[buggyone]

Originally Posted by Mr.Kris

A number of years ago my home here in the Maryland suburbs was broken into and ransacked. Got jewelry, electronics, everything of value that could be sold/pawned.

Everyone told me to get an alarm because the burglars would be back to get the new things I got to replace what was stolen.

I got an alarm system. They were right. It was monitored and had a loud siren. This time the thieves took off without getting anything and the police arrived. No one was ever caught.

Problem with the alarm system is I eventually felt trapped in my home. False alarms didn't help. I moved. I understand that that is not a solution here. But with every solution there could be a new issue to consider.

Which of the 'burbs" did you live in? I lived in Silver Spring (White Oak) and had an ADT alarm. I never felt trapped in my home. I slept better knowing the windows and doors had sensors that would sound an alarm if opened or broken. Happened once for real, one "maybe", and a few times that my wife or I would accidently open a door without thinking.

The crime stats for home break-ins was a huge difference between there and in The Villages.

As to the one today, I would definitely say their house was being watched as to when they would leave - and the store where the safe was bought is a thought - as well as adult children in the neighborhood living with parents.

[gmcneill]

The following is a copy of an email that our neighborhood e-administrator posted. The email is from a friend of one of us Gilchrist residents.

We took a ride in the Golf cart this morning and found out another House had been robbed. We followed Yarborough way over to Designer Homes and first street on right lots of police and homeowners. We went around the Block and met some folks that said the Homeowners go to church every Sunday 9-10 and between then the bad guys kicked in the front door of the home. They have Beautiful Glass Front doors and forced the glass in around the frame and opened the door. Someone thinks they were driving a Kia Cube, you know the commercial, where the mice jump out of the car. Well, they were no mice, more like RATS to do this. Also may be Spanish, just wanted you to know so you can keep a look out. Be safe............P.S. they seem to be just taking jewelry and money.
--

[Suzi]

Hubby and I decided this is too much. Contacted a really great man who lives in the villages. Bought a system this past Thursday for an extremely reasonable rate. Everything we could have wanted. This is a "peach" of a guy. Loads of other info he shared with us. We are busy protecting ourselves all over the place. If YOU might be interested, send me your phone number, and I'll have him call you.

[Mr.Kris]

Originally Posted by buggyone

Which of the 'burbs" did you live in? I lived in Silver Spring (White Oak) and had an ADT alarm. I never felt trapped in my home. I slept better knowing the windows and doors had sensors that would sound an alarm if opened or broken. Happened once for real, one "maybe", and a few times that my wife or I would accidently open a door without thinking.

The crime stats for home break-ins was a huge difference between there and in The Villages.

As to the one today, I would definitely say their house was being watched as to when they would leave - and the store where the safe was bought is a thought - as well as adult children in the neighborhood living with parents.

Mr. Buggy

The feeling of being trapped had nothing to do with where I live, per se. It pertained to the fact that I felt I needed an alarm system to feel safe. My only concern in informing others was there all always unintended consequences. I would come home. Turn off the alarm. Close the door. And turn the alarm back on when I went to sleep (1). I felt trapped. I no longer live there.

While I am not comfortable telling you, on an unsecured cite, where I currently live, I have lived in the D.C. are for almost 40 years. Including northern Virginia. If you saw my profile you would have seen that I worked, after my service in the Air Force in the late 60s, at the Pentagon (2). You can infer from that the places I have lived, and been to, in the area in the last 40 years. In regards to White Oak, the closest place that I can think of having been to meetings at is Bethesda Naval Medical Center, which was merged with Walter Reed under BRAC.

But if you are really clever, I can tell you that I now live in the county of the agency that can't be mentioned. At least back in the 60s/70s. Now it is all over the papers.

Mr. Kris

(1) For some reason OGC said Claymores were not acceptable.
(2) I was nothing more than a bureaucrat.

[graciegirl]

boyhowdy

[kstew43]

Turn on the TV radio or something that lets people at the front door know that you are home, just using the bathroom or something....

Volume loud enough so when you go out the front door, you hear just a little of the sound. Couldn't hurt.

[Rickg]

All of us need to watch for anything or anybody that looks out of place. Call the police and let them decide if it is a false alarm. take a pic with your cellphone. Believe me the police would rather respond to a false alarm then investigate another break-in. A call to community watch is not effective unless you do it as a back up to your call to the police.

[Nlnicholson]

Originally Posted by kstew43

Turn on the TV radio or something that lets people at the front door know that you are home, just using the bathroom or something....

Volume loud enough so when you go out the front door, you hear just a little of the sound. Couldn't hurt.

Sounds like a good idea. Thanks

[Nlnicholson]

Bump

[Nlnicholson]

Wasp spray can have effects similar to pepper spray when used for self-defense, and some have advocated its use for this purpose:
Val Glinka teaches self-defense to students at Sylvania Southview High School. For decades, he's suggested putting a can of wasp and hornet spray near your door.

Glinka says, "This is better than anything I can teach them."

Glinka considers it inexpensive, easy to find, and more effective than mace or pepper spray. The cans typically shoot 20 to 30 feet; so if someone tries to break into your home, Glinka says "spray the culprit in the eyes". It's a tip he's given to students for decades. It's also one he wants everyone to hear.

Read more at snopes.com: Wasp Spray

[kstew43]

The problem with looking for people out of place......who would that be.....with a new neighborhood, city being built people are driving around that don't belong. Prospects can be looking for homes to buy or homes to rob. It will always be that way till they build it out and then continue with resales. How can you tell who doesn't belong.

Crooks have nice cars, sometimes, older generation, sometimes, well dressed, sometimes.....you probably can spot a young man with his pants around his knees, but after that.....how can you really tell who doesn't belong on the city streets of the villages.

seems to me that the bad guys might have found a niche and they are telling there friends. Just too strange that it is continuing on.

Difficult, very difficult...

[scarecrow1]

Put a sign at the front door saying "be aware of my three dogs. Two are Yorkies and they bark, the third is a 45 and it bites. That might keep them away.

[graciegirl]

Does anyone agree that kicking in the front door in broad daylight seems to be the work of one person or the same duo? There have been now FOUR? kickin front doors in the same area and a car break in north and a middle of the night burglary and those two have been caught...and umm booked and out on bail. (What is wrong with that picture????)


What are the others not mentioned above? Just to keep it correct?


I think that this is the day Swimdawg and Angie Fox were going to the sheriff's office to talk about a neighborhood watch thing.


I imagine we will hear from them later.

[Happinow]

Ya know, one of these days these thugs will be met at the door with a gun by the home owner. They might not be so lucky as to make bail......

[TVMayor]

When I think of neighborhood watch my first thought is of George Zimmerman after that I have two more closer to home memories none of which would sell me on the idea of an organized group. I prefer “if you see something say something” no more.