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.

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. 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..

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

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 .