Are you safe in your home.?

Question

I had a bit of a shock today.
I was cooking in the kitchen and the windows got steamed up
so i opened the back door to let the steam out. I was also making a cup of tea and had the boiling kettle in my hand.
A kid of about 17 walked straight into my kitchen, stopped when he saw me holding the kettle. I shouted at him what the hell did he think he wanted. He turned and ran out.
I think I would have thrown the boiling water over him if he had
come any closer. I suppose then he could have sued me for assault. I didn't ring the police and am wondering if I should have. Was it my fault for not having the kitchen door locked. I am feeling very unsettled by this.

Answer 1

The sad thing is that most crimes are committed in homes. If you are lucky it won't be in your home! Some of the worst things that has ever happened to me has been in my own home! Lock your doors, make it a habit... if they want in they will get in none the less, however, this generally makes some noise and you will be alerted. You should notify the authorities just because they need to be watching out for your neighbors as well as yourself. If you don't they are none the wiser, and who knows what will happen next!!!!!!


This is very important!!! Call now!

Answer 2

No doubt you would feel unsettled. To say the least. They say
that 90% of all home robberies are done in broad daylight.
People can even back in delivery trucks when you're away,
and load up with all of your best possessions and drive off
without anyone wondering about it. With so many working
today, neighbors aren't home to watch out for other neighbors
like they did when I was growing up.
Not too long ago, I woke up around 2:00 and saw a man
peeking into our front window when I happened to look to
the window. I woke my husband and he grabbed the door
and opened it fast, and the guy stammered and said, he
was looking for a light to light his cigarette. How lame. He
had been taken off guard and couldn't come up with better
than that? There have been times since, that I would wake
up to hear a certain whistle. Like someone signalling another.
And I would look out and not see anyone. But I know we have
had our van broken into and an empty apartment where we
had some things stored and things were taken from there.
So I don't really feel all that safe anymore. I have heard that
even gated houses have been robbed. So if someone is
intent on robbing you, they will find a way to get in and they
will watch your incoming and outgoing habits. So it pays to
keep a radio going or TV when you're gone. And keep the
dogs at home if you have one. Two is even better, robbers
wouldn't like stereo barking to sound an alarm.
That really was brazen tho to just walk in. But I've read where people were in the back of their houses and the
front was being robbed. Experts know how to be quiet and
efficient. They know the hiding places for valuables as many
people do the same things as to where they hide them.
With times as they are today, you need to keep doors locked
even when you are at home. Robbers are getting more
desperate and are carrying bigger guns. And more import-
ant, they are killing innocent home owners. We've had too
many victims on our news reports of late. This is the season
for indescrimanate robberies, when even robbers need
money for gift buying. And they know you might have gifts
under the tree they could get money from. So protect your-
self at all cost. Not just now, but always. We can't allow our-
selves to become another victim.

Answer 3

I am so glad that you were not physically hurt.
I live in a small town and I am not as worried about this as I would be in some other areas but you just never know. You were probably lucky that you had the hot water in your hand. I would have called the cops. He was probably walking through the yard and noticed an opportunity.
I love to open the sliding door and windows when the weather is nice outside. I probably should not do that even where I live.

Answer 4

You must report it to the police. these kids look for an opportunity to get in and out as quickly as possible. We have a gate to our yard that we keep locked at all times. We got in the habit because in the summer we have a pool and it is a bi-law here. We keep it locked all year round and always keep our doors locked too. Sometimes my husband gets to the point of being paronaid about it but when we read our local paper, it's not funny when you hear of people getting held up in their own driveway. It pays to be cautious especially when we are older because these thugs think nothing of assaulting seniors.

Answer 5

CC, what a terrible thing to have happen to you. I don't blame you for feeling unsettled. If this is an isolated incident, then I would try not to let it make you feel unsafe in your own home. Was it your fault, of course not. Especially if it was broad daylight, no one would expect that. I would file a report with the police in case there is a problem in your neighborhood, you may be able to provide a description that will help them catch this person.

We live in the middle of no where in the country and I used to leave the back door unlocked at night all the time. No more. I guess it's a sign of the times that no one is 100% safe, even in their own home.

Answer 6

Wow, that is just terrible. I can't imagine how scared your were. Poor dear. Yes, ring up the police...NOW! Actually, I feel safer where I live now than I have in years. I always felt safe when I was married the whole 21 yrs, on the farm etc. Now, I am not afraid to leave my door open, windows too.
Never feel the need to lock my car but do out of habit. I have been here a year last week and feel so lucky. I'm so sorry this happened to you. I just want to add that I never, but never, leave my doors or windows open or unlocked the minute it gets close to dark no matter where I live.

Answer 7

yes, you should of have called the police. There is no reason for anyone that does know you to just walk in your house. I lived in Chicago for two years, had three locks on the back door and two on the front. I have always been a door locker, my car doors lock automatically, but when I first get in I lock my doors.. some people think I am crazy, but I don't want anyone walking in on me! I live now in a safe place, lots of homes and kids, this summer we had some things happening, but no one was ever caught. We have had some cars being broken into a lot lately! It is just safer to be aware and lock your doors.

Answer 8

Such good advice. a number of years in the past we had some problems with our furnace and mandatory to call a repairman to come lower back out. He took a examining and instructed us that we've been fortunate to nonetheless be alive. The carbon monoxide ranges have been extremely intense. on the time i replaced right into a smoker and could depart residing house windows open no count what the components. That possibly saved our lives. considering that then we've replaced that previous furnace and have put in carbon monoxide detectors. We did journey some indicators yet theory we've been getting the flu.

Answer 9

CC - I would be "unsettled" too! You should have called the police - if only to file report. They need to know what is going on in your neighborhood! Personally I do not feel safe in my home. I live alone - my neighbors are not too close by and although this is considered a "very good" neighborhood we are prone to break ins and have had several robberies in the last few months. I have had additional dead bolts put on the doors and an alarm system in my drive way - if anyone drives up - a buzzer sounds in my house. But I still do not feel totally safe! Good luck to you. CJ

Answer 10

Go ahead and report the incident to the police. The kid was an uninvited intruder. I think that's called home invasion.

I keep all doors locked at all times. Always use peephole before opening door. My barking dogs probably scare off more people than I'd care to know about. No, I don't feel particularly safe in my home or neighborhood.