"What?!!" Tom and I both gasped.
"Monday afternoon. I came home and the house was a wreck. They ripped open Christmas packages, went through my bedroom drawers. Stole all my papers and jewelry. They took my engagement ring . . . The police say all my jewelry is melted down by now."
She was heartbroken and so were we.
"Someone really small went in through a basement window and let the others in. But something scared them away. They ran off before they were done."Thieves don't have to take everything to ruin your day. Just breaking in is upsetting enough.
"They'd been watching my house for months. I'd wondered if other people got as many telemarketers and hang up phone calls as I've had recently. They knew exactly when I'd be gone! I go to my club that afternoon every week."
This widow's husband had died last spring. Thieves do track the obituaries. They can easily find out where you live.
Here are some things you can do to help protect yourself.
Look into methods of upgrading your security: A security system probably comes to mind first, but there are other options as well. Have glass block windows installed on ground level windows. Get a dog. Form a neighborhood watch group.
Educate yourself: Contact your local police department and find out what they suggest in your neighborhood. Attend self-defense classes. Google "theft prevention."
Guard your privacy: Get an unlisted phone number. Do not list your location or full name on your Internet or social network information. When those "telemarketers" call asking for your husband, don't tell them he's passed away. Just say, "He's busy. He can't come to the phone right now." Those are true statements---he IS busy, he CAN'T come to the phone . . . If you blog or use Facebook, etc., do not mention when you'll be going out of town or when you'll be away from home. Talk about it when you get back, not beforehand! Promise? Good! NOW GO CHANGE YOUR PERSONAL INFO! (I yell because I care!)
What are some other crime prevention tips you know of? Let's help each other out by sharing the ones you've heard. I don't want anyone else to get robbed!
♥ ferree
Good advice Ferree! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteGreat Advice! My son installed cameras at my doors; they have night vision and also have sound. I have a monitor in my bedroom where I can see and also talk (by pushing a button). It has a SD card and also records. This system has made me feel real secure. Also, he installed an alarm where if someone drives up my lane, a doorbell rings in my house.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ferree! I too, was robbed once during my singleness, before I met Buck. It leaves us feeling so vulnerable and violated!
ReplyDeleteI may also need to check into Kathy's recommendations, after my scare on New Year's Day. I shared about it in my most recent post. Not to worry. All is well!
Here's another scam that has happened at my house and my parents' house (which are 15 miles apart): A young woman comes to the door and before you can say that you're not interested in buying anything, she assures you that she's not selling. Then she says she is a communications major and she just wants to ask you some questions. When this happened at my house, the young woman told my sister that she wanted to ask her some questions about babies. Well, I was just two or three days home with Michaela. Julie brushed her off, and closed the door. But when I realized what was going on, I told my sister to call the cops, which she would not do. But she did drive around the neighborhood, only to see the young woman in hand cuffs on the curb with a police officer. I made my sister tell the cops what she had done at my house that sent chills down my spine. That was enough info for the cop, she put her in the cruiser and left the neighborhood. Apparently, another neighbor had called the cops.
ReplyDeleteThen, just last week the same scenario happened at my parents' house. This time the questions were going to be about my mother's neighbors next door. Mind you, the house next door has been abandoned and is a short sale. My mom refused to answer any questions, and she thought she should call the cops, but my dad didn't think it was a big deal. So she didn't. In both cases, the young women didn't have an identification or permit. She also didn't have a clipboard or any questionnaire materials. As a former communications major, I can tell you that this would never be the way we would conduct research!!!
So, be very cautious about anyone knocking on your door wanting to talk about your life or your neighbors' lives. They are casing your home, or your neighbors' homes and they are mining you for information. Our family friend who is a police officer said the PD would want you to call in anything like that.
Be smart ladies!!!
Thanks for sharing everyone, and be sure to click on Renee's name and read her story, yikes! Joannah, I had a similar experience the other day--it was on the phone, but a certain type of business wanted to award me with their free product, and when would I be home so they could come. It might have been legit, but they needed too much info. Be careful everyone!
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