Home invasions scare the crap out of me.

[LordJezo]

I know it's a big media hype thing and the chances of it happening to me are pretty slim, but all those stories from last year of how houses on Long Island were having criminal elements break into them while the owners were at home sleeping have me paranoid. Hearing about how the people are dragged from their beds and tied up as the guys steal all their stuff is pretty frightening.

I think it hit me this past weekend worse than ever. It was Saturday night around 11:30 or so and my girl and I were sitting on the couch playing some Gamecube. I had the windows open since it was a cool evening. I also had the windows in my bedroom down the hall open. Since I live in a first floor condo I always lock everything up when I go to sleep but I got to thinking about those home invasion stories. What's to stop robbers from just busting in my place as I am sitting on the couch watching TV? I wouldn't be able to hear them breaking the screens in my bedroom and then if they came walking down the hall with their guns out I'd have no chance.

Just the thought of it makes me want to never have my windows open again. It seems like the world is too dangerous. It's not like I live in a bad neighborhood or anything, but those people on Long Island didn't either.

[MadBiker]

I know it's a big media hype thing and the chances of it happening to me are pretty slim, but all those stories from last year of how houses on Long Island were having criminal elements break into them while the owners were at home sleeping have me paranoid. Hearing about how the people are dragged from their beds and tied up as the guys steal all their stuff is pretty frightening.

I think it hit me this past weekend worse than ever. It was Saturday night around 11:30 or so and my girl and I were sitting on the couch playing some Gamecube. I had the windows open since it was a cool evening. I also had the windows in my bedroom down the hall open. Since I live in a first floor condo I always lock everything up when I go to sleep but I got to thinking about those home invasion stories. What's to stop robbers from just busting in my place as I am sitting on the couch watching TV? I wouldn't be able to hear them breaking the screens in my bedroom and then if they came walking down the hall with their guns out I'd have no chance.

Just the thought of it makes me want to never have my windows open again. It seems like the world is too dangerous. It's not like I live in a bad neighborhood or anything, but those people on Long Island didn't either.

This is why I support Castle Doctrine laws. If some fucker thought I might be armed (and I am when at home) and could be shot dead without recourse on my part, he might thing twice about breaking into my home.

Of course, Castle Doctrine applies neither in NJ nor NY so your best bet is to keep the windows closed and locked. Get a security system if you can on your condo.

If this really freaks you out consider moving to a second or third story unit.

But you cannot live your life in a bubble either. How many people out of the 300 million in the US hit that unlucky-home-invasion-lottery every year? Living is about taking your chances with things sometimes.

[Don Stugots]

i never open the window on the fire escape side. that window is locked at all times. the thought of a home invasion scares the hell out of me more since i work all night and regina is alone.

[Hottub]

Wouldn't Vegas chew the balls off of anybody who may try to get in?

[Don Stugots]

Wouldn't Vegas chew the balls off of anybody who may try to get in?

haha, i dont know really. i assume she would. but you never know. plus, she is small and can be kicked aside easily.

[Furtherman]

Paranoia self-destroy-yaaaaa.

[Jujubees2]

Don't move to Iraq!

Iraqis Protest Home Invasions (http://dancewater.blogspot.com/2007/05/residents-rally-in-protest-against-u.html)

[Justice4all]

LJ...that is, believe it or not, a very healthy fear.
I have that same one for my parents. I worked for the PD in the town they live in. Very upper-middle class neighborhood in NJ. They have forced entry robberies all the time. There has been a problem with that for about 5+ years now with this. But it only seems to be happening in the suburban areas like Fairfield NJ, Roseland, Pine Brook/Montville. Places where the robbers can jump on and off of the highway in 2 seconds and be long gone by the time the police arrive to check out the house.

Only ONCE in the 3+ years i was dispatching did we get a B + E that turned into a home invation. It was by accident. the robber did not know the people were home. When the homeowner saw him standing in his hallway the robber bolted like a bat out of hell!

What the homeowner did next is what fucked up the possible capture of this guy....he called his DAD across the street instead of calling 911 to get the police there faster. Those 30 seconds count for alot in moments like that.

