My neighbor was robbed!

[authentic]

That's why I have a home liability insurance covers $100,000 for only $15/monthly.

 

[LuciaDisturbed]

Get a gun.

Then get a sticker that says, "Crazed PMS Woman lives here with a gun."

My sister did that and she was never robbed!

Guns scare me. I won't even touch one.

Also, we are not allowed to have guns here at this complex.

 

[LuciaDisturbed]

lucia,

i'm so glad that you're safe. <hugs>

i have renter's insurance through allstate and pay $124 annually.

Thank you. <hugs>

I used my computer calculator and it looks like it comes to about $10.33 a month (if the calculator is correct - I suck at math!). If I were to go with AllState, would I have to pay $124 all at once each year, or do they allow monthly payments instead? I cannot afford to fork over $124 all at once. I don't get enough to fork a large chunk of money over. Monthly payments are what I can afford right now, since I am on a fixed income.

 

[KarissaMann05]

Wow... I'm really happy that you are okay

My sister and her former rommate had been rodded two years ago... I lost my old laptop, that sister borrowed, to thief... =/ My family reminded her former roomate to lock a door all the time... Oh, well.

 

[sara1981]

mostly house and apts have problems for robbed if you were away like out of town for busniess or whatevers let know must kept eyes of house or apts if you have neighbors can trust you.

my hometown have more serious crimes because can stealing tv,computers,anythings that no games! but police can report if have missing anythings let police know.

 

[LuciaDisturbed]

During the five years I was single, with my wife gone there was no one to watch the house while I was at work or shopping, I used Accularm. It cost $1,200 to install motion detectors in all the outlaying rooms plus first year of service. I also had to pay for police permit for the alarm, I think $30 for 3 years. After that it cost me $300 a year for the service.

I really could not afford the initial $1,200, but what I stood to lose was worth far more than that.

Also if you are renting renter's insurance costs about $160 a year around here.

Unfortunately, I don't have that kind of money. And even if I added up what everything in my apartment cost altogether, it would not even come to what the Accularm is worth to buy, install, pay for the permit for the alarm, and for the service. I have more furniture now (I just got some nice stuff from a neighbor that just moved out today) but even with that, still doesn't come to the total cost of the Accularm. Nearly everything I have is either used, came from a thrift store, from a neighbor, a friend, the dumpster (yes, I dumpster dive, you wouldn't believe all the good shit people throw away...perfectly nice furniture, I even got a perfectly working printer/scanner/copier out of the dumpster!), or I've had forever. The only thing that is worth most is my computer, and even that will not fetch enough if I were to sell it at a used computer store because I've had it since about 2004 and it was the only one of the two things I bought new. Computer value deteriorate very quickly these days. The only other thing I bought new was my bed, and I bought it when I got to Texas. The old one was already too old (over 7 years old), and it was being stored in a barn in Minnesota, and my ex-roommates had already ruined it beyond repair while I was gone. I decided to let the owner of the farm burn it (he's always burning things). The chickens and the turkeys in the farm shat all over the bed anyway, so I didn't care. Both my TVs are made in 1992 and 1994 so it wouldn't really fetch anything more than $10 if I were to sell them. One has captions in it, the other doesn't (I am waiting on a used CC decoder box in the mail, should come within about a week or so). So, really, not much for them to steal, but still, I would hate it if people stole my things cause I cannot afford to buy any new things. The only thing I might be able to afford is renter's insurance (only if they will allow monthly payments - I can't afford annual payments because I don't have that kind of large amount of money to fork over all at once. I cannot afford the alarm or any of that fancy stuff.

 

[AlleyCat]

Oftentimes insurance will let you pay monthly or quarterly. If you are a new client I could see that you would probably be required to pay at least 1/2 up front. Hopefully that is something you could manage.

Other than that I'm glad nothing happened to you and I hope your next-door neighbor gets his belongings back.

 

[LuciaDisturbed]

I wish I could help but, my best friend live in her apt and she did buy 10 videos of baby something like that... One for watching her son sleep, plus a few of vidoes, hiding in each room include bedroom and bathroom but just hide the montior in the cloest and her finace know how to make the video tape from the monitor also, they bought special door knob that people can't enter, EVEN manger of Apt can't enter their apt unless they ask my best friend and her finace to letting them enter at time and when.

I agreed with you about nurse homes, just don't make your fiance's grandparents going to there since they are not good.

My lease says we are not allowed to install our own doorknobs/deadbolts/locks, only the management's own locks. If I do that, install my own locks, and the management finds out, I can be evicted for "violation of lease". Yes, I do read the fine print of my lease because I do NOT want to get evicted. It is NOT worth it.

