Another attempted break in--need advice please! (credit, hotel, sick)

[saylorbee]

It looks like someone tried to break into our home again last night. I discovered a key broken off in our lock this morning.. Last month I heard the lock jiggling around 11 pm one night and rushed to the door, flipped the light on and the security alarm. Called the cops but they couldn't really do anything but take the report and drive around the neighborhood. We called the police again today to report the attempted break in..but once again there isn't much they can do but take a report.

I'm just concerned that whoever tried to break in last night isn't just after our stuff..Why would they try to get in when both cars are in the driveway and we have security signs posted all over the front of the house?? I thought most burgulars target homes when it looks like people aren't inside.

Anyway we have a security system--2 big dogs--and like I mentioned..security signs all over the front of the house. I think we are going to get a security camera for the front door and maybe a chime that rings when someone walks in front of the house.
More then anything, I'm scared that someone would break in and let my dogs out when we aren't home. We live right off Atlantic Blvd. and the thought of my dogs getting out and running in the road just makes me sick to my stomach.

Any other ideas on what we can do to protect ourselves and our dogs? I thought our neighborhood was relatively safe but I was very wrong!! I'm totally afraid to leave the house now--help!!

[HIF]

Originally Posted by saylorbee

It looks like someone tried to break into our home again last night. I discovered a key broken off in our lock this morning.. Last month I heard the lock jiggling around 11 pm one night and rushed to the door, flipped the light on and the security alarm.

Leave the light on all night.

[Ryde41]

You could also try the motion sensor flood lights that come on when people walk close to the house.

(Maybe it was a drunk at the wrong address?, now his key is broken..)

[titaniummd]

Originally Posted by saylorbee

It looks like someone tried to break into our home again last night. I discovered a key broken off in our lock this morning.. Last month I heard the lock jiggling around 11 pm one night and rushed to the door, flipped the light on and the security alarm. Called the cops but they couldn't really do anything but take the report and drive around the neighborhood. We called the police again today to report the attempted break in..but once again there isn't much they can do but take a report.

I'm just concerned that whoever tried to break in last night isn't just after our stuff..Why would they try to get in when both cars are in the driveway and we have security signs posted all over the front of the house?? I thought most burgulars target homes when it looks like people aren't inside.

Anyway we have a security system--2 big dogs--and like I mentioned..security signs all over the front of the house. I think we are going to get a security camera for the front door and maybe a chime that rings when someone walks in front of the house.
More then anything, I'm scared that someone would break in and let my dogs out when we aren't home. We live right off Atlantic Blvd. and the thought of my dogs getting out and running in the road just makes me sick to my stomach.

Any other ideas on what we can do to protect ourselves and our dogs? I thought our neighborhood was relatively safe but I was very wrong!! I'm totally afraid to leave the house now--help!!

Do you live alone? Is this a single family home or multiunit? Trim the hedges/bushes near the door and leave the light on.

You can look around around and see if someone is watching your activity.

Could you see the people? Is there a trend of break ins in your neighborhood? Check with your neighbors and see if they noticed suspicious activity. Band together and organize a neighborhood watch program and get the police involved.

[riveree]

That's terrible Saylorbee .

There's always the chance, as Ryde said, that it's a drunk person or someone with a mental impairment who is at the wrong house, so look before you shoot!

I had a neighbor with a disease which was destroying his brain, he used to come to my front door at 4 in the morning looking for me. He was usually hallucinating and wanted me to help him with whatever the hallucination was.

Definitely leave all your lights on all night, definitely cut all shrubs back so your door and windows are visible to the street, get a deadbolt if you don't have one (invest in a Medco, they're the best), encourage your dogs to go ballistic if someone comes to the door like that, make sure your blinds are down so no one can see inside, don't let people know what you have inside your house - don't advertise a new flat screen tv by just tossing the box out on garbage day (cut the box up so it's not recognizable).

There's more you can do, take a look here...