Alot of home invations are not meant as such. To allieve your fears ask yourself a few questioins:
Do I live in a neighborhood were I know my neighbors and we would look out for each other in a crisis.
Do I live in a neighborhood that has easy access to a highway or roadway that would lead to inner city areas. (escape route)
Is my area/neighborhood a place that most robbers would love to hit and steal from?

It all depends on where you live, your neighborhood and your neighbors.
Yes lock your doors at night, get a security system. Those are smart and OBVIOUS things to do, but also get to know your neighbors. You never know when they might see someone suspicious and report it. Maybe keep YOUR house from getting hit like that.

[angrymissy]

I worry about this all the time too. I would hope the dog barking would scare someone off, but I want to get a security system with a LOUD alarm. Actually, the houses are my street are REALLY close together (like 3 ft from each other). If someone was fucking with someone else's house, it probably wouldn't go unnoticed.

[SinA]

I always hear about people breaking in to houses when the people are home, which is scary, but I feel (perhaps foolishly) that having two big dogs will keep me safe even during the night. It's the few times when my dogs aren't there that I worry about.

We just got back home from a long weekend out-of-town. Dumbass me forgot to have the newspaper held, so there was a big pile of papers in front of the door to alert everyone that I wasn't home.

There's definitely a lot of anxiety in that moment when you unlock the door and open it and take that first look inside. Even before your eyes adjust to the light you're trying to figure out if everything is exactly where it was when you left.

[Hottub]

Actually, the houses are my street are REALLY close together (like 3 ft from each other). If someone was fucking , it probably wouldn't go unnoticed.

OK Missy. Now it's fixed.

[outlawfrank]

The odds seem pretty good to me, it has happened to me twice. Thankfully I keep nothing of value in my apartment. The burglars must have each been disappointed to find No tv, no phone, no computer. Just a couch and books.

[angrymissy]

The odds seem pretty good to me, it has happened to me twice. Thankfully I keep nothing of value in my apartment. The burglars must have each been disappointed to find No tv, no phone, no computer. Just a couch and books.

Location: detroit

Is Detroit as bad as they say it is? Were you just robbed or did they actually come in while you were home?

[LordJezo]

So do they bust in when people are sleeping or is it like what I am worrying myself over, just being awake and sitting on your couch watching tv when they bust in and tie you up? The sleeping part I could at least understand but how about when it's late at night and you are awake and doing stuff? Should I just keep my windows locked at all times, even when I am home and doing things in the house?

[outlawfrank]

Location: detroit

Is Detroit as bad as they say it is? Were you just robbed or did they actually come in while you were home?

The suburbs aren't so bad at all, and some very small sections of the city as well. But when I decided to live where I'm liviing now I didn't pay enough attention to it's location and accessibility. This all has happened in the last year. I live across the busy road from a bar. There is a bus stop 50 feet from my front door and a car dealership next door. Handful of gentlemen have been arrested for trying to steal cars from there. Idiots, none successful. It's totally where I live.

I wasn't there either time, I am thankful for that. I was there when I caught a guy trying to get in my truck. I think he was looking for some money, maybe smokes. Not interested in my truck. I don't let it bother me so much. But I plan on moving in the next year.

[Fat_Sunny]

So do they bust in when people are sleeping or is it like what I am worrying myself over, just being awake and sitting on your couch watching tv when they bust in and tie you up? The sleeping part I could at least understand but how about when it's late at night and you are awake and doing stuff? Should I just keep my windows locked at all times, even when I am home and doing things in the house?

F_S Tends To Agree With Furtherman, That The Fear Is Much Worse Than The Reality.

If It Makes You Feel More Comfortable, Though, You Can Get Stoppers At The Hardware Store Or Home Depot. They Let You Open The Window Only To A Certain Point, Say 12", Where No One Could Squeeze Through From The Outside, But You Could Still Get A Breeze.

The Stoppers Also Have A "Slide", So That You Can "Unstop" The Window Anytime You Want, And Open It All The Way.

[weekapaugjz]

maybe lord jezo will be the next one to install a panic room in his place

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/05/high_tech_homes_02/image/panic_room.jpg

[reeshy]

This is why I keep a loaded .38 in my nightstand!!!!!

[Dougie Brootal]

This is why I keep a loaded .38 in my nightstand!!!!!

what if they break in while yer in the shower or in the kitchen or something?

[reeshy]

The claymore in the kitchen will take care of them!!!!!

