1. 

   AtheistGoddess
   

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   Just an FYI for my neighbors... I live near 65th & 15th. Yesterday I found my basement door had been 'manipulated.' No entry as I have double locks and the alarm did not go off. But whomever it was had to go into my fenced back yard to get to the door. I don't know exactly when it happened, but sometime between New Years Eve (whenever I was last downstairs) and last night at 10pm.

   I don't know what else to call it besides manipulated. The swing lock arm on the top of my door was sticking out (the door doesn't sit right so you can push the door from the outside and swing that arm out) and the foam insulation strip I have between the door/doorjam was pushed into the house, like someone slid something between there to get the lock open and released the weather stripping around the knob.

   No, I did not call the police. Still, I want you all to remember to keep your homes secure.

   Posted 3 years ago #
2. 

   leeanimal
   

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   Thanks for posting. Still think you should report it to the police though. Sorry it happened. It's unsettling and seems to be happening more often around here.

   Posted 3 years ago #
3. 

   just_another_norwegian
   

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   PLEASE call the police and file a report! The only way we have any chance of getting more (or any) police presence in this neighborhood is if we/they have statistics to back up requests. Sure, they're not going to be able to do anything about this incident, but if we all report the crimes (and attempted crimes) that take place here, maybe they NEXT time some creep tries to break into your house, the police might have some chance of catching the guy.

   ALWAYS report things like this to the police - please!

   Posted 3 years ago #
4. 

   Anonymous
   

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   I agree - call the north precinct non-emergency line and make a report. They'll take the report over the phone so you won't have to feel like you're wasting police resources or anything. It is important that they have a record of these things.

   Posted 3 years ago #
5. 

   austin2ballard
   

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   Now this may or may not be a related incident, but during the wee morning hours (from 1:30am to sunrise) of Jan 1st, a thief rifled through my car (which my wife forgot to lock after we got home from our NYE festivities) taking a few small items and my gas card. I wouldn't think too much of it, as smash-and-grabs are a reality of city living, except for the fact that I live in a townhome complex and my car was parked no more than TWO FEET from my front door. So, the thief had to walk from the street up our driveway, into our townhome common area to gain access to my car (which was barely even visible from the street)! This wasn't just a guy (or gal) walking down the street checking to see if car doors were open. Friends and neighbors, please BEWARE and remember to lock all of your doors!!!

   Posted 3 years ago #
6. 

   SPG
   

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   I'll chime in with the always call the police to report these kinds of things. Very often they'll catch someone with stolen property or burglary tools but can't prosecute because nobody reported the crime. Besides that, it's good for the police to know when and where people are trying to break in.
   As to your specific case, it sounds very amateur and might not even be a regular criminal but a neighborhood kid trying stuff or someone just checking for an easy score.

   Posted 3 years ago #
7. 

   AtheistGoddess
   

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   Yes, SPG - I absolutely think it was probably one of our homeless 'residents' looking for an easy target. If they really wanted something inside, they could have broken in the window next to the door. Nevertheless, I just wanted to remind people to keep all their doors locked.

   Posted 3 years ago #
8. 

   wildernessbarbie
   

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   Thanks for the heads up... That's two blocks from my new house!

   I absolutely second the call the cops posts. The only way we'll get more patrols is if the city hears that there's a need for it!

   My Grandparents home had an attempted break in, guy couldn't get in cause of some clever tricks my Grandfather did with some nails. They hear the noise, turn on lights, scare the guy off. Called the cops, nothing they could do, they go back to bed. Next day, cops are back, excited. Same guy broke in two blocks away, killed husband, beat and raped wife. They were able to nail the guy with clues from
   both and put him away for a long time.

   So, PLEASE! Call the cops!

   Posted 3 years ago #
9. 

   merlette
   

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   Sweet mother of pearl, WB! I was giggling over the funny rigs grandpas make and then the story got all serious! I'm so glad your grandparents were safe!