 

[LuciaDisturbed]

Oh, wow! That is a scary experience. I have been robbed once, and it really leaves you with a feeling of having been invaded and not being safe in your own home. I understand your anxiety after a neighbor having been robbed so close to you.

BTW, on Byrdie's suggestion...I agree. I had a friend that lived way out in the country, and he had a sign on his door that said, "This house protected by shotgun 3 days a week. You guess which days."

We aren't allowed to have guns on the premises/in our apartments, so if I put that sign up, I will get evicted. I also despise guns. I'm even afraid to touch one, for some reason. I'll just get a baseball bat instead. I can do a LOT of physical damage with that. Especially if I add thumbtacks to the ends of it. I used to keep a baseball bat in the bed with me when I lived in the ghetto back in Milwaukee (North 26th and Wells).

 

[Steel X]

We aren't allowed to have guns on the premises/in our apartments, so if I put that sign up, I will get evicted. I also despise guns. I'm even afraid to touch one, for some reason. I'll just get a baseball bat instead. I can do a LOT of physical damage with that. Especially if I add thumbtacks to the ends of it. I used to keep a baseball bat in the bed with me when I lived in the ghetto back in Milwaukee (North 26th and Wells).

What about pepper mace or knife?

 

[LuciaDisturbed]

I have no idea what the cost is, but what do you think about a couple things of mace handy in your house, or perhaps one convenient tazer apperatus. I don't know how you feel about a small pistol for your safety, but thats always a wonderful deterrent or self defense if robbed while at home. I don't own one, but seriously would like a small pistol, like a 22 type pistol for defense of my house. I bet the cost though would be somewhat high for one- probably 150+ dollars.

I am not sure if it is legal to own a taser gun unless it is owned by a police officer? I wonder the same with mace, I have heard that it is illegal to own or carry in some places. I also won't touch a pistol gun or any gun of any kind, for that matter. The feeling I get when I look at a gun is not a pleasant feeling, so I do not wish to own a gun.

 

[LuciaDisturbed]

Lucia - from what I read on your post... it sounds like a robbery committed by someone he knew. It's possible. I'd like to ask some questions to give you better advice.

1. Do you live on ground level?
Yes. I had to move downstairs because I can no longer handle stairs due to my hip dysplasia.
2. How many point of entry do you have? (something big enough for a man to get thru)
There are 3 doors and a large window.
3. What kind of neighborhood do you live in?
The neighborhood is kind of mixed. If you're in an apartment complex, then it's the ghetto. If you live in a house in a residental area full of regular houses that people actually own, then it's okay. But it's just around the block. And down the road are lots of stores and restaurants. Kind of a weird set-up. When I first moved here, the apartment complex was nice, but then it's gotten rather run-down in the last 3 years or so and I've been seeing a lot of graffiti. But we are being remodeled right now, so I wonder if it wasn't one of the construction workers that may have robbed my neighbor, since they have access to ladders to climb into his patio (all our patios and balconies are fenced) and the robbery was committed in broad daylight while he was out, and there were/are so many construction workers around in the parking lot during the day.

Simple Safeguards -
1. sticker sign of security system with fake aluminum stripping on the windows & your patio door
I am not sure what you are talking about. I am a little confused here.
2. get a cheap motion detector at Radio Shack that will "scream"
I will check into that.
3. get an anchored metal box (inexpensive safebox) for your valuables in your closet
I don't have small valuables that would fit into a safebox...I do not have expensive jewelry and such.
4. get a thick wooden stick to jam the windows & patio sliding door.
My sliding doors are already equipped with a metal bar stick that can be braced to prevent doors from being slided, so same idea, I guess. I'll find a wood one for my window, though.
5. get a door jammer
I'll check into this as well, but it looks like it's only for when I am home, correct?
6. cover all windows when you're away
ALL my windows and doors are ALWAYS covered 24/7 for privacy reasons, I like complete privacy and I don't like people peeking in anyway so they are already covered, have been for a really long time.

Sorry, was easier to answer all your questions in bold since you had many questions. Thanks for the ideas and advice.

 

[Jiro]

Guns scare me. I won't even touch one.

Also, we are not allowed to have guns here at this complex.

My lease says we are not allowed to install our own doorknobs/deadbolts/locks, only the management's own locks. If I do that, install my own locks, and the management finds out, I can be evicted for "violation of lease". Yes, I do read the fine print of my lease because I do NOT want to get evicted. It is NOT worth it.

