Afraid of being cased by burglars

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of dcum is blissfully unaware of right wing social media crime content.

TikTok once fed me a video about people putting zip ties on women’s car handles to mark them for human trafficking or something that was so stupid I commented, which was even more stupid because then I got an avalanche of them.

Seriously a lot of Republican women are deathly afraid that someone is going to snatch them from the target parking lot. I think it’s like a strange LARP that gives them a little buzz as they go through their day.

People “casing” your house is another common one.

I am aware of paranoia and propaganda. But this doesn't negate the fact that crime of all kinds is on the rise even in the safest neighborhoods. It's also a change of environment for me as I mostly lived in the cities and highrise buildings with security (locked doors, or doormen). What does this have to do with any political leanings I have no idea. Being on the ground floor without metal bars on windows is not what I am used to. I feel exposed.

You were not safer in your high-rise, honestly: outsiders get into those all the time, or the residents themselves commit crimes against neighbors. This is mostly in your head and seems like it may be interfering with your enjoyment of your new house. Anxiety that interferes with your life deserves treatment. A couple sessions with a therapist may really help you.

Also, try to get to know your new neighbors. Not only will they tell you what's up in your neighborhood, but most neighbors look out for each other and notice when somebody unusual is around. Mine will text me if a solicitor is going door to door, so I don't bother to answer.

All of this. You weren't safer in your apartment building. You simply weren't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of dcum is blissfully unaware of right wing social media crime content.

TikTok once fed me a video about people putting zip ties on women’s car handles to mark them for human trafficking or something that was so stupid I commented, which was even more stupid because then I got an avalanche of them.

Seriously a lot of Republican women are deathly afraid that someone is going to snatch them from the target parking lot. I think it’s like a strange LARP that gives them a little buzz as they go through their day.

People “casing” your house is another common one.

I am aware of paranoia and propaganda. But this doesn't negate the fact that crime of all kinds is on the rise even in the safest neighborhoods. It's also a change of environment for me as I mostly lived in the cities and highrise buildings with security (locked doors, or doormen). What does this have to do with any political leanings I have no idea. Being on the ground floor without metal bars on windows is not what I am used to. I feel exposed.

You were not safer in your high-rise, honestly: outsiders get into those all the time, or the residents themselves commit crimes against neighbors. This is mostly in your head and seems like it may be interfering with your enjoyment of your new house. Anxiety that interferes with your life deserves treatment. A couple sessions with a therapist may really help you.

Also, try to get to know your new neighbors. Not only will they tell you what's up in your neighborhood, but most neighbors look out for each other and notice when somebody unusual is around. Mine will text me if a solicitor is going door to door, so I don't bother to answer.

I know my neighbors, but I can't rely on them monitoring my property especially if burglars appear in vehicles we see a lot of (solicitors, construction/landscaping, maid/pool services, etc). Neighbors also don't know if a car pulling into your driveway belongs to your friend or a foe.

It's possible that I had a false sense of security in a highrise, but there you are one little fish in a sea and someone must know you and what's in your apartment to specifically target it. People don't come to your front door, there is no way. There is intercom with a camera, or there is a doorman. Even if people piggyback the worst that happens is theft of packages (which isn't uncommon for SFHs either). We may have one violent crime once in a blue moon with a rapist or a robber following a woman to her building and sneaking in behind to get into the elevator. This is also easy enough to avoid with vigilance, you always watch your back. If I see weird people loitering by the entrance, I would use a diff entrance or I would wait in front of where the cameras are and good lighting or walk away and come back. I looked over my shoulder, I made sure nobody follows me. I never got into the elevator with someone who acts suspicious. I guess I didn't feel like I had a privilege of being safe, so took more precautions?

OP--get treated for anxiety. The maid service, electricians, plumbers etc aren't all potential burglars. They aren't. People aren't going to piggy back into your house while you unload your groceries. Get a grip and get some treatment. This is no way to live.

[Anonymous]

Dog, alarm system

[Anonymous]

1. Nobody knocks on your door for your benefit. Never answer the door. “Showing someone is there” gives intelligence about precisely who that is, including their likely physical capability and/or lack thereof.

2. I have seen an alarm system turn break-in-central into quiet security overnight.

3. If you are concerned about home invasion, there is upgraded hardware that can make your home much harder to get into, particularly quietly. Everything from upgraded hardware to window films. Inside, you can harden one room and keep a dedicated cell phone there.

