Lock everything when you move here.. (West, Blanco: real estate, apartment, HOA)

[ged_782]

Originally Posted by Hedgehog_Mom

I'm the opposite about parking in the garage. My husband will go through phases where he insists on parking one vehicle in the garage. Then it looks like no one is home during the day when he leaves for work. I want a car in the driveway when I'm home.

Even though I always park in the garage (unless I'm just stopping by the house for a couple of minutes), I'm still bothered by appearance it gives passersby that no one is home.

If you look at the majority of homes in my neighborhood, you'll see at least one vehicle parked outside somewhere. I can think of only one other neighbor on my street who always parks in the garage, like me. If you're one of my neighbors, you know this, and you don't know if I'm at home or not. To an outsider, it looks like maybe no one is home - stop and ring the doorbell, and check it out.

Of course, parking in the garage all the time is the best way to prevent my vehicle from being stolen, burglarized, or vandalized, but it could be at the risk of making my house more vulnerable.

[EntropyGuardian]

Don't trust your valuables anywhere, but especially inside 410, east of 281, and south of 151.

[smuboy86]

Originally Posted by EntropyGuardian

Don't trust your valuables anywhere, but especially inside 410, east of 281, and south of 151.

Lol... Ok you know the crime hotspots of AH and Terrell Hills and Olmos Park, it's like Detroit there. But really the crime stats along the I10 corridor and at La Cantera are jaw dropping. I know of 6 cars that got stollen personally from one parking lot at La Cantera in 6 months, and many more burglarized.

[rynetwo]

Originally Posted by EntropyGuardian

Don't trust your valuables anywhere, but especially inside 410, east of 281, and south of 151.

Actually E of 281 inside 410 is land I live in and we don't have dirty diapers, cars on blocks or high property crime. I forget to lock my car all the time (I'm from a 1300 acre ranch) and have never had something stolen at home.

Originally Posted by smuboy86

Lol... Ok you know the crime hotspots of AH and Terrell Hills and Olmos Park, it's like Detroit there. But really the crime stats along the I10 corridor and at La Cantera are jaw dropping. I know of 6 cars that got stollen personally from one parking lot at La Cantera in 6 months, and many more burglarized.

The I10 are near La Cantera is no different than North Park Dallas or Galleria Houston. Shopping centers have and always will be crime magnets.

[TXStrat]

The Dominion sees a large number of home burglaries compared to the surrounding area. I found that surprising based on the heavier security at the Dominion. They not only have the manned entrance gates, but also have roving patrols in the neighborhood.

[forest1492]

Originally Posted by Bo

Property crimes do happen a lot here. Much of it could be avoided if people would use their garages for vehicle storage, rather than filling them with stuff that doesn't fit in the house.

This sounds too much like blame the victim.

[Pancho-Villa]

Well, he's right.

[TXStrat]

Originally Posted by forest1492

This sounds too much like blame the victim.

Sounds more like advice on how to avoid becoming a victim as opposed to blaming the victim.

Most physical security is just common sense. Burglars will avoid well lit areas, they are less likely to break into a car with nothing of value visible. If you don't park in garage, remove anything of value from your vehicle, and park in a well lit spot (exterior garage/home lights, street lights, etc.) Burglars look for patterns. If you leave your residence every day at the same time, they will recognize the pattern and use it to their advantage. Be unpredictable. Leave at different times. Use timers on indoor/outdoor lights. If you normally have blinds and curtains open all day, don't leave them closed when you go on vacation. Also, if you do go out of town, make arrangements for the Post Office to hold your mail, stop delivery of any news papers, and have neighbors keep on eye on your residence to include removing any solicitation items (flyers/ads/door hangers, etc.)

[CyVaquero]

Originally Posted by TXStrat

Sounds more like advice on how to avoid becoming a victim as opposed to blaming the victim.

Most physical security is just common sense. Burglars will avoid well lit areas, they are less likely to break into a car with nothing of value visible. If you don't park in garage, remove anything of value from your vehicle, and park in a well lit spot (exterior garage/home lights, street lights, etc.) Burglars look for patterns. If you leave your residence every day at the same time, they will recognize the pattern and use it to their advantage. Be unpredictable. Leave at different times. Use timers on indoor/outdoor lights. If you normally have blinds and curtains open all day, don't leave them closed when you go on vacation. Also, if you do go out of town, make arrangements for the Post Office to hold your mail, stop delivery of any news papers, and have neighbors keep on eye on your residence to include removing any solicitation items (flyers/ads/door hangers, etc.)

Second this. My first duty station in the Navy was Sigonella Sicily. Keep nothing of value in the car, locking the door just meant you would wake up to a broken window.

[RadiantBaby]

Bottom line: Crime happens everywhere, in any city or town out there

Be alert. Be aware. Lock up and keep your home/apt well lit.