Vacation Cut Short

[SadieKate]

When our house was broken into, they broke two doors and the frames to get into the garage. They then drove a vehicle in and closed the door and leisurely went shopping, beer from our fridge in hand. When they left, they closed the garage door.

Without being able to close and lock doors again, we were on 24x7 watch until the repair work could be completed. The following day I received a call from a child. I could barely hear adult voices coaching in the background and he asked for William rather than Bill. Luckily, a light went on in my head. They had our mail and NO ONE calls Bill William except my dad. I wish we had had call back service in those days. I didn't even think to call the phone company because, without call back, I don't think I was aware of what the phone company could do in looking for numbers. They had obviously set up the place to come back and were just checking to see if anyone was home without making a driveby.

A few weeks afer this, someone broke into my car and stole my cell phone (back in the days of built-ins). We discovered this pretty fast and we got the numbers that were called from my phone pretty fast. This was actually rather fun. The police had a suspicion that it was a Russian-speaking gang from a nearby town and our local PD had a Russian-speaker. He called the numbers, got their identity and informed them that they could tell him who that had been speaking to a X am or be charged with accessory. He got their names really, really fast. We lucked out.

Another thing about vacations, the police told us to put external locks on everything when we leave. They said anything that makes it look like it will take an extra few seconds to get in is discouragement. We all have garage door openers now so we forget about the pin and look system that can be used on the doors. And, a housesitter doesn't solve the problem because more and more the break-ins are daytime when everyone is at work.

Veronica, the things that hurt Bill the most (and we lost a lot) were 1) the thought that they might have hit our elderly dog with a shovel (quote: "I don't need no stinking license.") and 2) the loss of his Air Force Academy class ring. It wasn't the loss of the item but all the memories it represented. It was the one thing from the Academy that he kept out.

So, hang tough. Get home. You'll start to feel better once you regain some control. Do your best not to let the thoughts and anger intrude on your subconcious. Those will last a long time. If you need help with anything, call me. I'll come down (inbetween helping MP if the tree squishes her house).

[Bikingmomof3]

((((((((((((((((((((((((((V)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

I am so very sorry! I am just now reading this. Is there anything we can do?

[KnottedYet]

((((V)))) Oh, dear, this so s*cks!

[TrekJeni]

(((((V))))))
That SUCKS, F-ING SUCKS!

Hope everything gets better for you guys. I can't believe how horrible some people can be. Never in a million years when bored as a teenager did I say, "Hey, let's break into so and so's house" and I certainly wouldn't EVER think about it as an adult! What is the world coming to? I'm hoping for some incredibly bad, terrible, awful, debilitating, messy karma for them!

Jeni

[Adventure Girl]

Another thing about vacations, the police told us to put external locks on everything when we leave. They said anything that makes it look like it will take an extra few seconds to get in is discouragement. We all have garage door openers now so we forget about the pin and look system that can be used on the doors. And, a housesitter doesn't solve the problem because more and more the break-ins are daytime when everyone is at work.

Another tip is to remove the wheels from your bikes. Also, I lock bikes together. It just might only make it 5% more difficult to steal them. But that 5% might be the difference! Someone broke into my friend's garage and stole 3 bikes. They didn't take the most valuable bikes. They only took the bikes that had both wheels on them.

Man, Veronica. There's nothing else to say. Nothing like kicking someone when they're down! Just when you're starting to get back to a normal frame of mind... WHAM! I feel so badly for you!

But maybe sharing your experience with all of us will make us more aware. I had been getting rather careless and lazy about setting the alarm on my house. But you bet I set it every time now!

[Trekhawk]

Oh V that is terrible news. Sorry to hear you had to cut your holiday short as well.

Sending giant hugs your way.

[Velobambina]

V -- I'm sorry to hear about everything that happened to you. What a rotten streak of luck. Keep your chin up.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Oh, so sorry to hear about this! Some people can be so ROTTEN.
I hope things improve for you very very soon...

[sbctwin]

We have been on vacation this week. The night before we left, our neighbor came over and told us that he had seen someone looking in one of our front windows. It is somewhat secluded with trees. Our neighbor knew we were leaving for a week. We had our home totally ransacked twice before and broken in a third time and now have an alarm system. We notified the alarm company that we were going to be away and the fact of someone looking in one of our windows. We also called the police. The police came out right away to look around. We let them know we were going to be out of town also. We have the "Animal Nanny" coming in twice a day to take care of my diabetic kitty, so I am feeling more secure about being away for a week. I too, have learned to not value so much stuff, but it is so easy to become complacent. Because I have someone coming in everyday, I am more relaxed, but I still worry. I am more worried about Kallie being hurt by an intruder, but I know she will hide if a stranger comes in. She was around on breakin two and three. It is very stressful for our pets....

[ladyfish]

My hubby grew up in some rough neighborhoods. Sometimes I think he goes overboard with security, but I am glad he does it.

He ALWAYS turns off the garage door opener when we leave town (unplugs it from the power source). That makes it just a bit more difficult for someone to get stuff out thru the garage. Of course we have so much junk (and i do mean junk) in the garage that no one could park a car in there (goodness knows I would love to be able to do that). But it's just an extra bit of deterrant. He also has junk blocking the side door to the garage, so there's no way to go in thru that door (I'm not sure if that's planned or just junk overflow!

So sorry your vacation was cut short by all the troubles you've had. Keep your chin up and hang in there.