Neighbor's house broken into

Roadrunner

Roadrunner

Joined
Jun 9, 1999
Messages
4,729
This makes me so mad I could chew nails right now. Six months ago I bought a house right on the edge of the bad section of town. My house is quite literally the dividing line. On one side I have a drug dealer for a neighbor, on the other an 86 year old great-grandmother. How's that for dichotomy? My family and I have befriended the grandmother and her family, they love us because the previous owner of this house wasn't very friendly and actually scared the poor woman. Since we talk to her pleasantly and offer to help with things around the house they love us. I like being on this lady's good side because she's very sweet and she makes amazing strawberry-rhubarb pies :) .

So this weekend her whole family is in town for a wedding. Wonderful, happy occasion, everyone is happy and smiling and my neighbor is probably as happy as she's been for years. Then last night some *#)@##% kicked in her door while they were all out to dinner and stole some jewelry and a camera. They stole those, and her sense of security (mine as well, not that it was too strong to begin with). It makes me so mad because I'd lay odds that the bastard who did it knew that a little old lady lived there and didn't present much of a threat even if she were home. What in the hell is wrong with people that they'll violate the sanctity of a person's home for a hundred dollars worth of jewelry and cameras? No one deserves this, but least of all an elderly woman who has raised a family that still visits her daily. I just had to get some of this off my chest, and ask for a little smoke from all of you for my neighbor. She could surely use some right now.
 
Smoke raised .

While this is never the best time to mention such things it is the only time where it can be a service . Watch out for a return visit . I wouldn,t alarm the lady as to that . Sometimes good outdoor lighting may be all it takes to make a thief think twice . Its not much of an upgrade . Recognition still instills fear into most thieves .
 
Prayers from Texas for peace and protection for your friend. Prayers of gratitude also. Whatever was taken pales in insignifance compared to what could have been taken from her and her family, so there is cause to give thanks. Forewarned is forearmed, and I know that you'll help her see to her security.

Sarge
 
I'd suggest Jim Grover's Book "Street Smarts, Firearms, And Personal Security : Jim Grover's Guide To Staying Alive And Avoiding Crime In The Real World" for someone looking at how to harden a house. It talks about lighting, making it hard for people to covertly view your house etc.

My house isn't perfect, but it showed us some things to be aware of.

For the record, I hope we are never robbed, but if we are I hope they do it while we are gone. I don't want to be forced into a situation that could become lethal.

Might even be in your public library...
 
I've lived in houses which were burgaled. I've had meth dealers living in the other half of a duplex. I know how you feel.

Were you home when this happened to your neighbor? You need to work together and watch out for each other. It will happen again. This is an inside job in that obviously someone living near knew your neighbors were gone.

You can bar your house if you want to live like that. It's tough. Bars won't solve everything.

I think you should arrange for the neighbors to leave again, and this time be ready.

Best prayers from one who has been there.

munk
 
The things that were taken weren't the real loss. Like you said, it's the security. That's hard to get back.

Prayers from Taiwan.

James
 
it don't even need to BE nasty as long as it has a nice smile:
smile.jpg
 
45-70 said:
I'd suggest Jim Grover's Book "Street Smarts, Firearms, And Personal Security : Jim Grover's Guide To Staying Alive And Avoiding Crime In The Real World" for someone looking at how to harden a house. It talks about lighting, making it hard for people to covertly view your house etc.

My house isn't perfect, but it showed us some things to be aware of.

For the record, I hope we are never robbed, but if we are I hope they do it while we are gone. I don't want to be forced into a situation that could become lethal.

Might even be in your public library...
Click to expand...

Jim Grover aka Kelly McCann is a local here, and I have met him several times.
He is the real deal, and knows his stuff. The man HAS 'been to see the elephant".

DaddyDett
 
That's a real shame, Kurt:( It makes me sick when the old and the weak are hit by the criminal element. The other guys have very good ideas on stiffening up the place. I would suggest at least a small dog if she likes them and it is not too difficult for her take care of a pet. Even a small dog will make a potential intruder think twice. A barking rat can draw attetion to the crime and deliver a pretty painful bite.

My grandparents had their place broken into some years back. They were already naturally loopy and paranoid to begin with, so having a home invasion really shook them up. Luckily, they were gone at the time. They formed a neighborhood watch, and that helped out a lot. However, what really aided in their home protection was when the adopted Buddy. Buddy is a half mastiff half dinosaur mutt. His paws are about the size of a human hand spread out and his bark sounds like the bastard love-child of a 10 gauge elephant gun and a thunder clap. He kind of looks like a black bear covered in brown shag carpetting. He's the sweetest dog, but you would never know it by looking at him. He's well worth the 50lbs of dog food he goes through a month;)

Jake
 
Thank you all for the support and the suggestions. munk, I wasn't home at the time, or else I most likely would have heard the door being kicked in. Our houses can't be more than 35 ft. apart. I agree that someone likely tipped off the perp to the fact that the house was empty. Or it could be a local who saw them leave and decided to take advantage. We do watch out for each other when we're around, but Saturday night isn't a time I'm normally in the house. I'm thinking very seriously of forming a neighborhood watch if there isn't already one in place. Our block is mostly decent people, but across the street the ghetto starts. I think it's time we made it clear that they need to stay in their own territory and leave the decent people alone.
 
I'm sorry to hear it Kurt. I hope this doesn't happen again. Watcherback.
Smoke up from Atlanta.
 
Thank God she wasn't home, number one. Cameras and Jewlery can be replaced, but a hit in the head if she was home would have been catastrophic. For 99.00 , she can contact Brinks Home Security and have a full monitoring system put in, linked direct to her local precing, or sheriff's office. At night, she can set the alarm when she goes to bed and set it when she's out. The mere display of a security system makes the low lifes want to pick another target. As a good neighbor, you should help by contacting her or her family member to have this done.
10-4
Ixsnay
 
I've offered my services in any way they can use them. Her daughter lives nearby and stops by nearly daily, so she has a lot of support from them. I just talked to her daughter and found out that they're discussing a lot of options right now, security lighting and maybe a system are already on the list. What makes me sick is that I can already see what's going to happen. My neighbor is perfectly capable of caring for herself, but can't really defend herself. She has lived independently all of these years, but now she's afraid of being attacked in her own home. I'm afraid that this will be the final straw and that she'll now have to give up her independence because of her fear of attack. That bastard stole something far more precious than her jewelry, he stole her remaining independent life. :mad: God I hate criminals.
 
Smoke and prayers sent from CA.

I'd recommend having her get a motion detecting cemera installed... video evidence. Might be fun for you to do the same pointed towards your other neighbor.
 
My home has never been invaded, but I know people whose homes have. One of those crimes that robs a person of much more than the material goods taken. I agree when you say you hate criminals.

I sure hope your neighbor doesn't throw in the towel. I'd hate to see this slimy bastard win. Smoke from Iowa, and let her know she has a lot of good people on her side.

Take care of yourself and those you love,

Chris
 
Prayers for your neighbor, and hope you can help her to secure herself. Some people will steal the paint off a fire hydrant.

Years ago when I was driving cab nights a driver friend had his place broken into through the bedroom window while he was working. He went home that morning and waited 14 hours with a shotgun and damned if the guy didn't come back the very next night through the same window!

I would have been tempted to liquidate him then and there, but he held the guy for the police. Never got his stuff back though.

She is lucky to have you for a neighbor.

Norm
 
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