chellebelle Posted November 21, 2010 Share Posted November 21, 2010 My daughter Sarah called me today to tell me that yesterday evening some creep tried to break in! When she came home from work, she went to enter her apartment, and saw the door had dents from a crowbar, and her inside window was broken! Lucky for her, she saw a police officer patroling the complex (because of a several breakins!) She told him what happened, and he walked her to see it, and he went in and checked everything before he would let her in. He said they didn't get through the door, but broke the inside of the double paned window from the force of trying to break the lock. She lives in a fairly nice complex, all the buildings are built to look like Swiss chalets, and each building has quite a few apartments. They all are entered from the outside, on long balconies, somewhat like an upscale motel, not like a high rise where they have the security of locked outside doors. The officer said there had been some recent problems with break ins, especially in young, single, working women's places. They've stepped up patrols, and the complex has increased security, but it still happens. My first comment was move in here, she said no, she would have too far to drive for work. Second I said to get a baseball bat or a gun, she said she sleeps with a hammer. I'm getting her a door and window alarm, and a bar for her door that works somewhat like a chair wedged under the nob. The management is replacing her door, but it may take a while due to the holiday. I wanted to go down there right away, but she said no, she's ok. She may look for another apartment, in a more secure building. She doesn't have many valuables, just a little jewelry from my late parents. She's bringing them here for safe keeping. I told her in the mean time to hide them in her box of tampons, because no man would probably think to look in there, lol. Her friend is supposed to stay with her for a few days, and I'll see her Thursday. You can bet I'll be calling her numerous times between now and then, just to check up on her. I won't rest easy until I have her in a great big Momma Bear Hug! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leaken1966 Posted November 21, 2010 Share Posted November 21, 2010 Michelle, that is a shame. I hope that person(s) doing this will be caught. Tell your daugther to go to wal-mart and in the travel section there is a door alarm she can put on the handle. If anyone tries to turn it or bump the door it will sound out a high pitch alarm. Also, at Lowe's they have window alarms. If the glass is broke it can put out a 150 deciable alarm. The only reason I know this....When my daughter was home sick, a man tried to break into our house. She ran out in 10 below barefoot trying to get someone to come to help her, she had frostbite after 15 mins and scared and crying until one person saw her and helped her. I went out that night and found the best I could without going online, which I did later and found a remote alarm that had 3 alarms located in a different parts of the house to go off as one very loud high pitch sound....it would scare off anyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heidiiiii Posted November 21, 2010 Share Posted November 21, 2010 I would not care about the belongings at all. She is the most important valuable in the whole world! I will pray that she is safe until they fix her door or she finds other accommodations. There have been many more break ins and desperate acts going on in my area. One of the casinos laid off 500 workers and some businesses have gone under. I donated my free turkey (you spend so much at the grocery store..you can get a turkey or other things) to the food distribution place that Chelsea works in. They had a massive food drive yesterday. I have felt lately that I have to be more vigilant in how I carry myself in the city nowadays. I was never afraid before (and I am not now) but the vibe is different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathieB Posted November 21, 2010 Share Posted November 21, 2010 It's not so much the loss of items as it is the idea that one's personal space has been violated. Everyone has a right to feel safe in his or her own home. Many years ago there was a break-in in an apartment I shared with my sister when we were not at home. That place was no longer safe. We couldn't move out fast enough. I still get a bit anxious when I think about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merry Posted November 21, 2010 Share Posted November 21, 2010 Oh my gosh, Michelle! I would feel exactly like you're feeling. I'm freaking out just thinking about it! If your daughter doesn't want a gun, the alarms sound like a great idea. Actually, a gun and the alarms sound good to me. I had a friend whose home was broken into. She told me that she felt so violated, and it bothered her tremendously. I'm so sorry that this happened to your daughter. Hugs to you, too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asiaviewtravel Posted November 21, 2010 Share Posted November 21, 2010 Michelle, that is a shame. it would scare off anyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chellebelle Posted November 21, 2010 Author Share Posted November 21, 2010 I went to Home Depot this morning and got her a door security bar, and will get another for her bedroom door soon. I also tried to get the door and window alarm,it's like the travel alarm mentioned, but they didn't have any, even though their website said they had several models in stock. So, I'll be getting one elsewhere this week. Her friend stayed with her last night, so she felt a little safe. I told her that there is not one single thing in her apartment that can even come close to being as priceless she is! I wish she'd just move home, but she won't so far. I will pressure her at Thanksgiving into moving to another apartment, one with extra security measures! