorry, Yeahbut...How scarey, especially if you're alone....Keep safe..:hug::hug:

We just had a break in down the street too. It is scary and no one is except from it. :hug:

Thank you everyone for the support - I feel like such a chicken! Grown 41 year old woman doesn't want to be by herself! I don't think I slept more than 2 hours during the night but when the sun came out I did sleep a couple of hours.

I am at school now waiting for my first class to start but wishing I was at home taking a nap!

I heard today at the Post Office that they were looking for guns and money. I guess I shouldn't worry because I don't have either!

I am glad I have the two dogs but I don't know how much protection they would be but I am sure they would make noise so that would help.

Oh Char, I know how you feel :(. A woman was raped I her home by an intruder not even two miles from my home! They haven't found even a suspect yet and it's been a couple of months.

My sons sometime forget to lock doors at night so I posted big notes on their bedroom doors to check the locks. It is very frightening for me especially since the MS has made me feel more vulnerable. I hope they find the burglars soon, Char :hug:.

There are have a rise of break-ins around my town. We are a medium town near a large city. Even in neighborhoods that have neighborhood watches and with the police continually patrolling the streets. The favorite thing for these jerks to do is just waltz into your house, if the doors are unlocked, while you are in the house or in your yard, take what they want and just waltz right back out. Sometimes in the front door, out the back door. Those aren't as scary as the actual breakins though.

I want to get a security system but can't afford one so I made up my own. It may not actually work but it makes me feel better - like I'm doing something to help myself. We put up motion lights in the front and back of our house. Anyone trying to get to any of our doors will cause the light to go on. (we also get to see the wild life more easily too) I also put tension curtain rods in my windows so the windows cannot be jimmied up as easily. The police said if they cannot get into your house within 5 minutes, it may be enough to deter them. I hope my rods do just that.

I live in a pretty safe town. Still, I don't temp fate, I lock up the cars, the doors, the windows. Things can happen anywhere, and it seems more things are happening with so many people out of work.

When we went down to look at the house we're trying to buy, a couple of the neighbors' have donkeys who were giving us the evil eye. They keep them in front yard pastures. If you slow down too long, they start braying, and that calls the dogs. Tell you what, that would deter me, lol. Not worth whatever you got in that house to get the snot kicked out of me by a donkey, then get eaten by a rottie.

:eek:

Thanks for your post. I am going to see what the going rate is for a braying donkey, which is easier to take care of than a dog.

What a crime stopper one or two of these animals would be if a person lived in the right place. Throwing a couple of geese into the mix would be helpful too.

gmi

**Doing research on the computer about buying a donkey** wonder if the town will allow it.

Last night, just before bed, my cat was sitting on the window sill. All of a sudden she looked out the window (it was dark), let out a howl, leapt off the sill and went tearing out of the room. Just what a jittery person needed right at bedtime. OK, so I'll leave two extra lights on. What's a little more electricity?

I wish our legal system would actually DO something to these punks that break into people's homes.

Why, the lil hoodlums! I agree, it's scary when you have to keep everything latched and locked. I lock the door when I'm home during the day, but is it to keep me in or the thugs out??? I dunno?!?!?!

I worked in prison too long. I am always locking things.

Go into the gas station, and the when I come out the DH is standing there, hands on hips. WTH? he asked. I had locked the doors, and took the keys with me inside while he was pumping gas! hows that for a good habit?

I lock my door behind me when I come inside. I dont sit inside with it unlocked. I lock my car, even if its way out in the boonies safe in my yard.

Im a safety girl! (julia roberts as pretty woman) :D

Yeahbut, I'm sorry you are not relaxing because of this...keep a tv on in another room if you can sleep with the noise. That deters people from breaking in because the average thief thinks someone is still up or people are talking to each other. When you get up to go from one room to another switch lights off and on...this makes them think more than one person is in the house, and leave one light on always...

You can also buy door alarms, when your door is jarred really hard that alarm will sound, it is really really loud. I had an alarm that sounded like a barking dog on a door, it was mostly for when the kids opened the door.

Having taught behavior disorder kids and retired from Juvenile Justice...I know what kids and adults are capable of doing. Its not an excuse, but as the money gets tighter, people are going to start doing things they normally wouldn't think of doing.

