|
|
Back to UserFriendly Strip Comments Index
|
My house's just been broken into :( | by jafar | 2005-02-11 05:40:08 |
| Bummer |
by jdelphiki |
2005-02-11 06:31:32 |
Sorry to hear that.
It's hard to say whether or not they'll come back, but there are things that can be done to make oneself a less desirable target.
1. Get a dog and/or a security system. For smash-and-grab thieves, a barking dog can be a pretty good deterrent, especially in an apartment complex. Nobody wants to risk having the neighbors peeking out their windows to hear why the dogs are barking. I'm not really big on security systems, per se, because I'm not convinced that they would actually STOP anybody before they could take what they wanted. Then again, having an alarm go off when the window was broken would likely have scared off the intruders in this case. It also would be likely to prevent a return visit from them.
2. Change the locks and, if the thief might have found a checkbook, bank account, credit card numbers, etc., you probably want to change all of those, as well. From the inside of your apartment, finding a key could make it even easier to return at the theif's convenience next time. And, while a smash-and-grabber probably isn't smart enough to figure out how to steal and use your account information, it would be ugly if they were somehow able to.
3. Be aware. Even bad thieves have to find out when their intended targets will be away. That means that they have to either watch the victim to learn their habits, or simply knock on doors randomly to find one that noboby answers. By watching a victim beforehand, a thief can often give themselves away. Look for people who seem to be simply hanging around as you come and go and make note of what they look like, what vehicle they're driving, etc. You'd be surprised how often you might notice people who look out of place and quite clearly don't belong in your neigborhood/apartment complex.
4. Along those lines, it's also useful to get to know as many of your neigbors as possible. People will look out for neighbors they know (even if it's only by vague acquaintance) and will tend to ignore people they've never met or talked with.
5. Don't live in fear. This is the tough one after your place has been broken into but there's a balance between being prepared and letting something like this completely dominate your life. Excessive fear can actually isolate a person. The more they fear, the more easy a target they can become.
Good luck and best wishes.
Bean |
|
[ Reply ] |
|
|
[Todays Cartoon Discussion]
[News Index]
|
|