   Posted 3 years ago #
10. 

    onederfullone
    

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    WB illustrates well how quickly something can go from amateurish to serious. The geandparents weren't saved by dumb luck or chance. A few simple precautions can go a long way to keep yourselves, and your neighbors safe.
    Always report such incidents to the police, period.
    I'd call anyone that wouldn't take that obvious precaution first, nothing short of a crappy neighbor. Don't be nonchalant about these issues, please.
    We rely on each other for the safety of this community, folks.

    Posted 3 years ago #
11. 

    wildernessbarbie
    

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    good point onederfullone, you can never really know how serious someone is until it's too late. Perhaps the person in the OP's post was a drunk homeless person and gave up after a few half-hearted attempts... or perhaps they were a violent repeat offender who heard a neighbor come home and didn't want to get caught and left. We like to default to the "oh, I'm sure it will be fine!" like of thinking, but it's not always wise to do so.

    Every time I think how three 10 penny nails kept my Grandparents from being horribly brutalized, it gives me chills and makes me want to check my door locks again.

    Posted 3 years ago #
12. 

    Curtis
    

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    I'm interested to know what your grandfather did with the nails. Did he just nail the door shut? Or was it still usable?

    Posted 3 years ago #
13. 

    jeffo
    

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    Yes, I would like to hear these 'clever tricks' also. I'm assuming he didn't just nail the door shut. That doesn't sound too clever.

    sounds like the Brady kids again with their garland of old tin cans draped around the doorway.

    Posted 3 years ago #
14. 

    cobaltblue
    

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    I want to know the nail trick too!

    Last year, after coming home and finding the gate wide open a couple of times, we put a lock on it. And a set of really obnoxious windchimes.

    Posted 3 years ago #
15. 

    wildernessbarbie
    

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    So, here's my Grandpa's secrets, don't know if they'll work for you or your situation, but here it goes.

    They had a 50's era sliding glass door. Simple to just lift up and off the latch and slide open. He drilled a hole through the frame in the center at the bottom where the panels overlapped and inserted a nail that could be pulled out when you wanted to open the door. Invisible to the outside, prevented the guy from getting it open (he tried). This trick also works well for older double hung windows.

    The back porch door had a glass insert. Break glass, reach in, unlock door (which he did). Then you come to a solid door leading into the house. Problem is the hinges are on the outside, so you pull the pins and lift the door off the hinges (which he also tried). What he had done is removed one of the four screws on each side of the hinge. In its place, he put a nail with the head cut off, sticking out about 3/4 of an inch. That way, when the door is closed, there are three nails going through the frame and into the door so even if the pins are removed, the nails on one side and the deadbolt on the other keep it in place. While the bad guy was trying to pry the door out of the frame is when they woke up and scared him off.

    Make sense? I love that Depression era clever thinking that our Grandparents have. I've seen so many things he's made out of coffee cans and the like that I'll see years later in the store and think "Damn, he should have gotten a patent for that!"

    Posted 3 years ago #
16. 

    BallardDINK
    

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    Pretty clever!

    To avoid the "break glass, reach in, unlock" vulnerability, make your deadbolt keyed on both the inside and outside. Sure, it's a (very minor) hassle in that you require a key every time you want to exit your door. But you can hang the key nearby--yet out of reach of anyone who broke the glass.

    Posted 3 years ago #
17. 

    wildernessbarbie
    

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    I seem to remember that they did have a double keyed deadbolt, but I think either they left the key in the lock, or he found it on the shelf nearby. It's kind of a fire hazard (or earthquake down there) though I think, and a hassle to remember. I think I'd put in one of those floor mounted locks in... if they break away enough glass to lean down and reach in and remove it, they might as well just crawl in the window.

    Posted 3 years ago #
18. 

    BallardDINK
    

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    Good point about the fire hazard! Not problem if you know where the key is, but for guests and such, that could be a real issue. I suppose it'd be best to leave the key in the (interior) lock when you've got visitors.

    Posted 3 years ago #

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