I have two guns...a 9mm 15 round Ruger and a .38 S&W revolver and my aim is very very good, oh and my grand daddy's rifle. The kids in our neighborhood are a little scared to come in our yard I think, I notice they walk all the way to the stop sign rather than cut across the yard. Hmmm wonder why?

I grew up in this area and we NEVER locked the doors - the last place I lived we didn't lock the doors. I do lock the doors and windows here but I have never been worried about getting broke into until now.

I slept a lot better last night so that is good. :)

I was doing some extensive travel in my younger days, and I would drive till I couldnt drive any more. I would be beyond tired, and flop into a motel. As I would be drifting off my mind would race about how I am in a strange town, a strange motel, and have no one with me. I would play out wild scenes in my head, and then be amazed that just when we need to be at our most aware (when we are asleep in a strange land) we become at our most vunerable. I always thought it was such a design flaw in the human body. Esp if you are sleeping outside in wildlife areas (think of the cavemen) and then I found out that even though we are asleep, our ears still work, as a matter of fact, they become quite sensitive. That is why we can be knocked out cold, and still hear the alarm clock, or a child sneaking past your doorway on the creaky floors. I am sure you would wake right up if your doggies barked.

Glad you slept. that always helps. :hug:

I'm a door locker.

I never leave the doors unlocked, even when I am home. It gets locked as soon as someone walks through it.

The rise in drug users and the drop in the economy has upped the number of break-ins everywhere, even in very rural areas.

I used to have a Newfoundland that weighed 190 lbs. who was an excellent deterrent.

Now I have a fiance that weighs significantly more and is 6'6. He is home most of the time and I have him trained to lock all the doors and windows unless he is right by them, check every time he hears a noise, and be nosy when someone is at the neighboring houses since they are all summer homes.

For those of us in very quiet rural areas, it's well known that the sound of a double barrelled shotgun being cocked is also a VERY effective deterrent. :cool:

Sorry to hear Char, things are really not what they used to be. I remember
when I lived in NYC many years ago, we would live doors and windows open
in the summer to get some air circulating in the hot summer.

When I got married and lived in NJ in the pines, did the same thing.
As time went on and the world started changing, locked the doors everytime.
My DH (deceased now) would get so mad at me for locking up everything
all the time.

But, when we had an intruder once, he never questioned me again.
The dogs scared whomever it was away, they didn't get anything.

Today being alone, I always have the doors locked. The crime has
gone up around the larger city and rural areas here.

I have told my DS that I want to get a shotgun again. My DH before
he passed, gave away all his guns to the children and certain friends. Said
I didn't need one. That's when I was still living in NJ.

I have Sage who is a German Shep. and a great watch dog, but I still
want something I can use if need be. I was a very good shot before. I think
I will just have to practice a little more when I get one. The only thing is
the ms has my balance & vision off, but just aim and shoot that shotgun
and you know it is going to hit or at least scare the s****t out of someone.

It's terrible how we all have to live now in so much fear because of
the economy. The ones that are breaking in places seem to be looking for
drugs and what they can steal to sell to get money for the drugs and whatever they are addicted to.

KEEP SAFE!!!!
Jappy :hug:

You feel so violated after a robbery! I was barely scratching by and working hard to get two pennies to rub together. I drove the crappiest car around. A neon green pinto! it had a vise grip for a gear shifter because the darn thing broke off! it was dented, and ricketty. I was so upset when I climbed in it to go to work, and saw a HUGE foot print on the window glass of the passenger side. I thought "thats odd!" I went around and looked in the back seat, and then the front seat, and was relieved no one was sleeping in my car. I sat in the drivers seat, and turned it over. Reached to turn on the radio and...yep! no radio! They RIPPED my stereo out. didnt pull, didnt tug, they RIPPED it out! This was a crappy factory radio that had NO redeeming value or features. It wasnt even a cassette! It was crappy, but it was MINE. the police didnt care that we had a foot print. They only cared about foot prints in murder cases they told me. someone MURDERED my radio! I screamed. They didnt think it was funny. My car was locked the night before too.

I have always been careful since then to not leave anything IN a car that I would want in the wrong hands. Remember when your insurance card was your SS number? That always bothered me. Someone bumps you, then you hand them your SS number...scary! Im glad they changed that. Now we have to use non washable checks/ink on our checks so some dirt bag doesnt wash it and write in whatever amount he choses. Dont leave letters in your mail box with the flag up, they get your CC # and your checking account #. We have to drive it to the post office. so many precautions because we have such scum on the earth. :mad:

There are holsters that fit under the mattress which I am going to buy as soon as I get a new gun. Since I won't be able to move my legs if a home invader comes in (fright response), I want to be able to just reach down get my gun and blow him away if he enters my bedroom.

