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Scary stuff.

Just in the past week, there were two break-ins in our apartment community.  Both times, the perpetrator got in either by somebody leaving the door open or following into the garage, then went up to the top floor of the building (maybe assuming less foot traffic up there?) and used a crowbar to pry open a locked apartment door.  Both incidents occurred in the late afternoon.  The residents weren't home either time.

There was also a fatal, random shooting just a few blocks away in the downtown area that is widely considered safe.  I've never thought twice about walking home in the dark from the train through that area.

I am sort of freaking out.  We always lock our door, but our building manager said they were able to pry open a door that was deadbolted.

Mostly I'm just venting, I know obviously that this is just part of city life (or life anywhere, really).  This is probably the "safest" area I've ever lived in throughout my whole life.  Just uncomfortable with how a) both break-ins were very similar, so I'm afraid they'll try it again, and b) that this shooting occurred somewhere I frequently walk alone at night.  I guess we're going to have to start changing some of our habits and maybe get an alarm system.
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Re: Scary stuff.

  • SBminiSBmini member
    500 Love Its 1000 Comments Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    That is scary! I had my apartment broken into when we were under escrow on our house. It was an awful, violating experience! Crime can happen anywhere, and if you live in a safe area, you can chock a lot of this up to just coincidence. I live in the second safest city in the United States- we still have break ins and murders. This stuff can literally happen anywhere!

    Best thing you can do is be smart and outthink the thieves. Get yourself some pepper spray and walk with your head high and alert. Thieves are more likely to attack people who are distracted. At home, get renters insurance if you don't already have it. I would also make sure all of your valuables are VERY well hidden in places a thief wouldn't look to check. No shoe boxes, no top drawers, skip that noise! 
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  • Best habit to get into is not to have a habit. 

    I was opening the coffee shop where I worked a few years ago and my co-worker and I got held up. Emptied the safe and everything. The guy knew the openers morning routine, since we were his THIRD hit on the store. The cops told us the best thing is to not do things at the same time and the same way every day, that's the easiest way for people to do the bad that they want to do.

    Clearly that thief knew the people weren't there.
  • Oh, goodness!  Stay safe!
    What did you think would happen if you walked up to a group of internet strangers and told them to get shoehorned by their lady doc?~StageManager14
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  • Please be safe :(
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    I'm gonna go with 'not my circus, not my monkeys.'
  • So, I emailed the building manager and turns out it is free to use our alarm system just as a door alarm.  We would have to pay to have it monitored monthly, but at least we can set it up to sound an annoying alarm if somebody gets the door open and doesn't punch in the code.

    I think that makes me feel slightly better.
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  • That is so scary! Stay safe!

    Before FI and I lived together I bought this alarm device that I hooked up to my doors so it would beep every time they were opened. It wasn't attached to an alarm or anything but, it made me feel safe knowing if someone broke in they a) might think it's a security alarm or b) it would alert me if I was home to call 911.

     

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  • Couggal12 said:

    That is so scary! Stay safe!

    Before FI and I lived together I bought this alarm device that I hooked up to my doors so it would beep every time they were opened. It wasn't attached to an alarm or anything but, it made me feel safe knowing if someone broke in they a) might think it's a security alarm or b) it would alert me if I was home to call 911.

     

    I think this is pretty much what our home "alarm" would do once we set it up.  It's better than nothing!
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  • Couggal12 said:

    That is so scary! Stay safe!

    Before FI and I lived together I bought this alarm device that I hooked up to my doors so it would beep every time they were opened. It wasn't attached to an alarm or anything but, it made me feel safe knowing if someone broke in they a) might think it's a security alarm or b) it would alert me if I was home to call 911.

     

    I think this is pretty much what our home "alarm" would do once we set it up.  It's better than nothing!
     
    SITB
     
    Just saw your comment about that. I agree, definitely better than nothing and hope it makes you feel more at ease.
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  • lc07lc07 member
    Tenth Anniversary 2500 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    Leave a pair of men's big dirty work boots on your front porch and a sign that says "beware of dog". Get a chain for your door. And set up the alarm.
  • lc07 said:
    Leave a pair of men's big dirty work boots on your front porch and a sign that says "beware of dog". Get a chain for your door. And set up the alarm.
    Haha @Ic07 I love these ideas!  However, we live in an apartment building.  We just have one front door that faces into the hallway, then a high-up balcony and windows nobody could reach.  Usually this makes me feel safe, but apparently somebody's been using a crow bar to pry open people's doors from the hallway side.  Terrifying.

    However, leaving a pair of Fi's big dirty boots right outside the front door is doable.  Or maybe some other sign that a dude lives here...

    And I have realized in this post that I'm definitely feeling the new-found privilege Fi and I have by living in an upscale apartment building in a gentrified area of an otherwise impoverished city.  It's really easy to feel safe when you pay high rent and everything is landscaped and pretty.  But we aren't immune from anything.
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  • That is so scary! Stay safe!
  • lc07lc07 member
    Tenth Anniversary 2500 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    Yah! I'm totally serious about the boot thing. It would also look like someone is home and had taken their boots off to go inside.
  • Get renters' insurance! Right now! It's really not that expensive and it'll cover your possessions if you get robbed. Obviously that's not your major concern, but it's one precaution you can take to reduce the harm an intruder can do to your lives.
    This is me reading threads on TK
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  • Get renters' insurance! Right now! It's really not that expensive and it'll cover your possessions if you get robbed. Obviously that's not your major concern, but it's one precaution you can take to reduce the harm an intruder can do to your lives.
    We have it-- thanks!  Super important, I know!
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  • Is the shooting you're referring to the one where they shot a young mom and her baby?


