Because we're "under construction"...

[moderndiyer]

We didn't worry a lot about security. We're in the middle of painting and it wouldn't be a stretch to say that our house is one of the ugliest on the block.
Yesterday I walked in on a burglar - in the middle of the afternoon. My front door was locked and everything seemed normal. However, my bedroom door was closed and the light was on. Weird. So of course I opened the door - like a complete idiot!- and in three seconds tried to rationalize how the cat could have pulled everything from the linen cabinets, removed the tv from the table. pulled the cable box out of th wall and then closed the door behind him.
Then I heard something - I don't have a clear view of the whole room from the bedroom door because we have a bathroom off to the side and a short hallway- I ran like hell out the front door grabbing the halon extinguisher (my husband is the fire guy) and slamming the door. I unclipped the tab on the extinguisher and decided I would go back in.

Yeah, really- what the hell was I thinking? That little voice inside my head said "an extinguisher is no match for a gun, jackass!" and I called the police instead.

They entered through my bedroom arcadia door and exited..never making it to the main part of the house. Thank God!One laptop, nano, shuffle and a flat panel tv - in exchange for his/her binoculars (that he left outside my bedroom door- creeeeeepy) and possibly his/her...fingerprints.

We live in a reasonably safe neighborhood, no alleys..lots of people have dogs. I have dogs - big ones that I barricade in different area (not anymore).
I thought because the house looked like crap we were fairly safe.
Obviously not.

I think everyone has heard all the tips on keeping your house safe, locks on the windows, sticks in the doors, etc. I just want everyone to hear it one more time.
For months I thought about getting a safe, doing other little things to secure the house but for some reason didn't.
So if you haven't and you're thinking about it, DO IT!

Imagine that you've been burglarized and then do whatever it takes to prevent it from happening again.


We were SO lucky to have such a minimal loss and that no one was hurt.

Okay so that's all..if you see a silver dell inspiron, an orange shuffle and a blue nano- They're mine! The flat panel tv was a piece of crap.

[matthew]

scary!

i'll throw in the PSA for backing up your computer and keeping the backups in a different location than the computer.

[moderndiyer]

Yes. Absolutely. I used my laptop for browsing and saving design photos..nothing serious.
Losing he desktop would have been a nightmare for us.

[Funktional Design]

First and foremost, I am glad to hear that you are safe. Although your experience is very traumatizing, your possessions can be replaced. You can't be.

My wife and I were having a discussion earlier this week about this exact subject. No offense meant here at all, but the girls seemed to take this a little less serious. Or maybe it's just that the guys were over concerned for our wives. I get very upset if I come home and my wife is home alone with the doors unlocked. I think we all become too complacent in our daily routines. We (my wife and I) also feel that we are in a "safe" neighborhood. That is when people get sloppy.

Well thankfully you are safe. I am sorry to hear about your break in. We will definitely heed your advice and make sure we are locked up tight!

[moderndiyer]

No offense taken - I didn't take it seriously. In fact, I'm pretty sure I'm the one that left the door unlocked. In the spring we had doors propped open so the dogs could get out and enjoy the weather.
Thinking back on that I totally cringe.

I'm working on replacing those things so I can move on. Rattles ya a little.

Thanks for the kind words...

[YuriArtibise]

Here's another reminder to be always vigilant. Our house was broken into today when we were at work. Broke into through a glass paned door in our our backyard (we back onto a canal; although we have a block fence. They didn't take much: flat panel TV, my wifes' iMac , jewelry etc. Thankfully they left my MacBook which was sitting out in the open (although they did take my power supply!) All in all, we are also very lucky as we are both safe and not to much was taken (although the memories associated with me wife's jewelry are irreplaceable.)

Again, we're in the middle of renos. I'm beginning to wonder if that is some sort of mark of an attractive target?

So once again if you are thinking of doing something to secure you house DO IT ASAP! On that note, does anybody know of any good security system installers (esp with experience in wireless systems or retrofitting block houses)?

[meagen]

We used A Allstate Security (talk to Wade) to do the install on our 1959 home. We paid around $1,500 about 5 yrs ago for a wireless system with 9 door sensors (lots of glass sliders), several motion sensors, and several glass break detectors. The monitoring is around $40 per quarter. We have been really happy with them but would probably rethink the motion sensors since the animals set them off all the time. We are adding smoke detectors that will be wired into the alarm system and that will be around $250 for two.

[YuriArtibise]

Thanks Megan, we'll definitely give Wade a call!. One of our neighbors also recommended the "Alarm Crew' (602) 867-0574. We'll be calling both this week to see what our best options are.

[Funktional Design]

I've been giving this a lot of consideration lately. I am absolutely paranoid of getting burglarized. My wife thinks I'm crazy. I'd rather be crazy and paranoid than robbed or hurt.

[moderndiyer]

Phaedrus, I'm sorry to hear that! Especially for your wifes jewelry..it's heartbreaking...
I wonder if you live in my area or near it.

Scottsdale PD have a pretty decent lead and they're actually following up. It would be interesting to see if we had landscapers or contractors in common..or if our neighbors did.

Also- this sounds strange but if your wife had any info on her computer. Watch to see if anyone logs in to view her classmates account over the next few days...

Good luck.

De Anna

[Funktional Design]

I was buying a gun the day before yesterday (just a .22 rifle for fun) and the guy that owns the store was talking to the cops while I was waiting. Turns out that the night before, while he was watching a movie, he saw a guy in his back yard looking through the window. Needless to say that gun store owner = guns everywhere. He said that he grabbed his .45 from the holster that is between the arm and cushion of his chair and took off after the guy. He said the guy about crapped a brick when he saw the gun and took off. The would be burglar jumped the back wall and took off in his truck that was parked back there. The whole time the gun shop owner had a .45 aimed at him and was yelling to STOP. (it would be tough not to shoot, or at least shoot the car.)
Well, the guy got away... but... he was nice enough to drop his cell phone when he jumped the wall!! haha. So by noon the next day Mr. gun shop owner knew EVERYTHING about the guy. Where he lives, where he works, his name... everything! By 3pm the cops already had a line up ready for Mr gun shop owner to come look at and identify the guy. Not like they really need that. They have his phone and description of the car, but I guess they gotta make absolutely sure.

Haha... at least one loser will get what he deserves.

Mr gun shop owner was very happy that day.

I wish everyone could be this lucky though.

anyway... that's my story for the day.

[meagen]

Ok, gotta share our story.

I have posted before about the great MCM behind our house that has been vacant for over two years. They started renovations when it was purchased years ago and it has been burglarized several times.

This summer, our dogs alerted us to two guys up on the roof (in broad daylight!) of that home looking into it's backyard, our backyard and the surrounding yards. We drove around the block & there were no contractor's vehicles parked in front so we called 911. While waiting for police arrive, the guys were on their cell phones in the backyard looking in the windows of the house. When police arrived, one of the guys fled into our yard - Jeff screamed "GET OUT! We're sending out the dogs!! We're sending out the dogs!!" The guy jumped right back over the wall and fled.

About six officers and a helicopter showed up and actually got the guys. We pressed trespassing charges but the guy who owned the MCM home did not. This was the perps second drug posession charge within three months and the trespassing charges were dropped by the courts. This is the sentence: one year probation and he is not allowed to return to the US if deported. He lives two blocks away from us. Gotta love our 'hood.