[King Hippos Bandaid]

I need to get a House beforre I can fear invasion, I am in a Apt. for now. I double lock the Door, but I live in a nice Neighborhood,, so my fear level is low

:king:

[epo]

F_S Tends To Agree With Furtherman, That The Fear Is Much Worse Than The Reality.

If It Makes You Feel More Comfortable, Though, You Can Get Stoppers At The Hardware Store Or Home Depot. They Let You Open The Window Only To A Certain Point, Say 12", Where No One Could Squeeze Through From The Outside, But You Could Still Get A Breeze.

The Stoppers Also Have A "Slide", So That You Can "Unstop" The Window Anytime You Want, And Open It All The Way.

This may sound odd, but I really don't worry about. Sure I live in Wisconsin now...but I've lived other places and never gave a shit about it.

I always figured the fear was worse than reality & it wasn't worth freaking myself out about.

[Landblast]

This may sound odd, but I really don't worry about. Sure I live in Wisconsin now...but I've lived other places and never gave a shit about it.

I always figured the fear was worse than reality & it wasn't worth freaking myself out about.

right, unless you live in the middle of a crime ridden area, but if you live in an area with a normal crime rate per capita, and you do all the normal basic preventative things, the odds of someone being a victim in a crime like a home invasion is gotta be, like a million to one. I couldn't find the statistics but, there's a thousand other things to worry about before this.

[Sarge]

The majority of home invasions are planned well in advance, and the home was targeted on purpose. They usually occur in the suburbs because thats where business usually owners live. People know that many business owners keep large amounts of cash at home. Random home invasions do occur, but not as often as you may think. Most criminals wait until youre not home on purpose, because they dont want to be bothered with dealing with you, also the burlary then becomes a robbery and has much harsher penalties.

[Fat_Sunny]

F_S Once Read An Interview With A Bunch Of Cops That Said That Homes With Dogs Almost Never Get Robbed. If The Perps Here A Barking Dog, They Just Go On To The Next House.

It Is A Good Alternative To Keeping A Loaded Gun. Plus, You Give A Dog A Home!

[CofyCrakCocaine]

CCC likes F_S's idea.

[PapaBear]

Though it would be scary to experience a home invasion, I don't worry about them at all. There are a million things in life to worry about. The chances of being a victim of one is minuscule. If one does happen, I'll either fight like a mother fuck, or let them take what they want (depending on the situation). And... I don't need a gun to defend myself (not that guns are bad).

[Chigworthy]

If you worry about home invasion, you should do something to ease your worry, whether it be moving, security sytems, dogs, guns, medication time, or buttered thresholds. Feeling unsafe in your home must be a horrible feeling.

[nate1000]

Two to three heavily armed african american males stormed through the back door of a house less than a half mile from where my children were sleeping last night. They forced the two female victims who were watching TV downstairs to the second floor. Two male victims were also home at the time, their location is not known at the time of entry, nevertheless, a struggle ensued, no less than seven shots were fired and the invaders fled on foot back to "the other side of the tracks". Amazingly no one was hurt.

I live in a suburb which is specifically known for its lack of diversity. Unfortunately, a former senior housing development a mile or so away (in the City proper) flipped to subsidized low income housing a few years back. This has led to deterioration in the local neighborhood (two block radius) and obviously is starting to impact more removed areas.

Our suburb used to have a reputation for having police cars profiling and following members of certain darker complected races, a practice I used to find distasteful. Today I am yearning for the good old days.

Unfortunately, we live in a great neighborhood- tons of kids, a great school, ZERO crime- we haven't locked our doors since we moved in six years ago. Hopefully, our local police can find a way to discourage elements from other municipalities from acting like animals in our neighborhoods. We'll see where this goes, but it may be time to add another twenty minutes on to my commute.

[PapaBear]

It's crazy not to lock your doors in any neighborhood, no matter how little crime. Crime can happen anywhere. Several years ago, in a calm neighborhood near me, a kid phycho kid walked into a home and stabbed a guy to death, and tried to kill the wife. When asked why he chose this home, he said it was the only one unlocked. This kid was 13 or 14 years old, white, and not on drugs.

[Chigworthy]

It's crazy not to lock you're doors, and it's crazy to think a door lock will stop a determined ruffian.