Do you know what goes on in your neighborhood?
By soccermom
@soccermom (3198)
United States
April 20, 2007 9:04pm CST
We had a reality check in our household today. My hubby and I were watching TV and there was an empty squad car in front of our house. It sat for awhile and my hubby went outside and couldn't see an officer. Shortly after that a crime scene van pulled up and went to our neighbors house. We didn't want to be nosy so we called my FIL, a retired police sargeant to see if he could find out anything. He came over and went to talk to the cops. Our neighbors were robbed today, and not a small robbery, we're talking totally cleaned out! It appears the thieves busted in the front door. I was shocked. We live on a pretty busy street, yet nobody saw or heard anything! It was odd, because it was a nice day here today and I almost left my ground florr windows open, but something made me decide against it. I did however decide not to kennel my two dogs like I usually do. I feel so bad for our neighbors! They are a sweet older couple and they are just devasted. My hubby and I decided that our 11 year old goes to grandmas after school now everyday, on Fridays we usually let her come home because she is only here alone for a half hour. I think we should organize a neighborhood watch, but I am overextended as it is with commitments. Are you aware of what goes on in your neighborhood? Or do you and your neighbors ignore each other? I feel so bad I was at work and didn't see anything to help them....
7 people like this
19 responses
@SpitFire179 (2536)
• Canada
21 Apr 07
Oh my gosh hun, that's so horrible, man once again, your guardian/guide saved you through intuition, can you imagine? wow, i'm glad nothing like that happened to you, but at the same time, i feel bad for those people, i mean, i don't know them, but to lose everything like that, and so many people work so hard for what they have....
I don't understand how no one could have known...
WOW.....
I live on an acreage, outside the bug city, i mean i'm still in the limits, but it's not so that i have to lock my doors or anything - though i do anyway...
I have a couple big mean doggies (Well to anyone they think could be hurting me) and feel pretty safe out here...
I guess one of the main reasons i do though is because we're on a main military road, and the MP's are always cruising around here on a regular basis....
At least no one was hurt, it's so scary to think what could have happened, but the good thing is, that they still have their lives, and they still do have things to look forward to, no-matter how hard....
I hope they get everything back, and i really do hope that everyone around there makes it so that all of you can be safer, neighborhood watch sounds like a good idea...
@emeraldisle (13138)
• United States
21 Apr 07
Believe me I do know the feeling. Last night my brother went out and saw all these cop cars one street over from us. We didn't know about that but my sister and I kept hearing a helicopter circle. We knew they were looking for someone, it happens since we are near a big highway. We made sure our doors were locked and waited. Well we found out today there was a shooting over there. The guy got a way and thats who they were looking for. The person shot is in the hospital and from what I understand in critical condition. We had no clue though last night. We didn't hear the shot, which really surprises me. The house had to have had all the windows shut because normally we hear everything.
Some of my neighbors I know, some I don't. Half my neighborhood is gone this time of year. Snowbirds, they live up north in the summer and down here during the winter so a lot of houses are empty. Other houses are being abandoned due to the insurance rates, some are higher then mortgages. Makes it hard to get to know people. We try to keep an eye out though around the area. We're home so figure it's the least we can do. The neighbors we do know appreciate it. The ones who are here all year but aren't always home.
@soccermom (3198)
• United States
21 Apr 07
You must live in a southern state. My grandma is a "snowbird" too, and I go check on her condo here at least once a week while she's gone. I remember when I was a kid and everyone knew everybody, and what they were up to. I'd love to know when America got so self absorbed that we don't even know our neighbors. In this case it didn't make a difference, I met all our neighbors before we even put an offer on the house. I'm still shocked that nobody saw a thing, especially with as nosy as some of our neighbors are.
1 person likes this
@emeraldisle (13138)
• United States
21 Apr 07
Yeah I'm in Florida :) Snowbird is a term for down here that's for sure.
When we moved in we met the one neighbor, on one side of us. They had two kids and my sister has one so we didn't have a chance not to meet them. The neighbor on the other side at that time was an elderly man who wasn't too happy with all the kids moving into the neighborhood. He said hi as we moved in and then ignored us. We met the one across the streat that first day but the other across the street was up north at the time. We've tried to meet the ones right around us but like now the one with the kids moved and now the owner rents it out. The guy there is gone from early morning (before my neice goes to school) and doesn't come home till after it's dark. Makes it hard to meet them.
