Darn It!

[BarbieH]

Our garage was broken into last night. >: Tim's bike was stolen, nothing else. Our neighbor's garage was broken into a couple nights ago, and I guess they stole two large bags of kitty litter. I'm kind of miffed at her for not telling us; we could have taken the bike inside, at least, or secured our lock. But she's getting pretty old, it probably didn't occur to her.

Drats. >:

[Angelwing]

I'm sorry to hear this. Getting stolen from is never fun, and I know how angry/sad you feel, no matter what was stolen.

I wonder what they're going to do with kitty litter? Do I even want to know.

[linda040899]

I'm sorry to hear it, too, Barb!
Burglary is an invasion of privacy and it makes one feel violated! It probably could have been worse but it should not have happened at all. 2 bags of kitty litter, huh? Geesh!!! >:

[BarbieH]

Yeah, two bags of kitty litter. Must be kids, eh?

Police just came to take the report. I guess they'll be increasing Midnight shifts and alley rides. That's why we really reported it, to get increased police attention. Neither of us expects to recover the bike.

[bellarains]

Barb,

Maybe you all should look into some type of alarm. Maybe even just one that makes noise when a door or window is jarred? I know it's probably just kids, but kids have drug problems these days that make them more dangerous. Anyway, think about it. There is probably one out that that is fairly easy to install yourself even.

I'm glad it was just the garage they broke into this time. I hate you lost the bike though:(

[BarbieH]

Tim is going out now to put a more secure lock on the door. Not that there is anything else worth stealing, but I'm sure that's what my neighbor thought before they took her kitty litter. (Cat burglar -- cute!)

What I would like out there is a light with a motion sensor. But then I think of a friend's dad, who would say things like, "That's nice, it will help the crooks see better." :roll:

[Janie]

Barb, I am sorry! I live in a huge neighborhood, about 700 homes, and we've become strongly involved in a neighborhood watch. It has really paid off, too. A "college" kid came to my door last week asking for donations for a "college" trip. I laughed in his face and asked him why he wasn't in class that day instead of canvassing my neighborhood. I also told him I knew it was a scam and then, I called 911! Another neighbor followed him until the police arrived and last we saw of him, he was in the back of the patrol car. :D The goal of this scam is not what they collect through donations but to case out the homes and see who's home during the day and who isn't. Makes me furious! The entire neighborhood keeps up by e-mail with block captains assigned to smaller groups. Of course there are a lot of false alarms but there have also been many arrest in the last year that we've had this operation up and running. We also keep up with all surrounding subdivisions through e-mail so if a scam has happened, every one knows about it before it reaches their own neighborhood. If your neighborhood can do something like this (in our area, the police are very happy to get involved and encourage us to do this) maybe that would help.

I hate that Tim lost his bicycle. While it's not a house full of furniture, it was his and to have it stolen right from your own garage is just awful. :(

[Mandolin]

I am so sorry to hear about the break in :( . That is such an unnerving feeling to have someone break in and steal anything, no matter what it is. It is the invasion of provacy that is the worst. Aside from other security measures just incase they decide to come back now that they have had a good look around. We were broken into twice in the same day while on holidays (luckily my cousin walked in on them the second time), ours was a horrible expereince where we were ransacked and many very sentimental items were stolen, including everthing else of value. If you have a good description of your bike or better yet a picture, i would recommend writing into the paper and asking people to watch for someone who is suddenly using a bike that matches your description. If it is kids and a parent or neighbour reads it and makes the connection, there is a good chance of you getting back your bike.

[graushill]

I'm sorry Barb :( . I know it's a long shot, but I do hope Tim gets back his bike.

:grouphug:
Gloria

[Paulette]

Barb....so sorry to hear about Tim's bike.....awsome suggestion by Mandy...a friend of ours caught a couple of guys in their garage, they'd taken all kinds of stuff from their vehicle, they made them empty their pockets and retreived several items...while waiting on the police.......and I wonder Janie, I had a kid that looked to be college age come to my door a couple of weeks ago (in the middle of the day) selling magazine subscriptions or something so he could earn a trip to Cancun....he was trying to be funny.....I asked what school group he was fundraising for and where he was from....he said he was from TN but is staying in a near by town....well what does that tell ya? I didn't let him in, but my dog was in the garage (the German Shepherd)...and he got nervous and asked me if my dog bites. Sounds like you have a very good neighborhood watch system. It's scarey what kids are up to these days.

[BarbieH]

Thanks for the good wishes and sympathy. :)

That's a real good idea about asking more neighbors for info. I wish we had a picture of the bike; then we could post flyers around the neighborhood too. Whoever did it would at least see that we weren't taking it lying down.

If we had a neighborhood watch, perhaps we at least would have heard about our nextdoor neighbor's garage being broken into. >: I'm still fuming about her not telling us. Perhaps we could have prevented our own break in, or at least moved the bike inside. First thing Tim did was call her, to alert her for her own safety.

Well, maybe I'm just getting mad at her because I don't know who I'm really mad at. Ya think?

[Janie]

Barb, the woman who heads up our neighborhood watch is a tab bit over the edge.....if someone sneezes, we get an e-mail! But, I would rather get them and then get a follow up the next day saying "never mind, that kid parking out front of that house lives there and he's in his car at 1:00 a.m. using his cell phone cause he doesn't get a signal inside the house" than not to get one that really is concerning a thief.

Paulette, if they don't have good ID and information concerning their fund raiser, I don't give them the time of day. Another thing, I never open my front door. When someone comes to the front door, I go out through the garage and greet them there, outside. It would be so easy to open your door and have them push you inside, them right behind you. The police officer who spoke at one of our meetings said that a dog is the BEST alarm you can have....much more effective than an alarm system. I have a Sheltie, a notorious barker, but unfortunately she's gotten very old and very deaf. She never heard the door bell the day that "college" kid stopped by. I grew up with Shepherds.....great security and peace of mind.

[Buy A Paper Doll]

What I would like out there is a light with a motion sensor.
My house has an alarm that is monitored (the alarm automatically triggers a 911 call) but I still like the motion sensor light on the back door by the bedroom. That way I know someone's out there before they try to break in. The downside is that it picks up all kinds of false alarms - every cat, dog, snake, possum, and 3-legged snapping turtle within a mile of here winds up on my back patio sooner or later.

[Kathryn]

Barb, sorry to hear about Tim's bike and your break in.
Sounds like you've gotten some good advice from folks here. My hubby is a police officer and said the best defense is a good offense: good lights, alarm system (including a dog) and good neighbors.
Hope the bike turns up too.