We aren't allowed to have guns on the premises/in our apartments, so if I put that sign up, I will get evicted. I also despise guns. I'm even afraid to touch one, for some reason. I'll just get a baseball bat instead. I can do a LOT of physical damage with that. Especially if I add thumbtacks to the ends of it. I used to keep a baseball bat in the bed with me when I lived in the ghetto back in Milwaukee (North 26th and Wells).

which is what I thought so. the complex has quite a list of regulations and I did recall you hating guns... which is why I listed these simple yet effective deterrents such as door jammer.

 

[LuciaDisturbed]

You live alone? I thought you live with your boyfriend or something?

...or that I'm proably WAY behind news. >.>

But anyway, you could get a special deadbolt installed or set in some security alarm or whatever.

Leaving the lights on at night is a good idea, just keep it visibile where people can see it outside.

I also think you should keep the windows covered at all times so they wont see what you have in there that makes them eager to break in and steal it.

The rest that Jiro mentioned are pretty good advices.

I am engaged, so you are WAY behind in your news. He just hasn't moved in with me yet because he needs to stay at home to keep an eye on his grandparents and he also cannot afford his half of the rent and the bills right now. I already have deadbolts on all my doors. We do not have security alarms, and I cannot afford one. My windows and doors are always covered 24/7 for privacy reasons anyway, I do not like people peeking in to see what I have. It is none of their business.

 

[ncff07]

just to answer a question. my house has a monitored alarm system and when it was installed we were given the security decals for the windows and doors with windows, i think that is what Jiro is talking about. picture below:
(pic deleted due to size. will resize and repost)

 

[LuciaDisturbed]

Not only in closet. Some homes or apartment have excellent hiding place for safebox. At my old home, in closet there are on the wall shoerack (built-in) and it have a removable bottom shelf (just near floor level) that fooled anyone easily (it look like it's been nailed in). It was an excellent place to hide checkbooks and valuables too.

Some homes somehow have perfect hiding spot for valuables such as false wall, deep holes in basement ceiling (under 1st floor), certain spot of wood floor allow you to remove, and some furnitures with perfect hidden features, shelf with false wall ect...

Catty

You just gave me the idea of where to hide my checkbooks. Thanks!

 

[LuciaDisturbed]

Get a double keyed deadbolt lock. If robber breaks the window and tried to unlock the deadbolt inside, he won't be able to because there are nothing to turn unless you left key in the deadbolt inside of house..

At my old home, I used double keyed deadbolt lock to prevent my very young kid from opening the front door and wander out in front. It works very effectively. I had window installer came by and guy saw my deadbolt lock on front door, told me it's a safety hazard and supposed there are fire in the house and how can you get out (he was a little agitated). I told him, look at three big front windows, I can easily kick it out and get out cuz it's close to ground level anyway also to prevent robber from breaking in cuz I have side window next to front door.. He agreed and left me alone.

Catty

We're not allowed to use any other locks other than what the management has provided us with, according to the fine print of the lease. If I change the locks and they find out, they can evict me for "violation of lease". I sure don't want to be homeless ever again! Anyway, my doors does have 2 deadbolts on each, one with a key, and one without a key.

 

[LuciaDisturbed]

Lucia, I know what it is like to have my apt broken in and robbed. About 5 years ago, someone broke into my and my roommate's apt and trashed it but u know what the most frightening thing about it? They left a butcher knife with ketchup on the blade on my bed with strange bras and undies. That totally freaked me out cuz it was like a message that someone was going to murder me. I was single and living with another female deaf person so I was paranoid at nights knowing that both of us couldnt hear anything. I moved out to a house with another deaf couple. Felt better.

Sounds like the robber has a very sick mind. Could be someone you know who is very pissed off at you and wants to scare you off, from the sound of it....sounds like a threat.

 

[Jiro]

Sorry, was easier to answer all your questions in bold since you had many questions. Thanks for the ideas and advice.

no problem! to answer your questions -

1. see pix below about window security (2 ways)

it is usually ineffective because the robber can simply break the window and remove it. Which is why I was suggesting fake aluminum strip around the window. I'm trying to find it but I think they don't do it anymore.

2. about door jammer - yes you have to be home to use it. see pix below

3. Safebox is not just for jewelry but for your important documents because it can be used for identity theft. Passport, checkbook, important document, etc.

 

[LuciaDisturbed]

What about pepper mace or knife?

I am not sure if it's legal to have pepper or mace spray here, and I do not have any kind of knife that I can use to protect myself...all I have are plain butter knives since I do not cook very much.