So this morning when it got brighter out my husband came back to the house to give it another once over. He called me outside to show me that someone indeed was here. The foliage in front of my office window was trampled upon and the window box was pulled away from the window and hanging. I had about six inches of blinds pulled up so that anyone could look in and see my computer and other office like things right there. I got a really freaky feeling knowing that criminal eyes were looking into my home and devising a way to get inside while my children lay sleeping.
We called the police to come back so we could show them. The officer that came this time was from North county and not from around here. He didn't seem to take my concerns seriously at all. In fact when I would speak he seemed to almost ignore me and would answer my husband, and not me. I showed the box and told him I felt we were targeted for a home invasion. He said he didn't think that was the case as home invaders wouldn't ring the bell. They would just burst in. And home invasions have to do with drugs. And this is Roanoke. Uh, yeah this is Roanoke, and that's the only thing I agree with him on.
I think someone wanted to get into the house even though they knew we were home. There were three cars in the driveway and the tv had just shut off ten minutes before they rang the bell, so naturally they knew we were home. I think they wanted us to answer the door so they could push their way in. It doesn't matter that we don't do drugs, that's not the only reason someone invades someone's house. They were looking for money, duh! The cop totally pooh-poohed my theory and said the most he could give us was ten dollars! WTF? I don't money, I want protection, what the hell was that about? He said he wouldn't file a report but would make a note to increase patrols after midnight, and then he left.
I decided I would put my game camera in the window where I believe they tried to get in. My husband left. About a half hour later I thought I heard something but attributed it to the wind. Shortly thereafter I decided I would move the camera for now and place it looking out at my carport instead. When I picked it up I was surprised to see that a photo had already been taken. I looked out the window and saw that a portion of the window box was now on the ground! I quickly called my husband and asked if he had pulled on the box before he left. He didn't and ran right back over. Meanwhile I checked the photo which did take a shot at 10:39 but unfortunately it used the flash which caused the shot to be all white from the reflection through the glass. The perp doesn't know that though and I wouldn't be surprised if that's what scared him away.
Now I'm really creeped out. After my husband came back again we did another walk around the backyard and noticed that a portion of the crappy lattice fence was knocked down and flattened. We can't swear it happened last night because we haven't been back there with all the rain, but I don't like it. I'm devising a couple of traps, but most importantly, I'm listening to my husband and protecting myself. Good thing I got that permit. Scary times we live in...
I remember during the 80s when our new lawn mower was stolen from our backyard not long after we'd turned off the lights for the night. The dogs started barking, but I didn't pay any attention. The next morning when our dogs went out, they took off through the gate someone had left open. When I rounded up the dogs, I noticed the lawn mower was gone.
ReplyDeleteEvery year for several years thereafter, someone from Roanoke County police would call and ask if we'd found our lawnmower yet. Huh?
Then Roanoke County limited the number of dogs per household, so we had an illegal beagle for a while.
That's really creepy. About twelve years ago someone showed up at the back door of the apartment I was renting, banging on the door and loudly demanding to be let in. I didn't own a gun at the time and would have had to try to defend my wife, my infant son and myself, with a rolling pin. That was the best thing I could grab at the time. I called the cops, who came and got the guy. One of the cops told me after he'd been put in the squad car that he was out of his mind on one drug or another (the perp was on drugs, that is, not the cop). Anyway, now I have a shotgun, which I've been taught how to use if (God forbid) I ever need to. It never occured to me that a game camera would be good for home security, too, but that's a great idea.
ReplyDeleteBelieve me the last thing I want to do is use is my gun, but if I have to protect my family I have to do what I have to do.
ReplyDeleteWhen I moved back to Roanoke & lived on Westover Ave., someone tried to break into my house twice. When I called the cops, I was told that the damage (flowerpots knocked out of the windown and into the bath-tub below) was "wind damage". BS. I later found where they had pulled the stripping off the window, and called the police back out. They basically looked at it and said they would note it.
ReplyDeleteAround here, simply because it is "only Roanoke" I swear it can be more dangerous than a bigger city. People around here seem to have a desperate need to prove we're not small-time nothings from a small city. In good ways and in bad, bad ways.
Trust your gut, protect yourself. You & your family will definitely be in my thoughts for a while!
I hear ya Carrie...yeah, like the window box moved from the wall and 6 inch nail because of the rain, and the wind rang my bell. I always go with my gut, and I'm not changing now.
ReplyDeleteWe have a SSI security system and driveway sensor. The manager got into the business because someone broke into his home and he lost a lot. I like how his brain works and the company is on call 24/7. If you want, I'll pass along the info. That's scary, and I wouldn't listen to that idiot cop. It sounds like whoever got on your property is scouting you out. Be careful!
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