Somebody broke into our house last night.
@ester_tamisin (522)
Philippines
March 27, 2007 9:13pm CST
I couldn't sleep last night as the dogs in the neighborhood kept barking. I stood up a take a peek out of my bedroom window and find nothing quite unusual and returned to bed. A few hours later, I heard a faint sound behind my bedroom door. I observed the scene for a while without leaving my bed until I found slightly opened. By then I was sure that somebody broke into my home. I was afraid that the burglar might attack us if I will scream, I decided to make some noise as if I am waking up from sleep. Shortly after that I saw a figure scampered outside our veranda. That was when I took the opportunity and jumped out of bed locked my door as I called my mom's name. Mom woke up to chase the intruder which has already escaped by then.
My household is composed of only two females, me and my mother aged 64 years. We don't have a phone to call the police and our neighbors are the type who wouldn't even call the police much less give you assistance. And the police can be relied on as they are known to be protectors of criminals.
How can I make my home theft-proof? I definitely don't want any future break-ins even if nothing was stolen from us and weren't harmed this time.
10 people like this
28 responses
@soulgurl (153)
• Malaysia
29 Mar 07
Aww poor you! Im so sorry to hear about your frightening experience! Thank god you and your mum are alright. I know the thought of it happening again is running through your mind like a bullet train! A good way to prevent this is to make sure that your doors and windows are locked properly every night before going to bed. Make it part of your daily routine.Try to add more locks and also by fixing a gate just behind your back/front door..Or fix another door at the back of your house without a knob..yeah you read that right.without a knob...just fix 2 or 3 latches. This allows you to open the door only from the inside. And also do keep an aerosol spray, be it a mosquito aerosol spray or a hair spray by your bedside. Just aim and spray at the intruder's eyes.And if you would like to burn the living daylights out of the intruder, Id suggest keeping a lighter just 3 inches away from the aerosol nozzle and spray at the BUgger! Good luck!
@ester_tamisin (522)
• Philippines
30 Mar 07
You are so right. I thought I wouldn't be able to sleep soundly again after the incident. Actually on the night preceeding the event, I slept with a sword under my bed and worst, I found myself holding a pair of scissors even if I know that I could harm myself with it while sleeping.
I wanted to get myself a pepper spray but for the meantime an aerosol with do. Thanks to you. Now I wouldn't have to hold scissors while sleeping.
@ester_tamisin (522)
• Philippines
30 Mar 07
My family can afford a phone but not the service. We have so much to pay at the end of the month and very little to earn. Nevertheless, thanks for the advice. I've been checking our doors and even the surroundings before settling for a good night sleep.
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
28 Mar 07
Get a dog of your own that is trained to protect you also make your lock more full proof So they cant jimmy them to get in or a alarm system put in with a silent alarm to police. Dogs are best tho the barking of a dog in the house keeps intruders away for they fear being caught by the noise!
1 person likes this
@grinjaguar (571)
• Philippines
28 Mar 07
that's scary. good thing that there is only one burglar that time. in my place, there are a lot of burglars and they even kill their victims. I guess it is advisable to have a lot of locks in every door and put some rails on the windows. but sometimes, it is not safe for what if there is a fire. escaping would be difficult. Good thing you have a dog right there to warn you. I think it would be a better idea if you have a dog outside and also a dog inside your house.
1 person likes this
@ester_tamisin (522)
• Philippines
29 Mar 07
True enough these kind of people will kill if the victims saw them. This is the reason why I chose not to scream when I heard him opening my bedroom door. I had waited until I saw him scamper out before calling my mom.
@ester_tamisin (522)
• Philippines
29 Mar 07
Yes, you are right that thieves nowadays can break into any house theyu set their eyes on. We have discussed that putting iron bars along our veranda is our best option to secure our the place and decided to get it done whenever our finances can do. The same thing applies with the phone. Thanks for the advice.
