23 Nov
2010
23 Nov
'10
1:48 p.m.
Timberley,
I'm sorry about your friend's home. About half of the folks on the Lockwood
community watch email list have had a break-in, and I guarantee you that
every person here would have called if they saw someone carrying a TV out of
a home after hearing the door was kicked in!
However, this falls further in Windsor Park, outside our area. I think the
closest folks from this list/group are over on Sheffield. Any signs in our
watch area are from years back, and may not even be the same owners or
renters living there. I suspect the same is true for Windsor Park,
unfortunately.
You would be amazed at how fast break-ins occur. Often less than 5 minutes
from door kicking in to thieves gone. The home two doors down from us had a
back door kick-in, and we didn't hear anything. It's actually rather quiet
when someone kicks in a back door, because you'll hear a few thumps and then
if you're very close you may hear some cracking wood. If you're working in
your backyard, you're not going to think, "That sounds like a backdoor being
kicked in," you'll probably think, "Oh, that new family must be doing some
work on the house."
You also have to realize that if people are outside in their yards, visible
to the thieves, they're not going to choose that house. When they broke in,
they clearly did not see anyone outside, or they would have gone elsewhere.
(Some will do it if they see a young kid or two, but even that is unusual
for our area.) These folks plan the break-ins surprisingly well. They know
the back-alleys and woods and cut-throughs, and often have vehicles waiting
out of sight but close by.
I am sorry for your friends, but please do not blame those of us who do
care, and who are working to solve these problems. I would suggest that she
speak with the folks that have a community watch sign and ask if there is
still an active group. If there isn't, it's time to start one up.
I would also strongly recommend an alarm system. For me, it doesn't give me
security that no one will ever break in, but it does give me the peace of
mind that if it happens, I will know before I get home. I worry more about
coming home and finding someone inside my house (it has happened to others
nearby).
If Kelly and her husband would like to talk to me, please pass along my
phone number and email address (below). I do know how it feels to have your
home broken into, shortly after moving into the neighborhood, and having
your baby's things taken. It is very disconcerting, and we too were angry at
our neighbors when it happened to us. I suppose the people two doors down
from us felt that way, as well.
--
Rebecca Fernandez, Corporate Writer
cell: 919.931.4957 rebeccagfernandez(a)gmail.com
On Tue, Nov 23, 2010 at 11:48 AM, Timberley Valentine <
boyandgirlcats(a)yahoo.com> wrote:
Yesterday the house at 704 Hartford Road, which
belongs to a friend of a
friend of mine,was broken into. The backdoor was splintered, when it was
kicked in, and a wondow was broken. The couple and their 6 month old
daughter left the house at 3:30 to go to the store, they came back an hour
and ahalf later.. Stolen from the house were a 46 inch tv, a computer, some
baby things, and other items. The thieves left a mess. My friend Kelly and
her friends went from house to house asking if anyone had seen or heard
anything, nobody had. Strange since people where outside working in their
yards. Kelly and her friends came by my house to explain why they would not
be attending my birthday party. They told me on the corner was a Community
Watch sign. These people who just moved into the neighborhood now want to
move out of a neighborhood, not just because of the breakin. Their opinion
of the community watch is that "It is made up of a bunch of damn assholes
who call themselves community watchers who are good for nothing. If people
in on the street are interested in stopping crime, then why didn't any of
the so called good neighbors call the police. Several people where
outside. How did anyone miss seeing a 42 inch tv being carried to the front
yard, from the backdoor? " That is my question also. How many people at
the community watch meeting where home between 3:30 and 5:30 when the crime
was commited? Come on if anyone was home, how come nobody heard anything or
saw anything? On my end of the street, those who are home, when when loud
noises occur at a neighbors house go see what is happening. We need to try
to stop crime, not hide from it. If anyone has any information about this
breakin please call the police or call me Timberley Valentine at 832-4145.
Thanks
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