The trouble with travel is living alone. When your car is absent from the front of your house for more than a couple of days, it inspires this sort of behavior.
Yes, some hoodlum decided to chisel open my front door while I was away. Fortunately the strike plate slowed them down enough that they weren’t able to finish the job so while the door needs to be replaced, they didn’t actually gain entry.
You know, I was just starting to feel better about leaving my house, too. Now I’m back to considering finding work that doesn’t require me to ever go outside. I work in technology; surely there’s a way I can leverage telepresence to my benefit.
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Damn Kevin!
I used to think you were being a bit paranoid about getting robbed, that getting hit 2 (or is it 3) times was really just a coincidence. But damn! It isn’t paranoia when they really are out to get you!
Perhaps a housesitter is in order?
Or, for a more 21st century solution, a series of webcams feeding a webpage you can constantly monitor from your laptop. Accompany this with a very loud soundsystem managed by the soundcard of a computer that’s hooked up to the same webpage. From your laptop activate a microphone and yell “Get away from my door, you punk, before I ram that chisel up yer bum!”
I can offer no actual technical advice on this Rube Goldberg whimsy, I’m just an idea man.
So… yeah, housesitter. Who likes cats. And doesn’t smoke.
Aw man. That sucks. Ugh.
surely, there’s got to be an easier way to break into your home. Was this criminal just stupid?
Who sells bear traps in Miami?
Criminals are a superstitious and cowardly lot, and often stupid as well. But this time they made the right choice. I have interior steel bars on all my other windows, and that is the only door into my house. That was their best shot at getting in.
While I am considering the video camera option, in the short term I’m waiting for a contractor to install a steel door and frame. They should be here Monday or Tuesday. Fortunately, I have plenty of food in the freezer.
Now, now, no need to recluse yourself (although, I totally understand). That’s what you have your blogger friends for – to take care of your place when you leave town.
And if you’re concerned enough to not want to leave on regular outings on nights and weekends, throw some alarm stickers up all over the place and place a camera (even if it doesn’t yet work) right at the door. And leave a light on and music playing.
My great aunt used to keep a little motion-triggered gadget by her front door that when tripped would emit loud recorded barks. Sounded like Cujo.
I don’t think she ever had a break-in. And she lived in North Philly.
I do Brinks and house sitters though.
And when I’m in town, anyone who makes it past the alarm and the dog had better be prepared to get mounted on my wall over the fireplace or to help me test out my Louisville Slugger.
I do have an alarm system, but I have been told by the police that in my neighborhood the chance is pretty slim of them getting to the house before the crooks had cleared it out. A team of pros just works through the noise, knowing that no-one will disturb them for at least five minutes.
OMG. How awful! If you ever want to borrow a very large greyhound with a scary metal grille…