need advice on break ins/ burglarys in my neighborhood

[Pennstater]

hi,

What what you do?

I signed up for email from my local police about my town. I live in a suburb of a large city over 2 million ppl, but my little area is small.

There have been a lot of burglarys recently. They say the ppl knock on the front door to see if anyone is home, then enter thru the rear window/door if no one answers. Mostly from 10am - 4pm.

I'm almost always home alone during that time, working from home on the computer.

I NEVER answer if i dont' know the person thru the peephole. We live in a single family home.

So, if I don't answer, they will think I'm not home, then go around back and rob me.

If I DO answer, they may enter thru the front, etc.

So, how can I let them know I'm home and to go away, without opening the door?

The email says to calll 911 if anyone comes to your door and "asks for a fictitious person". Well, I won't be opening the door, so they cannot ask me. Now what??

[blossomed]

is there a 2nd story window near the front door, you could open as if showering etc and then have them go away. keep an eye out especially for where they head next. and call the police if you dont feel comfortable.

[Rene S]

Make sure there are other "signs of life" around the house. Have lights set on timers, maybe have music or the tv on if it's near the door. Put a car in the driveway, things like that. If the crooks think there is someone around, they won't try and come in.

[cybilx10]

Do you have a dog? If you do leave it outside so it can bark. Or leave the stereo on lightly (so it doesnt disturb you while working) but loud enough you can hear it through the door. Or keep the tv on in the living room so they can see it is on.

Good Luck. And stay safe!

[3timesoccermom]

A large, noisy dog can help.

What you describe IS scary. I'm like you - home alone most of the day and we live in the last house on a dead end road with no neighbors on 3 sides of me.

Having a TV on is a good idea as far as producing noise and making it sound as though someone is home but it can also block noise that you might want to hear. We have the large, noisy dog but of course that's no guarantee.

Can you set up security cameras? They've really gotten a lot less expensive and sometimes the notices on windows that those are there can be a deterrent.

Oops - I didn't copy your reply cybilx10 - you posted while I was working on mine! LOL

[CouponQueen23]

I acutally have a real cammera faceing across my front yard about 3 years ago we has a break in our cars some one stole my Dh cd's and speaker box and amp. So I had a camera I picked up on clearance I thought it was really cool. Apparently it was complicated so it was never properly installed. So I figured I would just mount it on the house. We had a "nosy" neighbor kid who was the butterfly of the road and I made it well known my property had a camera on it now. He needed not to know the whole story but the fact that it was there was out there. We have 3 vehicals so if one is gone day or night it appears there are people here. I would aslo go as far ad looking into signage that mentions this property is protected my such and such security system. I know how disturbing the feeling is. We have no idea what time of day our car in our driveway was targeted or if people were looking in our shed windows we have lotts of Boy toys and atv stuff that I was worried about and our saftey being my main concern is very scary because you never know how far people will go. It is a sad world out there. I was just reading and artical in my local paper scrappers are stealing sewer grates from a city over selling them for $30 at a scrap yard and it costs the city $200 to replace each grate that is stolen. Not to mention if a car drives in to one of the large holes left all the damage that happens. I can't stand people who steal! I'd rather be lied to than stolen from.

I just sat here thinking of the movie home alone, what the boy did blare the tv when the robbers came to his house. It made me think of that and A house a few miles away I recal seeing a wood burned orrnament type of sign that said "Tresspassers will disappear" I chuckle when I read that one.

[meggers]

Noise is good, but as stated...it can also drown out noise you want to hear & can distract you from your job as well. I recall seeing an alarm that was a recording of a barking dog that hung on a doorknob, but they would have to actually jiggle the knob with that one. That was awhile back too, so maybe call a local/internet security store & see what they might have now?

I like the thought of you investing in a camera, but I wouldn't have it visible for this. They might come at night & spray paint it or something. They aren't all that expensive to set up these days if you know someone that can do it & then you'd just have the monitor right there by the PC. If a stranger came to the door, you could just go to the door & speak through it & let them know you're busy. Then watch to make sure they leave.

You also might consider a self-defense class & a home security inspection. Is the local police offering a home security analysis? They sometimes do when there's be a rash of break-ins.

Geesh, girl! How scary! I am praying they stay away & you don't have to deal with it at all!

[mybebe]

Have a alarm system installed. Check with your local co. First time customers usually get the system cheap and the monthly fee is very reasonable

[3timesoccermom]

I just remembered something else. Not sure if it would be any good if you had a really short driveway but my Mom had one of these. Her drive was long and curvy and she had a sensor at the entrance that signaled when someone drove in or even if there was just movement in the area of the sensor.

I googled "driveway alarm systems" and here is an example of one.

1000 ft. Range Driveway Alarm w/ Counter

[CW&M Mom]

Do you have a deadbolt and very good door in back. Does your back door have any kind of window? You can also put a chain on the back door as well.

Are all of your back windows locked? Are they easy to get to via a burgler? Are burglers in other words opening them or are they breaking them?