My sister lives on a wooded road with few houses. The state line is around the bend. There are three houses, hers in the middle perched on a high hill. Her steep drives leads behind the house, you don't know if there are cars or activity until you reach the end, and then you have no where to go without several back-ups to turn around. The back of the house has much glass and there is no way to miss someone approaching. She has left the sliding patio door unlocked many times and always felt safe because of her location. The house next door which is somewhat visible when leaves are shed (and was for sale), was broken into several months ago. When they realized no one was home, they tore the back door off it's frame. She started to lock her door but does not always do so when Chris leaves the house, which is many times throughout the day. Sometimes he is running down the road for a short meeting, going next door to help, racing out to a fire call, or getting firewood from the lot.
Her pacemaker has a house unit that monitors her and it was connected to a landline phone which she kept strictly for that purpose. When Verizon raised their home rates to around $100 for a landline, she cancelled the service (two months ago) and the pacemaker company sent her a new device that is wireless. Vince tried the landline which was disconnected so texted Chris not knowing if he was at the house. Since Chris is a fireman and knows the police, Vince knew he would handle it. Chris lives with Carole on the second floor of her cape cod and takes care of the house and yard, some of her bills, and since he has had so many close calls from his low glucose during sleep, needs her to call Mark or paramedics when he can't be awakened.
It was his girlfriend that was close with Carole and there almost every day, that stole her wallet, his coin collection, class ring, and other items that are missing. After a few days of her denial and crying, he broke up with her and hasn't spoken since. When you are trustworthy, you don't feel others are not. When you don't lie, you don't feel others aren't truthful. When you don't steal, you don't think others would. Honest people do not see the opportunity of others that are not.
Carole does not remember if she locked the door when she came home, and if she checked to make sure it was unlocked for Chris, or if it needed to be unlocked. Yes he has a key, but their Andersen patio door has already had three locks replaced. That is their main entrance and those locks have not handled the continual use, I don't believe they are meant to. The period of time between when she came home and when Chris called before coming home was maybe an hour, ninety minutes at most. They could have walked the steep hill and looked in the front porch window and saw the purse hanging at the back door. If they found the door to be locked, don't know what they would have done. Her car was parked at the back porch, Chris's other truck was also there. They didn't care. No one knew I gave her money in advance of her appointment. She stopped here on the way to the restaurant to pick up other things I had for her and I gave her the envelope. She has a metal box where she was to put it, but was tired when she came home and planned to do that later in the evening. Her small purse is a cross body and never removed when out since she needs hands free for the walker. The thieves would have taken whatever cash there was, even if it was only $10.
Her road, without lights and lots of places to hide, is no different than the other areas around here that are being vandalized. In-town homes are also broken in to but not as much as the more isolated areas. No one can watch her home for comings and goings because Chris has two red trucks and you cannot see their cars or much else from the road. They walked from the bottom and took a chance. This drug epidemic is becoming a nightmare. We had a woman OD on heroin in a grocery store restroom to be found by an employee. Can you imagine? Others in their car with babies in the back seat.
Seeing the purse in the tree hit us so hard because it was like a blatant display of a personal violation. That was not their intention when it was thrown, but it was not only eerie, it was the shock of realizing someone had actually taken it. We all assumed she had put it somewhere in the house and it will eventually show up. Amy was a very personal betrayal especially knowing Carole's financial situation, but that didn't make her untrusting of others, she is not like that at all. But this did for all of us.
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13 comments:
Just an all around sad situation. Thankfully all they wanted was money and Carole was unharmed. How will she feel safe ther when her son is not home? The war on drugs is not being won and getting worse by the day.
Here in Indiana it is the same as you described, with rampant drug use, overdoses, and crime. I keep my door locked during the day when my husband is gone. Houses all over the county are broken into in broad daylight. The authorities engage in endless handwringing about what to do. Much effort and finances are being used to solve "the problem." I may be heartless but I have little sympathy anymore.
Marly - I had an experience almost identical to Carole's. My husband and I both fell asleep watching TV one night in the family room. We had not locked the back door. The next morning I could not find my purse - called my husband to see if he had put it somewhere (very out of character for him to even touch my purse.) He asked me if I had gotten up and gone outside during the night because the back door was open a bit when he got up. After putting the pieces together, I realized someone had come in the back door while we were asleep in our Lazy Boys not 15 feet away! They only took my purse. When sheriff came to take my statement he walked down the street and found my purse in some bushes. Like Carole's - only cash taken - nothing else (and I had some good stuff in there!) He said it was kids after cash for drugs.
We live in Texas in an affluent suburb. We installed cameras on all our doors and you can bet we lock everything up and I hide my purse every night now before I go to bed. It is a sad way to have to live - but we do it. It surely takes a while to get over knowing someone has been in your house to pilfer through and steal your things.
Truly a very sad and scary situation. We too live in a rural farming area and this is precisely why there is a loaded pistol at my bedside every night and a security alarm...also a yappy miniature Schnauzer which isn't always a blessing!!
Thanks for the clarifications. Sliding doors are crap for security, unfortunately. I know of things that can be done, but I don't know if the doors would remain easily usable. Are motion-operated outdoor lights an option? It would not be hugely expensive if there are existing spotlights or porch lights to swap fixtures out. If someone does come skulking up to the house, maybe lights coming on would deter them, if they didn't know whether anyone was home. I'm not sure what could be done about daytime jerks. Sadly, I suspect she'll be targeted again especially since this round was quite... rewarding(?) for the thieves :-( I sincerely hope I'm wrong on that.
This is so scary. I can't imagine seeing her purse hanging up there. So glad you have your guns...I'd be doing the same thing!
The upside of this is that she wasn't hurt and she's safe and sound. Her routine of leaving the door unlocked has to change and the sliding door is no longer an option for the main entrance to her house. My husband and son are cops and they are paranoid about locking up, motion detector lights, ring doorbells, and alarms. Sad that we have to live in fortresses but that's where we are. Keep it locked and loaded, Marly!
Marly: I am sad this happened to such a nice person as your sister.
It is such a different world, I remember we slept with front door and windows open in the warm weather seasons, never had anyone come in once, I grew up in an area close to downtown Minneapolis.
It is a shame that so many people have top take from hard working people, people who are in need and anyone else.
We live in a rural area but have many homes around us, still crime runs rampant.
I have sat on the front porch had coffee with Mike gone into the house and locked the door behind me with him still out on the porch, when the doorbell rings I remember I locked him out, thankfully he never gets mad.
Its another world in 2019 sad so sad.
Catherine
Wowsers, Marly - that’s spooky stuff... You’re right....the purse hanging in the tree would have freaked me right out. Several years back, we left our SUV at an airport parking ramp while we went on vacation. When we came back, it had been broken into...apparently because my husband had left his parking ticket on the console and someone wanted it so they didn’t have to pay for their longer stay, and so must have broken in shortly after we parked. I remember feeling so violated the whole 3-hr drive home and for months afterward thinking that someone who wasn’t supposed to be there had been there....and that is NOTHING compared to someone coming into your home. I can’t imagine what Carole (and you all) feel like. Sadly, as you say, thieves see opportunities honest folk don’t even begin to contemplate. I know there have always been thieves and dishonest people, but I can’t help believe the “outbreak” is part and parcel of our entitlement society and those who feel they shoiuldn’t have to work honestly for anything. SMH. And for a very brief moment in time, am grateful for the 4’ of snow out there that makes most places in Nod inaccessible to all but the ambitious. (Oh yeah...and the security system Papa Crow insisted on...and our loyal guard dog.... ;-) ). Hugs my friend....and one for Carole too.... Robin
Thanks for the explanation - here we thought we were solving the crime.
Poor Carole - and You !
Seems the sliding door as a front door needs to change and definitely some
motion lights/security cameras around.
And ! closed curtains at night - whoever is lurking could be watching.
I've seen a few times people with binoculars looking into open windows -
you cant see them when they stand in the dark/shadows.
Carole needs a Tommy Gun.
Just a suggestion.
Maybe she can get that Ring system for her home.
It alerts you when someone is on your property.
It's not too expensive, maybe under $200.
Might be worth it so that if there is a next time, she won't get robbed or even hurt.
She can call the police.
Feel so bad for her, and also you, helping her out financially only to have some lazy ******* steal it.
Marilyn
Our world has changed dramatically in recent years. This epidemic has poisoned so many lives, it is impossible to calculate. While many government agencies struggle to contain the epidemic the progress is minimal, why? The effects of drug use start the moment one person makes a choice, a choice to use, to experiment. There starts the landslide and it reaches out into every community, every socio-economic class, every race, creed and profession. We each have to do what is right for us, for our families for protection and only we know how that will look. The vulnerable of our society are most certainly easy targets. It is quite depressing. I think the largest issue created by this epidemic beyond the loss of life is the anxiety and anger that the rest of us must now live with. I sure hope that you can find some peace in the choices you make to keep your dear sister and nephew safe. The uncertain life is a complicated life.
My god, so scary. Thank goodness they did not hurt your sister in the process. So sad that world over people have become extremely materialistic and very little humanity left
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