Almost Was Wiped Out While Not At Home

[GOPAPA]

While being in California helping remodel our sons newly boughten older house I got a call from our neighbor and she ask me if we were home . I said we were in Califonia at our sons and she said our house and surroundings are pitch black and no lights on like they usually are and I think your place is being cased for a robbery.
She went on to say that a U-Haul truck is in her drive way backed up and no one is in the truck as she shined a high powered light towards the truck .. Our dogs were barking up a storm and so she called us ,,she also said she then seen two guys ( hispanic ) walking to the front of the truck as if they had been across the road over in and around our home ..She then said she had her son-in-law come down from his place about 3 miles away and he seen two guys at the front of the truck and they quickly got in and drove off in a hurry towards the main highway ..He followed the truck but didnt catch which way it went after getting onto the main road ..

Our nieghbor is about 300 yards down the road from our place and we can see each others houses fairly well ,,and this u-haul backed up in her drive way so to get away fast if needed to and it appears that the two guys were over on our side of the road checking out our place ..the dogs are in a large fenced in area ,,but they sure can bark and that helped for sure.. but my friends who stayed should of turned on the lights that we have on every night and it wouldnt of looked like anything was any different that the norm..

Now , I had a couple staying at our house and had then say before when we left over night for a week or so and they for some reason forgot to turn on the yard lights like we do every night and we think this is why we were staked out .. we got lucky and maybe they did too as the two people we had stay both know how to use a gun and I do believe when confronted they would of shot to defend themselves .

Just sharing a awful feeling I got when so far from home (1000 miles) and nothing I could do but hope all for the best..

It sure is nice to have good neighbors isnt it ? LD

[So Cal Mark]

sounds like you live in a high-crime area, you probably should relocate to Los Angeles for safety reasons

[htchevyii]

Man, that really sucks, at least nothing happened but too bad those ass bags are still on the loose. It really irritates me when some low life screws up or steals something I've worked so hard for and now you'll probabily always feel uneasy when you are away.

[So Cal Mark]

renting a U Haul creates a paper trail, it shouldn't be too hard to track them down

[mdrburchette]

LD, that's a terrible thing to go through but it's a good thing you have neighbors that look out for you. Did anything get taken?

[pope]

Are you sure you didnt hire a midnight lawn care service?

[So Cal Mark]

it was an ARS-Asset Reduction Service

[azygoustoyou]

Just for that reason is why I have a family member come stay when we go on vacation. My family lives out of state. So far I'm lucky they are willing to help out. I'm glad you were lucky to have good neighbors. I'm not so sure I trust mine.

[pope]

Brady, no need to explain...I see you live in Jersey!

[NJFIAT1981]

A alarm system hooked up to a central station will allow you to travel anywhere without that nagging feeling that your house may be burglarized. If the alarm is activated the police will be notified and will respond. Usually the alarm company will also notify a key holder (Relative or trusted friend) who will also respond.
Large dogs are a wonderful thing to have in the house with you. They provide an early warning system (excellent hearing), a deterent (loud barking), and a sense of well being and safety. Not as effective caged outside but they do make lots of noise.
Lighting during the night hours is essential. You want to make your house look occupied while at home and away. Motion detector lights are an excellent addition to your lighting. Harden your points of entry with good quality locks and door lock brackets.
Physical layout of trees, bushes and shrubbs should not obscure points of entry
I recomend the above to everyone I know. If you can only afford one item go for the alarm. At least you know somebody will be responding. The cost is minor compared to the awful feeling of violation after you are victimized. Victims often complain that they are uncomfortable and uneasy after a burglary. The women folk no longer sleep soundly at night.
I speak from experience as I have seen the turmoil and pain these incidents cause . (NO I DO NOT SELL ALARM SYSTEMS)
We have personally escaped two burglary attempts unscathed. Alarm system scarred them off and they hit an unalarmed house in our neighborhood. Having good neighbors is a great thing. Having good neighbors that call the police when they see suspicious activity is better. Educate your neighbors and watch their house for them. Don't be afraid to call your local police. They won't mind and will love you if they get to grab a burglar. Regards, George

[GOPAPA]

[quote="NJFIAT1981"]A alarm system hooked up to a central station will allow you to travel anywhere without that nagging feeling that your house may be burglarized.

Very good advice ,,It's good that you posted it ,,as for us some of it we have and some we don't ..

We have of course good neighbors and in this case she scared them off ..she did report the truck to the sheriffs department the next day to see if any other people had the same thing to report.. none was reported and no burglaries were reported either.. didn't get a license number and I dont blame her as to get it she would of had to leave her hosue and be in harms way ..although if they did try to break into her house she had a gun loaded and she being a avid hunter she does know how to use it ..

We live way out in the country so the alarm is good ,but responce is what is not good ..like all over America our law inforcement is getting hit hard in this recession we have and it is still lingering on .. they have cut some deputies from our county.. which means no one to come in we did have a alarm..

Another thing we do not have is ,,no bushes to hide behind on any entrance or windows of our house ,,which is what you mentioned ..

WE do had two big dogs in a fenced area that lets them run some 200 feet beside our home and on to the shop and out buildings. we had a barking Westy in the house at night that will growl if she doesnt know who is at the door ..

We had a person staying every night and gone durring the day just the same as some times the wife and are also ,,but the big difference is that this person decided to not do as they have done before when hosue sitting for us and that was not turn on our yard lights and over the bar lights like we do every night we are home ..

We have no way of knowing what would of happened if they had of broke in ,,because we did have a guy in our house to surprise them ..it could of scared them off or to think the worse got our house sitter in a very uncomfrtable situation..

WE are going to find another sitter due to this one breaking our kitchen window blind,,not watering our flowers enough and some turned yellow ,,took his own libery to burn our paper trash out back when not ask too ,,and running up 250 miles on my old Toyota truck?? A good person and we will always like him,,just need some one who follows orders for the $300 for two weeks to sit our house .

[NJFIAT1981]

Hi Gopapa,
The only reason I posted was for information and suggestions. Many folks never think of these type of things until they get burglarized. Just general suggestions about safegaurding ones home. I'm certainly not suggesting any blame on your part or your neighbors. Your situation in a rural area is different from mine.
Your neighbor did a fine job of safeguarding your home. Rural areas are tough on response time for the police. Glad you didn't get hit. Just like Brady I live in NJ. (Hi Brady, I still owe you for dinner at Mastori's) The police response time is not too bad but we have no shortage of criminals floating around.
Once again I'm very glad you didn't get hit by some lying thieving conniving no good criminal scum. Regards and Best Wishes, George

[GOPAPA]

LD, that's a terrible thing to go through but it's a good thing you have neighbors that look out for you. Did anything get taken?

Yes It's good to have good neighbors who look out for each other,,you are right..

No ,,nothing missing and if there is I haven't missed it yet.. I thought I lost my worm drive skil saw but then remembered putting it the bottom drawer of my new tool chest before we went to Calif..

DID YOU KNOW ??
Rons comming in a couple weeks to stop and visit ,,we are excited at our house ..did you know he likes pork chops and flap jacks , cackle fruit ,,pigs feet? LOL acually the last item is just bacon ,,I thru that in for a giggle from ya.. good to hear from you ,,kiddo,, Ld here

[mdrburchette]

Lol, pigs feet are a delicacy over here...but you don't gotta serve them to me when I come to visit! Ron will be in good hands. Let me know if he's toting a little bear that answers to the name of Sam and has a Fiat logo on his belly.