[Anonymous]

Get a dog. I work from home and I never answer the door during the day. I will look out and make sure it’s not a neighbor or anyone I know and then otherwise just walk away. I don’t care if they see me checking, I’m not opening the door.

[Anonymous]

Move to a better neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Have you considered booby-trapping your house? Add in throwing a fake Xmas party with mannequins and life-sized NBA star cutouts.

[Anonymous]

I understand, OP. I actually sold my home and moved into a “secure” building because of my PTSD based anxieties about safety, and I feel much safer because I only have to worry about one entrance to the home. However I recognize none of this is really about my actual level of safety in either location—my brain isn’t thinking about it rationally.

Things I would do:
**Get a No Soliciting sign for the front door
**Make sure all sliding doors have a Charlie bar installed to secure them
**For peace of mind, you can buy a kick bar for any exterior doors that you feel are less secure.
**Meet your neighbors, and become friends with them so that you look out for each other
**Recognize that burglars are like wild animals—they don’t want to run into you and don’t want to visit while you’re home
**Check the local PD’s crime stats and asses the actual types and rates of crime in the immediate area. Track it as far back as you can.
**You can have a crime prevention officer from the PD come walk your home and property with you to look for security weak points
**When the anxiety rears up, notice that you feel it but also ask yourself what the real risk is in this moment. Don’t try to not feel afraid, but do try to objectively assess the actual risk

[Anonymous]

We have a fully fenced yard and I find that it keeps a lot of people out because its not as inviting as easier to access homes. Also, I never answer the door unless I'm expecting someone.

[Anonymous]

I do not blame you for being leery….

It IS 2024 & we ALL know what is going on in our world.

Have you gotten to know any of your immediate neighbors??

Because it will be a tremendous plus if you + your neighbors can form a united pact to look out for each other.
Something akin to a “Neighborhood Watch Group.” 👍🏽

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand, OP. I actually sold my home and moved into a “secure” building because of my PTSD based anxieties about safety, and I feel much safer because I only have to worry about one entrance to the home. However I recognize none of this is really about my actual level of safety in either location—my brain isn’t thinking about it rationally.

Things I would do:
**Get a No Soliciting sign for the front door
**Make sure all sliding doors have a Charlie bar installed to secure them
**For peace of mind, you can buy a kick bar for any exterior doors that you feel are less secure.
**Meet your neighbors, and become friends with them so that you look out for each other
**Recognize that burglars are like wild animals—they don’t want to run into you and don’t want to visit while you’re home
**Check the local PD’s crime stats and asses the actual types and rates of crime in the immediate area. Track it as far back as you can.
**You can have a crime prevention officer from the PD come walk your home and property with you to look for security weak points
**When the anxiety rears up, notice that you feel it but also ask yourself what the real risk is in this moment. Don’t try to not feel afraid, but do try to objectively assess the actual risk

+100000

These are very, very excellent tips!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nope. I have two dogs. One is 130 pounds. The dogs have stopped 2 attempted burglaries. I refuse to own a gun because statistics. Dogs offer companionship, exercise buddies, and safety. Highly recommend a dog.

.

Yes, statistically speaking you're much more likely to shoot your spouse or your kid than a burglar. I 100% would not recommend someone with anxiety have a firearm.

I’m from a LE family. There is a large number of people with guns who cannot shoot an intruder when it happens. Many people cannot kill another person.

When I was a clerk I observed a case where a LEO was the victim of a home invasion, had his gun on him and he didn't use it because he was afraid of hitting his wife and kids. He just hit the guy repeatedly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get a dog

Dedicated burglars and home invaders are not at all deterred by a dog. A dog can easily be dispatched in seconds. Some even prefer that, because it emotionally destroys the occupants of the home.


-a former CJS counselor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:put bars on your windows

I did this just to annoy some neighbors that proved very unlikeable when I moved in. So I had bars installed on the front windows of the house to make it seem like it was a bad neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Alarm system, and use it. We got ours when the kids were little and spouse traveled a lot. It made me feel much more comfortable

+1 Alarm system
Also, a large dog that barks. Keep ouside lights on at night. Do not open your door to anyone you don't know or aren't expecting.