I just got back from a lovely week of vacation and discovered that someone attempted to break into my apartment. I live on the ground floor and the thief tried to get in from my patio door. I noticed the screen part was slid back and the door was unlocked. the thing that saved me was a security bar I put that blocks the door from being opened. But I am seriously creeped out. It was kind of my fault because I only left the hall light and the TV on, figuring my petsitter would leave a light on at night. (I figured wrong.) It's just scary the idea that someone got so close to getting in my apartment. It's also scary because it was most likely someone in my complex since my apt in the midde of a big secluded complex. What can I do to make myself feel more secure?
2007-02-11 07:32:55 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
The theif will probably return, the only safe thing is to move house, he may even be a murderer..
2007-02-11 07:38:33 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋
Don't listen to Gary S he is a little over the top there.
Also don't even start to blame yourself, because some lowlife tried to come in & invade your home.
Having that bar in your patio door was obviously all you really needed in this case with this particular intruder in this particular scenario. It kept the intruder out, so keep using that plan, IT WORKS.
You also had someone comming in to your home on a regular basis (pet sitter) while you were away, & that is also a great idea.
Leaving a hall light, & the TV on obviously is too old a trick to be effective. It didn't seem to work this time anyway.
It is better to get a few electronic timers, & set them for different time periods on different days. That gives your home a more occupied look.
Have the petsitter remove mail from your mailbox, just having it held back at the postoffice isn't always the best because your mailbox will still fill up with hand delivered flyers etc.
Also have the petsitter open, & close curtains or blinds in random windows while there to give the house a more occupied look.
You may want to also consider a monitored alarm system.
There are portable wireless products out there that are relatively inexpensive, & can offer you a lot of piece of mind.
If you call an experienced independant alarm dealer, you can also ask for some additional advice on how you can protect yourself & your home.
The key thing here is to not put all of your eggs in one basket.
Some people get a big dog, & feel secure. Another will get better locks, & feel secure, another will get a state of the art alarm system & feel secure.
It would be far better if these people would utilize ALL of these solutions into an overall security plan, & put it to use all of the time.
For a list of independant alarm dealers in your area contact:
CANASA at http://www.canasa.org/ in Canada or
NBFAA at: http://www.alarm.org/ in the USA
Good luck to you, & be safe.
2007-02-11 08:06:08 · answer #2 · answered by No More 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First contact the police and file a report. Do that first, next notify your landlord and if you have an association where you live, bring that up with them. If the theif lives in your complex, by letting the landlord know and the association, he has been put on notice and will less likely return. Now for your piece of mind there are some inexpensive alarm locks that you can place on your doors and windows, that when the alarm contacts are broken the alarms sound and you need a key to turn it off. Check the internet, depending on how much you want to spend.
2007-02-11 09:09:12 · answer #3 · answered by 1TON 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, the most expensive way would be too get a security system installed but that can cost quite a bit. We had a scare not too long ago, so we bought these small magnetic alarms that can be attached to your doors and windows. When set, if the door or window is opened, a really loud alarm goes off (due to the magnets being offset). A pack of six of these alarms run about $10 at Circuit City. We've had them about two years and have not had to replace the batteries yet. They are very small and non-evasive but would scare off an attacker in a heart beat!
2007-02-11 07:49:09 · answer #4 · answered by dolphin lady 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They make these little pins that will secure your sliding door better than a bar at the bottom.
The pins require that you, with the door in the closed position, drill a certain-sized hole through both the frame, on the handle side, and the door-frame. The pin, which you can have dangling on a chain, next to the hole, is inserted into the hole(s), keeping the door from being lifted out of its track.
They can be purchased at Home Depot or Lowe's or any good hardware store. Requires drilling a hole.
Don't hesitate, and good luck.
2007-02-11 07:43:20 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First, if you are certain that someone attempted to break in, you need to call the police and make a report. They may be able to link the attempted break-in to other similar attempts in the area. If anything else happens, you will definitely want a record established every time.
To make yourself feel more secure, I advise changing the locks for your apartment (get the landlord's approval for this). Also, I encourage you to get new drapes or anything you need for privacy.
If you suspect your pet sitter in any way, shape, or form, I would also encourage you to work out a different arrangement.
2007-02-11 07:43:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Did you call the police and make a record? You did not element out that. i'd situation about why they picked your condominium too. Very interesting and tense situation you've there. it would not count if it turned right into a neighbor or a stranger, someone tried to interrupt into your condominium. You observed as the governmentalso? tell me you probably did? you won't be able to be too careful. you won't be able to trust each person.
2016-11-27 01:31:29 · answer #7 · answered by becher 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Could the screen and door have been moved by your pet sitter? I would talk to them first and see if they did anything of that sort. If you need to feel more secure you could always try buying some security equipment (cameras, motion detectors) those kinds of things.
2007-02-11 07:43:34 · answer #8 · answered by heavy_cow 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Understand that this does take place and also ... he/she never got into your place, they TRIED to break in and you've found now that they cannot get in. Feel secure by that, make sure your doors are always locked and make sure that bar is always down.
2007-02-11 07:41:17 · answer #9 · answered by Malone 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
you should lock all windows doors inside this will make it harder o get in you should get someone to watch your place even if you have to pay them.
2007-02-11 07:52:09 · answer #10 · answered by doakpersoncat 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If legal in your part of the world, buy a gun.
2007-02-11 07:40:59 · answer #11 · answered by Bread Crumb Maloy 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