There are a number of shooting ranges within 20 miles of me, so I will be practicing soon. My son is a very good marksman, so he can teach me how to shoot better.

Hearing a gun cock should make the intruder turn around and scramble from the house. We seem to be having a lot of home invasions in the Phoenix area which is disturbing. None have happened where I live, but I still want to be prepared.

I always have my Life Alert button nearby, so if it is pushed someone will be blaring on the intercom and asking if I need help within 30 seconds too.

It is scarier living alone and listening to all the house sounds alone at night. I like dogs, but don't want to take care of one. My yard is all rock and cement, so a dog would have to be walked and poop picked up, which would be difficult from a power chair.

Problems, problems!! Methheads, methheads!!

gmi

Or just start blasting his own at you. :rolleyes:

One of my neighbors had her bistro table and chair set stolen off of her back porch about a week ago. And it wasnt a little set either. It was wrought iron and fairly heavy and worth about $200. She's really ticked...

Another neighbor went off on some kids the other day. They've been coming into the neighbors back yard (no fences in our neighborhood) and were rolling down the hill right up to the wall of the neighbor's house. Normally, not a problem. The neighbor was irritated that the kids were stealing things from the yard...cement yard art, veggies from her garden, pulling flowers and plants up so the roots were exposed or broken.

She caught them over the weekend. (her husband had kicked them out several times last week, and told them he was going to call the sherriff if he caught them again...they didnt listen to him) The neighbor lady saw them steal something, and told them to come down and talk to her. They did.

She told them she wanted the object back, and asked their names. (they gave their first names) and then she told them that she really should be calling the sherriff. She told them that if they want to come and look at her flowers and garden that was fine, but if she catches them stealing anything again, or damaging her garden again, she was going to be calling 911. She said they were appropriately scared (probably had to go change their shorts...neighbor is scary when she's mad!) and they promised they would leave her yard alone from now on,

The neighbor who lives above her on the hill told her that these kids were leaving their scooters in his backyard before they'd start their hill rolling/stealing/vandalizing. He said that if he sees them screwing around in her or his yard again, that he's going to take the scooters and lock them in his garage, and will tell the kids that to get them back, they need to come back with their parents. (I dont think these kids know about that bit of info)


I really dont think those kids will be screwing around with the neighbors again for awhile. (they're like 10 or 11yrs old I think...I'm horrible at judging ages, but I quit rolling down hills at about that age)


I was checking the crime mapping website earlier, and noticed there's been a lot of vandalism reports within a few blocks of my house. There's been lots of reporting of shoplifting at the shopping center (grocery store, couple of chain stores like target, kmart, hair salons) A lot more than there were a week ago.

I've seen people coming out of the target and the kmart, only to get caught by store security and taken back inside. That's always entertaining.

My daughter-in-law sent me a note talking about a policeman who recommends people keep a can of hornet and wasp spray, which has a 20 or 30 feet spray distance, by their bed to spray in the eyes of intruders.

He says it is one of the best ways to get time to run or call the police. I doubt if most goons would be expecting that greeting.

gmi

a local news reporter here did a test on that...(she didnt spray anyone) She tested the aim of the bug spray can. The big problem she had was that it was a windy day, and the spray came back in her face....the TOXIC spray. (she did say it felt kind of like getting maced. I've been maced...it's not fun!) The local police here said that if you're being attacked, do whatever to save your life, but they didnt recommend the bug spray.

If it was beside your bed, the wind would not be an issue.

gmi

With so many home invasions and innocent people getting hurt or killed, we all need to have a plan to protect ourselves since we tend to not be physically able to go into Kung Fu mode to protect ourselves.

Whether we use bug spray, bullets, braying donkeys or guard dogs, we need to not be at the mercy of a crook who approaches us at home or outside the home.

Right now I have a box cutter beside my bed which I would use if someone came into my home at night when I was asleep. Soon I plan to have a gun in a holster at my bed.

I am also having a system put in which will have a video camera at the front door and an intercom so I can talk to the door knockers without having to open it.