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nechee Posted November 22, 2010 Share Posted November 22, 2010 I completely feel for your daughter. Last year someone broke into our house while we were sleeping. Took my husbands PS3 and games and also some rings of mine. It was horrible because we were all sleeping. My son is still traumatized over it. My husband still won't wake up in the morning by himself, he gets me up to wait for him while he is in the shower. We got an alarm system shortly after that. It has door alarms and window alarms and a motion sensor. If someone moves in the house when there is not supposed to be movement the alarm will go off. Getting door security bars are a great idea but I also suggest an alarm system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted November 22, 2010 Share Posted November 22, 2010 A lot of police departments will have firearms safety courses as well as self-defense classes. Whilst I'm not an advocate of guns or violence, a young single woman living alone can't have too much protection, IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SallyG Posted November 23, 2010 Share Posted November 23, 2010 It's getting so you are not safe anywhere these days. My husband and I lived in a lovely, gated development, alarm systems in the homes, and there were still several break-ins. They would slip in while the owners were out walking their dogs, etc. In some houses, they lifted the sliding glass doors out of their tracks. Last week we moved into an apartment complex...second floor apartment, in the front. We may also get an alarm system installed. I actually feel safer here than I did in the gated development. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted November 23, 2010 Share Posted November 23, 2010 ...In some houses, they lifted the sliding glass doors out of their tracks...When we lived in an apartment in Tallahassee we had a mophandle we wedged against the bottom of the interior sliding glass door when it was closed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaniceG Posted November 23, 2010 Share Posted November 23, 2010 So sorry to hear about your daughter's scare! I think the alarm you're looking into is a good idea. My second idea would be a dog (although I know it isn't always practical or allowed). I never realized what a good deterant a dog is until we adopted ours. She has a bark that's twice as big and scary as she is. And of course, the added bonus of a devoted mutt is nice:) FYI, Many years ago when we moved into our place, the alarm guy showed us how easy it is to lift a sliding door off its track from the outside. The door that ISN'T supposed to slide. That way, the alarm never goes off. We were pretty astonished. Actually, his sales strategy was to scare us(me) to death. For the record, our alarm has gone off twice in the night in the past eight years. Both times were attributed to a pet pushing open an unlocked door, but the sound is so loud , a person would have to be crazy not to run away. So yes to the alarm - the ones they sell in the stores are just as effective at making crazy loud noise as the big names. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodland_miniatures Posted November 23, 2010 Share Posted November 23, 2010 When we lived in an apartment in Tallahassee we had a mophandle we wedged against the bottom of the interior sliding glass door when it was closed. And I have broom handles in my sliding windows to keep them from opening farther than cat-whisker wide. Didn't bother and had the windows wide open until we came to have a "wolf dog" roaming the neighborhood hunting and killing cats, and seen specifically hunting my Koko at least twice. Didn't want a big bad dog charging in through the window after my cat....And am profoudly grateful that wild animals may be all we have to worry about where I live. Well, and drunk and/or stoned humans - but that's another story. Years ago I got one of those noise-maker alarms for my apartment door (with instructions to my neighbors to call me at work if it went off) because I had a grossly intrusive landlord - got the alarm after he let himself into my apartment one day while I should have been at work but wasn't because I was home in bed sick. This dear soul set the alarm off once, and once only....HORRENDOUS noise, and from what I was told, the landlord practically made a sonic boom as he ran from this hideous noise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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