Last night 3 juvenile fugitives broke into both of our cars. They took off the ignition lock and jammed a screwdriver in the ignition trying to start it. Thankfully, they didn't succeed. Only one of the cars is unable to be driven, thankfully. Apparently the same 3 fugitives knocked on my neighbors door trying to get my neighbors to unlock their garage and drive them somewhere. We can only assume that they would have stolen the neighbors car one way or another. The neighbors called the police. The police were all over our yard, shining lights in our windows, looking for the fugitives. We slept through it all!
I'm not sure what bothers me more. I can't decide if I'm more upset that my sense of safety is shattered because 1) we NEVER thought that would happen around here or B) I slept through the whole thing. We have a large inside dog and I can only imagine that the would be thieves came to our door, saw the dog and left. But, the dog never barked. He has a very LOUD bark and I know that if he barked for any amount of time I would have heard him. It scares me because these people could have broken into my house and I never would have known. Now I'm scared to do anything. I'm scared to leave, I'm scared to take a shower and I can only imagine how sleepless the rest of my nights will be.
Also, my husbands car needs the ignition replaced. We don't have the money and since we only have liability insurance on the car, we have to pay out of pocket. Of course that means we're down to one car until we can get it fixed. Of course I have a million errands to run between now and Christmas and of course, my husband works every day till Christmas Eve. He doesn't get home until late and by the time we eat dinner and put kids to bed, I'm too tired to run the 30 minutes to the store. I was thankful that I was having a relatively easy and fairly stress free holiday season. Not anymore!
How do feel safe in my own home? How do I shake the feeling that these little punks are going to come back? They stole another car and I'm sure they're long gone by now, but they did mention that they wanted to be taken to a nearby town. I've never had to deal with this before and I'm just petrified!
Thanks for your kind words! I have very young children and I don't think a gun is the answer. We actually have 2 guns, but I refuse to keep the ammo anywhere near the guns. I am just not willing to take that risk. So, a gun isn't the way to go for us.
I'm thinking that you are all right and if the thieves had tried to break in to the house, the dog would have gone berserk! He probably didn't see any immediate danger, so he didn't bark.
I have filed a report with the police. I also have a mechanic that is going to give us estimates for getting both cars repaired.
The Sheriff called to notify me that the kids have been caught and will have several charges against them, including Attempted Felony.
File a report with the police so that you might be able to get monetary assistance through the victims organization. As I understand it they are all over and if you are the victim of a crime then you can get money to help fix stuff.
You will feel better over time. You've lost your sense of safety, and your response is normal. It's how you deal with it now that will frame everything going foward. You can let it make you weak and panicky, or you can choose to come out stronger and smarter.
I was mugged at gunpoint 10 yrs ago. They took everything. My keys, the coat I was wearing, my money...everything. The ANGER that I came away from that with is still with me today. However, I refuse to "let them win".
My response was to throw myself in TaeBo. It made me feel to safe to do something related to self defense. (and it turned out to give me a pretty good body, too! LOL!) I felt stronger in myself for that. And it's a habit that I am still in today - although it's branched into other areas of fitness.
**Get an alarm system on your house. That will help - although it's not foolproof. Remember that.
**Keep a phone by your bed
**If you feel better with a weapon near your bed - get one.
--I keep an expandable baton near my bed. www.selfdefense.com
And part of it is to remember that you can't control the world. It can make you feel helpless, but that realization also offers a sense of release. You can't protect everyone from everything.
You will come out of this stronger, and you will feel safe again. Just remember that it's up to you how you handle this. Let it make you more vigilant.
YOur dog might be a pushover to most people but do not underestimate the power of an animal who sees his owner in trouble. He might not have heard the commotion last night but if they had come into the house you would have known and if the dog sensed your fear he would have gone into protective mode. The meekest labs will protect what is their's and you are his.
You can also get window alarms, we bought this house with them installed and they are on at all times in the basement. I also have three dogs.
I have seen that show with the thieves who break into people's houses then do the security makeover, do get outside motion spotlights. You can also set up a motion alarm by the front door that will sound when someone trips it.
We have beware of dog signs in our windows too.
It'll be OK, truly.
This is so incredibly scary. I remember as a child our home was burglarized while we were at a football game. It was terrifying and none of us slept until...
1. My parents had an alarm system installed
2. Phone line upstairs "activated"
3. Bright spotlights in the front and back that stay on all night
It never happened again & the neighborhood really is quite safe, but we didn't realize how much we took our safety for granted until it was threatened. I would strongly suggest investing in some bright lights outside and leaving them on at night and when you are not home.
There was a show on t.v. a while ago where two former theives broke into homes to show how lax we all are and then did a "security makeover". It sounds strange, but it was really interesting. The one thing I pulled from every episode is that bright lights are the single most effective deterent.
Good luck... you will sleep again, but it will take a while!
have you thought about getting an alarm system? i keep getting calls from some company asking us if we would use their alarm system for free, i just have to put their sign up on the yard (i'm thinking free advertisement). not sure if this is a scam so i'd check it out first but just throwing out the idea. plus, i'm sure your dog would have barked had they actually tried to come in the house..i'm thinking they probably didn't since he didn't bark... sorry to hear you're going through this :(
I think the fear you are feeling is normal and justified, considering it was last night.
I believe your feeling of "normal" will return over time.
If not, seek counseling.
As you can see from your experience, it's NEVER the bad things you worry about that actually happen--it's the stuff from left field.
Odds are this was a fluke, a O.-time event and all will be fine.
Be happy that all that is physically lost is a car part that can be easily replaced.
(And I have a big dog too--while he may let some outside noises slide--I KNOW that if anyone tried to enter our home--he would bark! Yours will too!)
I'm sorry you experienced this. Crime is everywhere. There are no guaranteed "safe areas"! Be vigilant, but don't let yourself become controlled by your fear.
Happy holidays!
more than likely if someone was to break into your home your dog would have barked and probably bit them. this is why I have a gun. its going to take time. you will be paraniod for a while never been through this so I cant advise.
These are desperate times and crime is on the rise.
I would take precautionary measures.
Get better locks on doors.
I bought these guards (rods w/rubber grips on bottome) you put under the doorknobs of the front door/back door that helps prevent people from kicking in your door.
Put chains on the doors as another preventative measure to them trying to get in.
Make sure backdoors, laundry room doors, garage doors all have deadbolts.
Never open the door to strangers or at night.
If someone knocks, tell them to get lost or you will get your gun even if you don't have one.
is it possible for you to drive him to work and pick him up, so you can have the car during the day? That would help with the errand running, at least.
Get a gun, learn how to use it! Most of the things you mentioned, I wouldn't shoot for! (I don't want to ever take someones life) If my choice is fight or flight, I am going to take flight! I will not stand and fight for any material possesions, but I will defend the life of my children!
Don't know where you live or in what kind of neighborhood, but how about getting some ADT or FIRST ALERT stickers for your doors and/or windows? They also have small signs that you can put in your yard. You get them when you get the system, but SURELY you can find some way/someone who can get them for you.
They may be deterred, just by seeing the sticker and not want to take the chance.
Hi Shaun,
What Sara B. said. Or maybe a neighbor can take you out to do errands when they go, if you both are going to the same places.
So sorry you have to go through this. My parents were burglarized and it was not fun.
I'd make sure your locks are good, add the chains as someone else suggested. If someone knocks after dark, tell them you'll call police, AAA, whatever they need FOR them.
Hang in there. I am glad no one was hurt. Happy Holidays!
K. Z.
