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@gmail.com



On Tue, Nov 23, 2010 at 11:48 AM, Timberley Valentine <boyandgirlcats@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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