I agree though I remember the time when as you moved in the neighbors came over to say hi. You had the "Welcome wagon" and people wanted to get to know each other. Now most are too busy. Everyone works and they just don't seem to have time to get to know others. Then I have to amdit the seniors in the area don't seem to want to meet others. They stick in their houses for the most part.
I don't know if anyone saw anything or not with the situation. It was a couple of blocks over and I don't know anyone there. I know they were looking for the shooter but that's about it.
1 person likes this
@desertdarlene (8911)
• United States
21 Apr 07
I have gotten berated for being "nosey" and reporting things that go on in my neighborhood that I no longer pay attention to anything that goes on. People around here get mad if they think you are "watching" them or paying too much attention. I know, it's sad, but that's the way our neighborhood is.
Other times, some people have so many people going in and out of their places that I don't know who is really living there. On our second floor, so many people walk so loudly down the walkway that I would never know if someone was being robbed or shouldn't be there. We have so many people that move in and then move right out that I don't know if someone could be moving out or being robbed.
2 people like this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
21 Apr 07
so sorry for that couple hope they had Ins. but if momentos got stole cant replace them . Hope cops find out who done it. I am out side alot during the day and when its warm at night to . One of the chows stay outside all night and they all bark when any thing isnt right witht hem but we look any how at night walk around the house and up and down street. We do have some kids that wonder the road at one in the morning I and some other person has seen them we do have a neighborhood watch but I dont know who runs it . We talk to neighbors across the street and on the south of us I watch the feller on the north of us I dont trust him but thats another story
2 people like this
@wifeofharvey (1156)
• United States
21 Apr 07
Our neighborhood is very small, semi rural, and until very recently we all knew each other and kept our eyes open for odd incidents going on. Sadly, all of this is now changing, one neighbor has been very ill and in a convelecent facility, one house was rented to some very strange people [turns out they trashed the place and skipped owing everyone in town money], there is also a few new homes being built and we don't know who will be living in them.
We do try to know what vehicles belong around, what services [cleaners, medical suppliers, ect] are being used so we can spot something. Having the names and phone numbers to reach people is important.
I think you are wise to not allow your child to be home alone now.
@charlestchan (1415)
• Malaysia
21 Apr 07
i do know what's going on my neighbourhood.. there's once.. my auntie fetch her son to his school... and then.. there's this man .. inside a car with his son.. he's fetching his son to school too.. as soon as his son left the car.... a motorbike pass by.. and stop next to his car.. and shot him 3 - 4 times.. wow.. i don't know whether it's lucky or what.. the assasinator didn't aim for witnesses.. because he's wearing a black helmet.. together with his accomplices .. the teachers were panic.. and quickly instructed all the students to enter the room.. then they left.. and someone reported to the police.. this is considered small case.. there's once the police found body parts of a guy near the lake situated opposite of my aunt house.. wow.. scary
1 person likes this
@soccermom (3198)
• United States
22 Apr 07
Wow charlest! I am glad I don't live where you do! I'd take getting robbed over worrying about that kind of craziness every day.
@nana1944 (1364)
• United States
22 Apr 07
I live in an old ranching community. There are only five houses being lived in at this time. We do keepan eye out for each other. My daughter and 3 of her kids kive inone house, myself in another and my oldest granddaughter and her 5 month old son live in another next door to me.
Some old friends of mine live across the alley from me. My landlord and his wife live just down the road from me. I have known him since we were teenagers and worked with his wife for a long time in a truckstop in a town about 15 miles or so from here. I only moved back here a couple months ago. My daughter is 43 and my second husband and I lived here when she was 5 years old. So with friends here we kep an eye out.
@BulletsMama (221)
• United States
21 Apr 07
Unfortunately criminals are everywhere and most don't give a darn if there are people around or not. They can get into a home etc to do their business either way.
It is a reality check for most when things like this happen in their neighborhood....people need to keep their eyes open and be totally aware of their surroundings at all time ! never let your guard down no matter what.
lock your doors, close and lock your windows don't cut corners an to save time...