Here's a link to the JSO's Home Security brochure:

http://www.coj.net/NR/rdonlyres/ee5e6fabuatnwyu2z6jgh3hyq3tyecnanssqq4tcp22veadavb 2rlhnd375rmygo36kc45sdsd2nmnz75uncrywyq7g/Home+Security.pdf (broken link)

There are more brochures here:

Community Education Brochures

JSO also offers some free training in self-defense and firearm training if you're interested:

Citizens Training (FREE)

If you're inclined to get involved for the benefit of your community, you can attend some Shadco meetings:

Sheriff's Advisory Councils (ShAdCos)

Hopefully, this just ends up being a wake-up call and nothing more, keep safe Saylorbee .

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by saylorbee

It looks like someone tried to break into our home again last night. I discovered a key broken off in our lock this morning..

I thought our neighborhood was relatively safe but I was very wrong!! I'm totally afraid to leave the house now--help!!

Just because you were victimized does not mean that your neighborhood is not fairly safe. Low crime is not no crime.

Anyway, that key broken off was a bump key almost for sure. A bump key can be made in as little as 20 minutes off of a regular blank duplicate key, or you can order one online. A burglar can easily break a traditional doorlock with a credit card, but more sophisticated deadbolt locks have lead to the advent of widespread bump keys. These "bump" keys destroy the mechanism within the lock simply by "bumping" the key into the door with a few hits. At least 90% of current deadbolt locks will give in to a bumping burglar. These type of burglaries are common all over the state except for in (oddly enough) metro South Florida where most burglars shatter rear sliding glass doors.

However, there is hope! If you are willing to spend somewhere around the 60 dollar range for a deadbolt lock, they make locks that are virtually unstoppable and unbumpable. Kwikset also claims to make more reasonably priced bump proof locks, but I am not sure if their claim is true. Looking at your situation, getting a bump proof lock would by far be the most fiscally viable way to prevent your home from being burglarized. You need to look other at passive deterrents such as keeping your bushes short if you have any and lighting your property well. The only really effective active deterrent is a good security system and it sounds like that wasn't enough. A burglar who sees a camera will simply come back masked and I doubt that a chime would scare off a burglar.

And yes, I also suggest getting a gun. After reading your post again, it sounds like their true intention may have actually been home invasion robbery, since most burglars DO try to operate in a low risk envrionment. Home invasions are common all over Florida (even rural areas), and are gaining in popularity all over the US. You are pretty much defenseless if you are unarmed in a home invasion.

[slnash]

I would use several of the above-mentioned suggestions -- get an automatic sensor light that turns on due to motion near your front door, let your dogs sleep inside (near the front door) so they can hear noises and bark loudly, install a heavy duty lock and deadbolt, install an additional "hotel" style lock that can only be un-done from the inside. Also, if your door has any glass on it - replace it with a solid door. Also make sure your door frame is metal ("hurricane frames" @ Lowes) and not wood.

(Personally, my guy has a gun under the bed on his side and I have a big stick on mine. . . there's another gun in my closet - just in case.)

[apvbguy]

Originally Posted by slnash

I would use several of the above-mentioned suggestions -- get an automatic sensor light that turns on due to motion near your front door, let your dogs sleep inside (near the front door) so they can hear noises and bark loudly, install a heavy duty lock and deadbolt, install an additional "hotel" style lock that can only be un-done from the inside. Also, if your door has any glass on it - replace it with a solid door. Also make sure your door frame is metal ("hurricane frames" @ Lowes) and not wood.

(Personally, my guy has a gun under the bed on his side and I have a big stick on mine. . . there's another gun in my closet - just in case.)

a gun is a good idea except that keeping it under the bed is a very bad idea, it is too easy to "awaken" in a half asleep state and not be aware of what you are shooting at, it is better to keep the gun a bit away from the bed to make you think before shooting

[titaniummd]

I would recommend something that locks it up but has easy access:

https://secure.sequiam.com/nragunsaf...g/instructors/

20% Off GunVault Multi GV2000DLX

I am looking into one of these.

[travelingfood]

motion sensing sprinkler head that is used to deter small animals. rig it with pepper spray or something evil.
does the door open inward? put some steel horizontal bars behind it so can't be kicked in.

or have some neighborhood stake out.