There are people who come to my door that I do not want to let in and who I do not want to see that I am using a wheelchair (i.e. helpless). Some crooks will ring the front door to see if anyone is home and if they get no response will break in the back door. I want to be able to let them know that the home is occupied without exposing myself.

Being helpless is not an option for me.

gmi

I have an alarm system.
I have a Marine husband who is well trained.
I am armed most of the time. I am well trained.
I held a black belt in Kenpo Karate. Not sure I can do those moves now, but the training is still active in my mind.
I can and will fight dirty.

My cat would let them in, and tell them where the good stuff is. Chicken cat.

I must say, I'm a little surprised by some of the near-vigilanteism you gals are posting! If someone gets into my house, they can have whatever they want. If it's my life, well, then it must be my time.

Don't worry, I'm not stooooopid and I do use reasonable caution— it's a lot cheaper than fortification and easier on my spirit.

I just don't want another's blood on my hands for any reason. :Dunno:



ETA: In my other life, I was a deadeye markswoman but only at the range. :)

There have been quite a few home invasions in the Phoenix metro area recently which resulted in the home owner being killed. Most of the invasions seem to be done by druggies and all areas, rich and poor, have been hit.

If someone came into my house, I would do anything I could to protect myself and would not feel guilty in the least if the intruder goes out of my house bagged and feet first.

I am a very nice person, but I do plan to take care of myself as best as I can. We can't all have a trained Marine on the premises.

gmi

My DH and I worked in the prison systems for a long time. We have seen just how quickly folks can and will get violent. esp those high on drugs, or alcohol. As an inner city paramedic I have picked up more than my fair share of busted up people who had been minding their own business, or sleeping peacefully, or simply walking down the street, and ...their lives changed in a heart beat. I have been the victim of a violent crime, and can promise, it was the first and the last time I will allow that to happen.

I am armed, but I am also very well trained, and well practiced. I am considered a high marksman. I have taken self defense courses for in, and out of the home. I am well trained in karate, and it is a skill and a discipline of peace actually. its about never having to get to the point of putting your hands on someone. About being able to use your reason, logic, and common sense before using your hands. If left with no options, but to use your hands, you are well skilled in how to.

I dont go looking for trouble, and will go far out of my way to avoid trouble, but should trouble come looking for me, and its a him or me situation. I guess I will have alot of paperwork to do when its all overwith.

I wish now that I had taken those Judo or Tae Kwon Do (Korean for "Karate") classes when my dad offered them to me when I was little. Might have helped me fight off my sister who did take my dad up on the Judo lessons. I dont think she paid attention to Master Shin when he was teaching the patience and self control part of the class. (My dad is a black belt in Judo, he just hasnt done much in the past few years for health reasons. Mr. Shin was his teacher for most of his Judo life)

I always wanted to try Kendo (bamboo swords)

If I'd taken any of those classes when I had the chance and the physical ability to do so, then I'd probably feel better about staying home alone, or traveling alone now.

I wish my big dog was still alive. He was better than any self defense course. Less dangerous than handing me a gun. At least my dog was well trained and a natural protector.

I suppose if anyone breaks thru my back door, I can throw my dog's cremains at them. (he's in a heavy lead-lined wood box. I'd probably break a toe if I dropped him on my foot)

I do have one of those big metal flashlights next to my bed. Anyone comes thru my window or back door is going to get a mouthful of metal and D cell batteries pushing him back out thru the glass.

I cringe at the thought of someone breaking into my home. Not so much for the things stolen but because i would feel violated. I have never worried about someone breaking in to my home because i have always had large dogs. They give me peace of mind and make me feel safe.

I have ZERO attachments to the things within my home. They can have them. I have zero attachment to jewelry, or electronics, they can all be replaced. money isnt kept in my home, and credit cards can be cancelled the moment he leaves with them. I have zero intentions of fighting over "stuff" I would however have plans on protecting me or my children, or animals. Those are off limits.

My mother is one of those that is stuck on her "stuff" its all so valueable to her, and I bet should she be confronted by a robber, she would hang on for dear life. It would upset me to see her hurt over "stuff" its all replaceable! she gives off the "I worked hard all of my life, and am not gonna let someone waltz out the door with it".

Please dont risk your life over "stuff" protection for yourself is very different than risking your life about "stuff." no "stuff" is worth your life. :hug: