Things are not always as they appear. I was awoken at 2:06 am by the sound of someone trying to open the gate to my neighbors back yard. By the time I got my pants, shoes, and 870 on, whomever it was had left the yard. I looked down the sidewalk and saw a gal staggering down the sidewalk and naively assumed it was her.
It was not.
I reeled back the video surveillance this morning and a few things started clicking into place. When I went outside to investigate (2:10 am) , I found one of my garbage cans, open end down, on the sidewalk by my neighbors front fenced yard. Hmmmm.
I talked to my neighbor this morning, she said that when she went outside to let her dog out into the yard at 3am, there was one of my garbage cans in her yard, open end down. She moved it to its proper place in the alley.
And something in the back of my brain started itching. I found that garbage can, open end down, on the sidewalk by her yard at 2:12am. And put it back in the alley. She found it in her yard, open end down, at 3am and put it back in the alley.
Scenario: Guy on video took the can from the alley, set it on the sidewalk to use to climb over the fence into her yard. But got interrupted. I come along and put the can back in the alley. He comes back later, uses the can to climb the fence, pulls the can over into the yard with him, and then leaves it behind in her yard when he uses it again to climb over the fence to leave her yard. She lets her dog out, finds the can in her yard, and replaces it in the alley.
So this guy creeped around her house, tried the doors, came back within an hour and climbed the fence into her yard, and tried the other doors. Thats more than a bit creepy.
Still assessing the situation. I passed the footage along to the neighbor who was a bit shook up. I suspect it might be a guy from the creepy crazy-people house down the block. But…it’s going to be gun-intensive next couple days, I suspect.
My neighbor didn’t understand what she could possibly have that she thought this guy would think was worth coming back and trying to break in over. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that people who want to steal aren’t going to try to break into a house that they reasonably expect is occupied at 2am. They break into a place they know is occupied because what they want is the occupant.
I don’t know if my neighbor is a gun person but I’m betting not, nor is she likely to be. I told her to set out motion lights and keep a report with the cops so that if we see this guy we can have a record of what happened. Not much else I can do, although I did get permission to rearrange the security cams to cover more of her property. Also gave her my number and told her I’m just one panicked scream away if she has problems.
Zero
Very neighborly of you to help her out. That’s what prepper ( know you hate that term ) community needs to come to if your area comes under siege from undesirable elements in a collapse scenario. Maybe in that time she could provide cooking or some other useful skill to add to your fortress Zero redoubt.
If she doesn’t have an alarm system she can go to Walmart in the electrical / security section and for 20 bucks pick up those little stick em on door alarms that can be added to any door easily. They’re cheap but make a huge racket when set off. Good insurance.
Best Regards
She has a dog..but she keeps it crated at night. The utter foolishness of this astounds me, but she’s a nice gal who doesn’t think about the bad things that people like you and I think about. To her, stuff like what heppened ‘would never happen’.
Heh.. till it does… Wish her the best and good for you to help.
Best Regards
There have been a spate of armed robberies in the parking lot of several of our local, more upscale, grocery stores and strip malls. Even the Costco parking lot had it happen. It’s mostly along the local interstate, so they can grab and go. Cars invariably have paper tags, usually fake. Women alone or with kids are the most common victim.
On the scanner a day ago, one of the surveillance ops I was listening to was following a car full of robbers as they drove around a strip mall. They lost track of the car for less than 30 seconds and the guys robbed a woman and shot up her car during that time. They immediately chased them and PITT maneuvered them, so one gang in custody. Lots more out there.
The bad guys need Christmas money too.
Stay alert.
nick
Good job watching out for your neighbor. I’m fond of the fishing line hooked to noisy cans/buckets trick next to my work truck at night. It’s gone ‘off’ a few times so now they leave it alone. Need to get the wireless camera set up.
You’re a great one for looking out for the neighbor gal. I agree it is foolish of her to confine the four legged roving burglar alarm to a crate. Even a dog’s “alarm bark” can be helpful to alert to a problem and act as a deterrence. I think I’d have to find a conversation to let her come to the conclusion that perhaps she is the target and not “stuff”. I’ve used a pair of Icom 2M handhelds with a neighbor lady who was super afraid at night. Watch out for and be careful of “shoot first ask questions later” cops identifying you with the 870 as the “obvious perp”. I don’t fear the burglar / intruder so much as I fear the responding cops.
Cops have started a war on good samaritams and innocent bystanders. More than a dozen ccw and armed security have been murdered this year and many more unarmed are murdered,wounded,attacked or harassed.
That’s why sheepdogs watch why the sheep sleep!
With that timeline, I’m thinking he was watching you and her the entire time that you were outside.
Its time to buy some thermal vision if you haven’t already.
Might consider chaining those cans so they can’t be moved away from their storage location. Maybe even chain the lids down so tehy can’t be removed to make a stable platform.
My landlord’s sisters park their trash and recycle rolling bins right outside the locked gate to their back yard. Step on the gas meter to the top of the bin and you are just another short step up to the top of the gate/fence. There are other bins near the gate inside the yard to use. Hell, there is a stepladder against the wall at teh back of the house. Chinese. Can’t tell them anything. They know it all.
One of my sisters kept her dogs in crates in the laundry room you had to go through to access the side/parking lot/and internal garage entrance doors. Lots of other doors and ground floor windows in her very upscale home. Don’t know if she and hubby still have their CCW permits, but they used to keep their guns in the garage. sigh/smh…
Some years ago, she walked out of a mall right before an active shooter (female!) walked in. They have property in 3 states, 2 of which are shall issue, and one is may issue. Summer and winter vacation homes. I’ll bet they haven”t bothered to get permits in them.
Got another that lives on the CA coast. At her first property she would find mt lion kills near the house. Couldn’t get her to carry a gun. Her little dogs would have just been a light meal for a cat. Still lives in the woods, just 7 hrs farther north now. She’s an SJW, which doesn’t help. Knows how to shoot. Dad taught all my sisters and stepsisters to shoot when they were single digit ages. They’re all good at it.
Another lives in the AZ desert, and worries about the coyote pack, and the drug runners, but her hubby is very much an SJW, so weapons of any kind are right out. So frustrating to see them all so lackadaisical about personal security measures.
I’m beginning to understand the longstanding history of females being kept in as secure a situation as could be arranged by the males. I understand the fact they are generally weaker than males, but guns are supposed to be “the equalizer”. Not if you don’t avail yourself of them, though.
She’s not gun people? I wouldn’t help beyond helping the cops document it afterwards. Single women are trouble anyway.
Well done for being a good neighbor to her. I’m sure she’s very grateful to have you nearby. If it were my mom or sister, I’d be happy they had your for a neighbor as well.
I think you made the right call on not spooking her more than necessary, as far as the likely reason for the attempted break-in. Maybe once the dust has settled a bit, it would be a good excuse to take her out for a friendly coffee and gently persuade her into a more realistic frame of mind. If you can convert her over to a preparedness mindset, you may be able to make a liability into a productive ally.
Good job, and Merry Christmas.
Know who a Republican is? A Dem who’s been mugged…
Best Regards.
The girl supposedly staggering down the sidewalk could have been a decoy, lookout to distract anyone coming along.
Seems terribly unlikely. That’s Oceans Eleven.
The girl staggering down the street may have been the target,but the return may have been opportunity.
I talked to a friend in the Bay Area last night. I told her that I was very proud of my rich cousin, who bought a handgun, got training, and then got a concealed carry in Indiana. (This girl lives in a very upper class, rich neighborhood with her hubby and new baby. They have 2 barkers-not biters-but better than nothing. And both she & the hubby work in Chicago.) Right away, the Bay Area Nitwit starts in with, “WHY would she do that??!! I’d NEVER have a gun in my house!!” I reminded her that when seconds count, the police are just minutes away. I was then subjected to the liberal diatribe of dangerous weapons, hiding in your house, and other idiot responses. I asked if she knew how dangerous Chicago was? The $500,000+ home in the non gated community is across the lake from Chicago. You can see the damned Chicago skyline from the cousin’s patio. The cousin & her husband just had $200,000 in upgrades done to the home. One of the former owners scared my cousin to death by walking in the open garage and wandering through the house to see the improvements! So, I reminded BAN of that episode. Still couldn’t convince her that the Bay Area is not safe. You can lead a horse to water…………
I know the area they live in(should of bought when it was cheaper),it may not be “gated” but the police station is in the center of the road in/out. A Indiana ccw is almost worthless or more dangerous if they enter Illinois or especially Chicago regularly and carry. The CPD has Instituted a shoot on site policy for ccw(watch the videos) and Illinois does not recognize any outside ccw(violation of 10 amendment) or allow non-resident carry. Almost all businessed in Illinois post “no ccw” and a violation is treated as a felony.
Did not know that about CPD! I will call the cousin and remind her that her CCW is not a magic sheet of paper. Thanks for the info.
Yes, I should have done so well at 30: $529,000 for a house that I then do massive upgrades to. She feels fairly safe there and likes the area. Still- so close to that tinderbox of trouble.
How can you keep a friend like that? In a way it reminds me of the people who turned up at Charlton Heston’s house during the la riots.
Commander Z,
Ha Ha–What is up with the pants? boxers and boots, baby:-).
You are ‘playing’ with us– max 7s to shake off sleep, grab 870 under/beside bed and get feet into boots/shoes by the bed–no need for pants–not going be JW at 2am.
Love ya blog!
Years back had a single mom neighbor who left some keys inside the car (one of 3 in the driveway), 0230 Sat 2X teens/early 20s (another neighbor saw them from a distance elsewhere on the street) came through trying car door handles, hers was unlocked, stole GPS, some CDs, found some keys, tried them on front door, door opened, they entered. Alarm system, but not set because dog sets off motion sensors, but dog pees on carpet so he was behind closed door in son’s room. Double stupid. Woke up when she heard the alarm chirp as the door opened, heard one intruder go upstairs, dog finally started barking when he got to the 2nd floor, both left, grabbing her purse off the kitchen counter on the way out. Police called, locksmith called, locks re-keyed, etc.
She mentioned it to me the next AM, said “I heard them coming upstairs, didn’t know what to do.” I suggested 2-5 rounds of 9MM +P HP center chest when they hit the top step. Don’t own a gun, she said, don’t want one in the house, all they took was purse with a few bucks in it, I’ve already canceled the credit cards.
I said “they entered an obviously occupied house at 0230 that has a street light directly in front of it, came upstairs. They weren’t there to steal stuff.” I pointed out increase in local crime from illegals,
Lightbulb slowly came on over her head….I’ve since moved, but last I heard, she still doesn’t own a gun.
Zero,
you might consider a set of coveralls for those O’dark-30 wakeup calls. Maybe insulated ones for winter use. Inside pocket for knee pads would be nice. Gear/ammo already positioned in/on the suit. I would avoid the reflective stripe version, unless you can get tear-off covers for them. Nice to look like a proper citizen when the cops finally show up to draw the outlines/run the warning tape at the scene of the disturbance. One size bigger may be a good choice for quick donning of the outfit, or if you have any sort of body armor. Zipup style, not buttons. Zipup boots would be good, also. Hat of some sort. Magnifying earpro, although I would suggest they be tried out first, to see if they work for you. I hear that some people don’t like them for site searching.
Try to keep it toned down as far as tactical look goes (armor/pads under it). Looking like you are geared up for Falluja might not help in a public relations way.