breaking and entering

[threeplusfire]

Alan woke me up at 1am Saturday, convinced that he heard someone trying to get into the house. I thought he must have heard a cat, and was over-reacting because he hadn't been sleeping well and wasn't feeling so good.

Today, I'm doing some laundry here at the apartment laundromat because my mother has the flu. I stood in the grass and looked at our windows. There are some footprints in the mud under our bedroom window, and part of the weather stripping has been pried up as if someone was trying to find a way to the latch. The weather stripping for one of the living room windows was laying in the mud, and had been pulled right off. I checked the second window, and part of the weather stripping had been pried off there as well.

Someone did try to break into the house.

I am completely freaked out, after the fact. I'm a bit mortified that I didn't take Alan more seriously the other night but I really did think he was just startled by a cat outside or something.

I wonder if I should talk to the office about having the weather stripping repaired. I haven't the faintest idea how to make the windows more safe. We keep the curtains and blinds down almost all the time.

Comments

[n-o-m-i-c.livejournal.com]

That sucks, but good thing you're all right.

The only thing I could suggest are those little thumbscrew window locks. They clamp on the inside of the window frame and keep the windows from being opened even if the existing locks are unlocked.

I think Home Depot (or maybe Radio Shack?) also sells little stand-alone alarm things for windows that sound and alarm if they're opened. IIRC, there's one that you have to press the little disarm button, then wait 15 seconds or so to prevent the alarm from sounding.

Hope that helps.

[tamperevident.livejournal.com]

yup, definitely get alarms, preferably ones that have a small flashing light, visible from the outside. that stops most burglars in their tracks.

it also can't hurt to register this occurence with the local police dept, before you repair the windows. also a good way to find out if its been happening to other people in your neighborhood, as well.

[alainn-sorcha.livejournal.com]

That's icky. :(

So far today I've seen Cate's entry linked to two of the communities I belong to. She's made quite a stir.

[deviantsaint.livejournal.com]

get some of these:

http://www.eztone.com/contact-hs4310.htm

and a gun, just in case. (I suggest a winchester 1300 12ga shotgun loaded with aguilla mini shells).

an robery at night is considered "aggravated robbery" (at least in the state of texas). Carries a stiffer penalty since there's a greater chance of someone being home at the time.

oh my god!!!

[feu-de-fripe.livejournal.com]

did you call the police?
i am not usually a big fan of the police, but they can check for prints etc...

stay safe.

[trueliminality.livejournal.com]

I hope that the office will do something. if nothing else it would be good to tell them so that they do not hold you reponsible for any of the damage.

hope it goes well...

[serpina.livejournal.com]

My experience with the Austin police was that they really WANTED to hear about anything questionable. I actually got lectured by a cop once for delaying contacting them when something scary happened in my neighborhood. So I really recommend calling the non-emergency line and talking to them -- they might be able to increase patrolling in your neighborhood.

This is completely and totally unrelated, but I immediately thought of you when I saw this (http://www.ontariogifted.org/meghan/sweater.htm) in a knitting community.

Oh -- and I also was really impressed and touched by Cate's post; thanks for linking to it.

[geoectomy.livejournal.com]

Noise-makers. Maybe you've got to start decorating your windows with strings of bells or something... C-clamps are good, even if the window-lock is jimmy'd. Do you have an alarm system in the apt? Even a dummy pad with a red light makes a difference if it's visible...

[a311renegade.livejournal.com]

I hope your apartment complex is better than mine... my apartment and car got broken into in Austin but the management didn't seem to care. I would definitely pester them about the stripping and the incident. Glad you're ok.

[coyotegoth.livejournal.com]

Fuck, I'm glad you're all right.

[frostwalrus.livejournal.com]

Electric current running throught the window frame. That will get their attention.