    Thai is definitely scary, stay safe! FI live in a relatively safe neighborhood, but you never know in a big city. I actually walk around with some really old pepper spray in my bag.
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  • pinkcow13 said:
    Is the shooting you're referring to the one where they shot a young mom and her baby?


    Thai is definitely scary, stay safe! FI live in a relatively safe neighborhood, but you never know in a big city. I actually walk around with some really old pepper spray in my bag.
    @pinkcow13 No, it was a young man out at a bodega at 3am near the Grove St. PATH.  A drunk guy hit a woman with a bottle, the victim came to her rescue, and then a third guy drove up and shot the victim.  But.... now I feel terrible about that mom and her baby too.  JHC!

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  • Oh my gosh, that's so scary!
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  • ElcaBElcaB member
    2500 Comments Fifth Anniversary 500 Love Its First Answer
    That's very frightening. 

    Do you & FI have a lock on your bedroom door? If so, I'd get into the habit of locking it every night. My dad suggested this to me --- it's a little extra security in the event someone does break into your apartment. 

    I'm sure you've heard the tip about keeping your key fob on your nightstand & activating the car alarm in an attempt to scare away intruders, as well. 

    I'm not sure how you feel about firearms, but this also sounds like the perfect reason for you, FI, or both of you to get your CCW and a handgun. 
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  • ElcaB said:
    That's very frightening. 

    Do you & FI have a lock on your bedroom door? If so, I'd get into the habit of locking it every night. My dad suggested this to me --- it's a little extra security in the event someone does break into your apartment. 

    I'm sure you've heard the tip about keeping your key fob on your nightstand & activating the car alarm in an attempt to scare away intruders, as well. 

    I'm not sure how you feel about firearms, but this also sounds like the perfect reason for you, FI, or both of you to get your CCW and a handgun. 
    Thanks for the tips.  I had never heard the car thing, that's really interesting.  Won't work for us because our apt is so far away from our car on the street, but that's such a good thought if you live in a house with a driveway!

    I'm pretty much anti-gun.  Also have you seen that episode of HIMYM where Marshall gets mugged, Lily wants to get a gun, and he's like, "I'm so klutzy!  The last thing we need in the house is a gun!" That's pretty much Fi.

    I'd like to think that because the break-ins have been during the day when people are gone at work, and the residents weren't home, if our alarm started going off when they got the door open, the intruder would just run away.  :/
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  • pinkcow13 said:
    Is the shooting you're referring to the one where they shot a young mom and her baby?


    Thai is definitely scary, stay safe! FI live in a relatively safe neighborhood, but you never know in a big city. I actually walk around with some really old pepper spray in my bag.
    @pinkcow13 No, it was a young man out at a bodega at 3am near the Grove St. PATH.  A drunk guy hit a woman with a bottle, the victim came to her rescue, and then a third guy drove up and shot the victim.  But.... now I feel terrible about that mom and her baby too.  JHC!

    Ugh this is terrible.
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  • My sister lives in your neighborhood and was saying the same thing. Even though there is a guard in her building they sent a notice to be alert in the parking garage and when you enter and exit the building.
     
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  • My sister lives in your neighborhood and was saying the same thing. Even though there is a guard in her building they sent a notice to be alert in the parking garage and when you enter and exit the building.
    Yeah it's scary.  They just hired security guards for our buildings.
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  • It is scary. If you are anti-gun maybe a pocket-knife for when you are walking home at night. I started carrying one after a rape spree on my campus and depending on size etc you may not need a ccw depending on state laws. I know my 4" assisted open knife is legal in FL without a ccw. Pepper spray is also a good idea. I would get the home alarm set up it can deter thieves and alert you if you are home.
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  • SBminiSBmini member
    500 Love Its 1000 Comments Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    ElcaB said:
    That's very frightening. 

    Do you & FI have a lock on your bedroom door? If so, I'd get into the habit of locking it every night. My dad suggested this to me --- it's a little extra security in the event someone does break into your apartment. 

    I'm sure you've heard the tip about keeping your key fob on your nightstand & activating the car alarm in an attempt to scare away intruders, as well. 

    I'm not sure how you feel about firearms, but this also sounds like the perfect reason for you, FI, or both of you to get your CCW and a handgun. 
    Thanks for the tips.  I had never heard the car thing, that's really interesting.  Won't work for us because our apt is so far away from our car on the street, but that's such a good thought if you live in a house with a driveway!

    I'm pretty much anti-gun.  Also have you seen that episode of HIMYM where Marshall gets mugged, Lily wants to get a gun, and he's like, "I'm so klutzy!  The last thing we need in the house is a gun!" That's pretty much Fi.

    I'd like to think that because the break-ins have been during the day when people are gone at work, and the residents weren't home, if our alarm started going off when they got the door open, the intruder would just run away.  :/
    Two words: pump-action shotgun. You don't even need bullets for it to be home defense. Once you make that Terminator cha-chunk noise with it any would be thief would be long gone!
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