Will you buy a home if there was a break in on the same street?

[Anonymous]

We live on Capitol Hill and every house on our street has had a break in sometime in the past three years. There were 6 in one week a couple of summers ago--even hit one house twice. They tend to be quick, grab a camera, TV, cash, electronics, or jewelry and run. In and out in 15 minutes max. It's unfortunate, but it is not a reflection on how nice the neighborhood is in general. These are all 900k-1.5M homes. It does say something about DC police and economic inequality. Personally I'd rather have a break in than be mugged. At least I'm not personally at risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even "safe" areas are not immune to a break-in or the occasional intruder. Just ask the White House.

+1. I always thought more affluent areas (esp. if they are in the vicinity of poor areas, like in DC) were particularly susceptible to burglaries. It's not a sign of an unsafe area. There have been quite a few burglaries in our neighborhood over the past years, and they haven't made me think this is an unsafe area (and I take comfort in the fact that our house is one of the smallest and not a very lucrative target).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live on Capitol Hill and every house on our street has had a break in sometime in the past three years. There were 6 in one week a couple of summers ago--even hit one house twice. They tend to be quick, grab a camera, TV, cash, electronics, or jewelry and run. In and out in 15 minutes max. It's unfortunate, but it is not a reflection on how nice the neighborhood is in general. These are all 900k-1.5M homes. It does say something about DC police and economic inequality. Personally I'd rather have a break in than be mugged. At least I'm not personally at risk.

Holy shit. Now THAT would make me uncomfortable. Glad I don't live on the Hill (as great as it is in every other way)!

[PetworthDad]

We passed on a house on Jefferson St, NW in DC as there had been several murders within a block of it. The house still sold for over $700K within a week.

Seems like folks with lots of money dont care too much about crime if they can buy in the trendy parts of town.

[Anonymous]

So last summer we found a really fantastic deal on a condo in DC, it was competitive to get it, but our offer ended up being the winning bid. We got through the home inspection and everything was going great, but then a few things happened before we closed:

1. There was a window that had to be replaced - the sellers agent said that a contractor didnt have a key and had to break the window to get in. This was for a unit with a code lock box. I was 100% sure she was lying and that someone had broken in.

2. This article came out in the post, referencing the very block we were buying on: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/dc-police-arrest-teenage-burglary-suspect-in-northeast-after-call-from-witness/2014/07/16/9989a55e-0cf5-11e4-8c9a-923ecc0c7d23_story.html

And so, we pulled out. I am still convinced the condo was an amazing investment and that the owners will make a tidy sum if they resell in 5 years or so. But we just couldn't stomach the possibility of a breakin with a small child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would still buy the home as long as there weren't frequent breakins in that area. However, I would pay for a security system and I would make sure the area was well lighted around my home at night.

There are break ins all over this area, OP. McLean has them all the time. Neighbors need to report and publicize the pertinent issues, instead of trying to pretend they don't exist. Alarm, cameras, dog...just a few items to help keep you safe.

[Anonymous]

I agree w many posters. Break-ins happen everywhere, McLean, the White House, Potomac, CC, Bethesda, Old Town....if you were a burglar, why do your job in a crappy neighborhood? Fork up some extra money for an alarm system and or a large dog - burglars will not break into a home w a dog that looks like it could kick some ass.

[Anonymous]

PetworthDad wrote:We passed on a house on Jefferson St, NW in DC as there had been several murders within a block of it. The house still sold for over $700K within a week.

Seems like folks with lots of money dont care too much about crime if they can buy in the trendy parts of town.

In most homicides and assaults with intent to kill, the victim and perpetrator know each other. Folks with money are not as concerned about murders because they believe they are not associating with the kind of people who perpetrate these crimes. If you don't associate with anyone involved with organized crime or gang-type groups, then you are most likely to be murdered by someone close to you (domestic violence, etc.) and that risk doesn't change even if you live in the safest neighborhood possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So last summer we found a really fantastic deal on a condo in DC, it was competitive to get it, but our offer ended up being the winning bid. We got through the home inspection and everything was going great, but then a few things happened before we closed:

1. There was a window that had to be replaced - the sellers agent said that a contractor didnt have a key and had to break the window to get in. This was for a unit with a code lock box. I was 100% sure she was lying and that someone had broken in.

2. This article came out in the post, referencing the very block we were buying on: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/dc-police-arrest-teenage-burglary-suspect-in-northeast-after-call-from-witness/2014/07/16/9989a55e-0cf5-11e4-8c9a-923ecc0c7d23_story.html

And so, we pulled out. I am still convinced the condo was an amazing investment and that the owners will make a tidy sum if they resell in 5 years or so. But we just couldn't stomach the possibility of a breakin with a small child.

I would look at the crime trends, not just at what happened in the past month or two. In this instance, it appears that a perpetrator was caught. What you saw could be the beginning and end of the break ins on that block.

[Anonymous]

Remember: -----> Crime can happen and does happen ANYWHERE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live on Capitol Hill and every house on our street has had a break in sometime in the past three years. There were 6 in one week a couple of summers ago--even hit one house twice. They tend to be quick, grab a camera, TV, cash, electronics, or jewelry and run. In and out in 15 minutes max. It's unfortunate, but it is not a reflection on how nice the neighborhood is in general. These are all 900k-1.5M homes. It does say something about DC police and economic inequality. Personally I'd rather have a break in than be mugged. At least I'm not personally at risk.

We had a couple of break ins through one window. We have a new alarm system and rigged up an exposed electrical circuit on the windowsill that have been twice burglarized. (We turn on the circuit when we activate the alarm.) The next criminal who attempts it is gonna' ride the lightning. Shock and awe!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live on Capitol Hill and every house on our street has had a break in sometime in the past three years. There were 6 in one week a couple of summers ago--even hit one house twice. They tend to be quick, grab a camera, TV, cash, electronics, or jewelry and run. In and out in 15 minutes max. It's unfortunate, but it is not a reflection on how nice the neighborhood is in general. These are all 900k-1.5M homes. It does say something about DC police and economic inequality. Personally I'd rather have a break in than be mugged. At least I'm not personally at risk.

We had a couple of break ins through one window. We have a new alarm system and rigged up an exposed electrical circuit on the windowsill that have been twice burglarized. (We turn on the circuit when we activate the alarm.) The next criminal who attempts it is gonna' ride the lightning. Shock and awe!

That's illegal.

[Anonymous]

Who cares? The fuckwit criminals should try and make an honest living.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who cares? The fuckwit criminals should try and make an honest living.

Wait are you saying who cares that the security system that will shock someone is illegal? I mean I would care, becuase it opens the home own up to a TON of liability. The criminal can sue them. The homeowner can be arrested.