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
21 Apr 07
On my street it is all duplexes and we all keep an eye out but we have still had our our share of police cars and even the bomb squad when we all had to vacate our homes. Which turned out to be quite an evening. A nearby Assisted Living Community invited us all for coffee and then a bunch of us sat outside and watched the action. I was just like in the movies with the robot going to the house. Plus we have a neighborhood watch.
1 person likes this
@gemini1960 (1161)
• Philippines
22 Apr 07
in our neighborhood we are close and even gives food on times when it is in excess, we attend parties in the neighborhood especially on fiestas, to summed it up we have a good relationship among us , were just small families here, that is maybe the cause why we are close.
@awonderfullife (2893)
• United States
21 Apr 07
Wow- that's a shame about your neighbors. I would like to think that my neighbors would definitely notice something like this. Several of us are home during the day, including a couple of husbands. And I have some very nosy neighbors so any strange activity would probably be noticed.
I'm glad I live in a neighbrohood where we all know each other.
1 person likes this
@soccermom (3198)
• United States
22 Apr 07
This is the amazing thing about it, we do all know each other! These thieves busted down their front door and robbed them blind, yet no one saw a thing! Granted, the way our neighborhood is set up we can't really see each others front doors, but I would hope someone would notice all my stuff being hauled out!
1 person likes this
@fpd1955 (2074)
• United States
21 Apr 07
I am glad the robbers didn't hurt that sweet older couple.
I live in a cul-de-sac and we have a neighborhood watch group. It consists of all of us. We, as a block, do things regularly, i.e. block cookouts , block garage sales. We pretty much know everyone that lives in the 20 houses on the block. Most of us have dogs and they do bark when they see strangers in the neighborhood. I am comfortable living here. It is relatively a safe neighborhood. There have been other areas in my town that have had some break-ins and attempted murders. That is very frightening. I do make sure my doors and windows are secured, but I know if someone wants to get in, they probably can. But, living on a cul-de-sac, not too many cars just drive through unless they live here. And we do notice these cars and can keep watch to see if they are up to no good.
PEACE
1 person likes this
@Arkadus (895)
• Canada
21 Apr 07
I'm from a rural area but I wouldn't say I know what goes on with the neighbours. I've talked with one of them before. Took him a 12pack in exchange for plowing out the driveway. that's only the neighbour directy next door. Since I'm on the corner my other neighbour is the train tracks... Aside from that I know nothig about the rest of the people on the street. Except trivial things you learn by walking past.
1 person likes this
@Xhristy (59)
• Ireland
22 Apr 07
I know everyone in my neighbourhood
We all get along great pretty much
when a new family moved in last year there were alot of squat cars around
then they moved away and the squad cars stopped
I know what they were doing
but the police had no reason to get involved it wasnt illegal
1 person likes this
@meljessxena (2315)
• Australia
21 Apr 07
well the town i live in its a small country town in the middle of no where lol. and even thou its so small i dont live in the centre of it i live outskirts of it, so i stay out of all the stuff that happens in the town. i know some of the neighbours that have farms around me but dont really talk to them that often.
1 person likes this
@Marie2473 (8512)
• Sweden
21 Apr 07
This just proves how good the robbers are. They know exactly how to pull it off. I do not think that you should feel bad for not seeing anything, however I do understand that u feel bad for the older couple. The worst thing with people breaking in, is not all the stuff they take. It is the invasion of your privacy.. once people broke into our house and I found my diary on the bed, they have actually gone through it.. That was just horrible...
1 person likes this
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
28 May 07
:( Poor neighbors, I hope they've dealt with it okay and that the robbers are caught.
We've only been in this neighborhood for three weeks and so far..it's been pretty nice..despite the few less than pleasant aspects we've noticed. Two streets down a group of teenagers were busted by the cops for heroine. Every now and again the teenagers down the street set off illegal fireworks..
So..fun stuff lol. But this is the city..stuff happens. And I didn't expect everyone here to be wonderful. I knew they'd probably be jerks and worse..so though I'm sorry for the people hurt, I don't worry much.
@vamisola (905)
• Australia
21 Apr 07
No, not really. We're living in an apartment and we don't see neighbors all the time, only if they are in the parking lot. We only hears their doors when they go out and comes in their own doors. Some are friendly, some ignores you too. But it's ok, you can't please everybody.
