Burgularized (Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Corona: home, school, living in)

[mike0421]

A little update: this morning, my mother-in-law stepped outside to have a smoke, this is around 10am. She slams the front door, and the next thing, she sees two people come running from the side of our house. They were in my backyard. They go running down the street, as my MIL is screaming at them. Naturally, she called the police.

This goes beyond a car break-in. Now I have to worry about my house as well.

Suddenly, I don't very much embrace the idea of living in LC any longer.

[FleeingPhilly]

I'm so sorry that has happened to your family. As a family moving to LC early next year, I find that very disturbing that occured at 10 am. being a stay at home mommy and all.

[mike0421]

The worst part, to me, is that where I live is not considered a bad neighborhood. It's quiet, in a residential enclave. I think that if you can't feel safe where I live, you are pretty much open season no matter where you ultimately choose to live in LC. That's unsettling. You have to factor in the possibility of being a crime victim, no matter how nice the neighborhood.

Here's the crime map: " + theTitle + "

What happened today at my home won't even appear on this map.
I'm afraid this is part of the culture of the desert southwest in general. You have to factor it into your decision making process. It's a big negative, and can potentially offset many positive desirable reasons to move here.

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by mike0421

A little update: this morning, my mother-in-law stepped outside to have a smoke, this is around 10am. She slams the front door, and the next thing, she sees two people come running from the side of our house. They were in my backyard. They go running down the street, as my MIL is screaming at them. Naturally, she called the police.

This goes beyond a car break-in. Now I have to worry about my house as well.

Suddenly, I don't very much embrace the idea of living in LC any longer.

I can't say I blame you. Makes you wonder why this is being heaped on all at once. Were they kids or adults? That is just strange.

I really hope that this is not the norm, and that things settle down, and y'all feel safe again.

I'm not particularly trusting anyway, and I had gotten into the habit of locking everything--even in small-town West Texas--several years ago. It's also why I wouldn't even look at homes without at least a single garage (I ended up with a 2-car, thank goodness). Even in TX, my car went in every night and the door closed.

That goes double for anywhere in NM. The petty property crimes in Alamogordo are just out of sight...tire slashing, window-breaking and other vandalism.

It's just really pathetic, isn't it?

[mike0421]

Originally Posted by Cathy4017

I can't say I blame you. Makes you wonder why this is being heaped on all at once. Were they kids or adults? That is just strange.

I really hope that this is not the norm, and that things settle down, and y'all feel safe again.

I'm not particularly trusting anyway, and I had gotten into the habit of locking everything--even in small-town West Texas--several years ago. It's also why I wouldn't even look at homes without at least a single garage (I ended up with a 2-car, thank goodness). Even in TX, my car went in every night and the door closed.

That goes double for anywhere in NM. The petty property crimes in Alamogordo are just out of sight...tire slashing, window-breaking and other vandalism.

It's just really pathetic, isn't it?

Cathy,

Let's just say I am really pissed off right now. The worst part is the helplessness. You can't expect the cops to patrol your neighborhood 24/7.

This is why vigilante justice has been historically popular. And truthfully, I think some of our laws need to be loosened, to favor the property owner, and to punish the perpetrator. For instance, if I were there instead of my MIL, I would have caught one of them. There is then a very good chance, with the adrenaline flowing, I would have hospitalized him. Now, if that were to happen, there is a very good chance I'd be brought up on assault charges. This shouldn't be the case. And it's one of the very many reasons I part company from the liberal left in this country, because their idea of interpreting and enforcing laws varies greatly from mine.

[Cathy4017]

And it's one of the very many reasons I part company from the liberal left in this country, because their idea of interpreting and enforcing laws varies greatly from mine.

I HEAR that.

Texas passed a law (Castle Doctrine Law) in March 2007 that a homeowner can use deadly force to protect his property.

New Mexico should do the same. If they know they can get their heads blown off for breaking in, so much the better.

[desert sun]

mike0421---you shouldnt let these incidents ruin your whole perspective of the city, this stuff happens to random people and this time its your turn, this can happen anywhere, some places just more commonly and more often.

Ive been in your shoes a few times, I've had my apartment broken into twice, my car almost stolen, I had my vehicles broken into three times and a couple incidents of vandalism on my vehicles.

My moms vehicle had a couple windows shot out at the mall once and there was a time when all the neighbors on my parents block had their tires slashed.

These incidents all took place in 3 different towns here in NM.


so I know it sucks and the cops dont really care too much but we can only hope those punks that do this get whats coming to them.

[funkymonkey]

Originally Posted by mike0421

Medford. Towns like Shamong, Southampton, Tabernacle, etc, you could leave all your windows and doors open in your house, and nothing would be taken.

A quick internet search reveals Medford does indeed experience crime. Maybe you just got lucky.

[TKO]

I'm embarrassed for us. I've lived here 30 years and never experienced anything like that. Don't know what to say.

[Muhnay]

Originally Posted by mike0421

You know what's humorous? I mentioned im my OP about living in New Jersey, I could have put that very sign out in front of my house, my car, etc, and no one would have taken anything. It's just a different atmosphere here with a different class of people. I just have to adjust my lifestyle.

Mike I mean no Offense man, but one of the great things about this site is before you moved here you could of asked. Heck man I would of told you to lock your can and to take stuff inside the house.

When I moved to Boise a long time back, I was surprised people did not close the window blinds/curtains... In El Paso you sure do because People will watch you.

Its hard for me to believe that you could of put that sign up and nothing would of happened.. guess crime is higher here than many give thought too. I wish we had a more honest and moral populace here, given where you came from. Sorry it happened, and sorry if I offended you.