@caribe (2465)
• United States
28 Mar 07
I think you did the right thing when you pretended to just be waking up and allowed them to escape. It would have put your life in danger if you had confronted them in your house. I have a security wall which is concrete and ornamental metal in front of my house. I also have ornamental bars over my windows. The back of my house has a security wall made of concrete with a shocker wire across the top like you use to keep animals from wandering away. So far, it seems to be fairly secure. I also have a German Shephard dog that would bite someone entering. If none of those thing will work for you, you might get a motion sensor alarm or light that is triggered by someone passing the motion sensor. This doesn't work very well if you have dogs because they will set it off. Good luck to you and I hope you don't have any more break-ins.
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
28 Mar 07
Put a security system in would be my advice. If your neighbors will not help, that would be my solution.
1 person likes this
@axe_effect (799)
• Philippines
28 Mar 07
well, the next time, you must be aware even when you are sleeping.
coz these days therea are a lot of buglars or anykind of
illegal activities.
even cops are also into illegal right now.
@Foxxee (3651)
• United States
28 Mar 07
You need to get a phone. Even a cell phone will call 911 even when it's not activated. You don't need an activated phone to call 911. My cell phone calls 911 and it's not activated. And my house phone calls 911 when disconnected. I had my phone cut off and at the time had to use 911 and it still works.
Look into it.
@grinjaguar (571)
• Philippines
28 Mar 07
That's scary. good thing that the burglar is alone. In our place burglars comes in packs and they even kill people. I think it is advisable if you have a lot of locks and rails on your window but in case of fire there is a tendency that it would be difficult to escape. it is good that you have a dog outside to warn you and it would be better if you have another dog inside your house as well just in case. take care
1 person likes this
@ciaosamson (541)
• Philippines
28 Mar 07
First, how did the burglar get into your house? I think you should have that checked first. You might want to have your own dog in your house. They would make good burglar alarms and dogs can protect their masters somehow. You might also consider putting steel bars outside your windows. That way burglars won't easily get in through the windows. For the doors, get a double lock. Don't rely on door knobs as those are easy to pick.
1 person likes this
@SheliaLee (2736)
• United States
28 Mar 07
If there is any way that you can get a phone or a cell phone that would be great. That way you can call the police if something like this should happen again. But at your mother's age she could have also have an unexpected medical emergency and you could use the phone to call an ambulance.
If you like dogs it would also be a good idea to get a dog to stay in the house with you, one that will always bark when a stranger is around. That would help to alert you too if anything is going on.
I certainly am glad you and your mother weren't hurt!!
@missybal (4490)
• United States
28 Mar 07
Lots of locks. On every door and window have more than one so that if they happen to jimmy one open they don't get them all. I would also get some motion detection activatation lights. Burgulars don't like to committ a crime where they could be seen doing it. I like the idea about the car alarm you got in the first response. I would also get a dog that you can keep in the house. One that will bark if anyone enters and put a sign in the front yard beware of dog. You really should get a phone expecially considering the criminals in your area so you can get the help you need.
@vanities (11395)
• Davao, Philippines
29 Mar 07
you have to buy some alarm thing maybe..so that if somebody will try then the alarm will sound and the police will come..but if you cant afford to buy one..you must double locked your door to make it sure it wont be open easily...or put some glass of water in any opening in your house..its quite superstion but who knows/?
@lot2nabila (198)
• Gabon
28 Mar 07
That was scarry... My neighbor had similar incident not long ago, but he was not as lucky as you. Some of his stuffs got taken away. The burglars probably a teenagers since they took his PS and small stereo. But it was quiet stressing for his wife because the burglar at one time put the long knife on his neck asking for more money and not to scream (he didn't lock his bed room door because he had his daughters sleeping in other room).
Where do you live by the way? How come the police is a protectors of the criminals? They should protect the citizen. To make your home theft-proof? Install an alarm, but they can be costly. Another effective way is to build a good relationship with the neighbours surround you, so they won't be hesitating to help in case it happen again.
@ester_tamisin (522)
• Philippines
28 Mar 07
None of us were hurt but it sure did scare the hell out of us. We have got along well with our neighbors. It was just that it seem innate among Filipinos to just stay away from situations like this. They wouldn't even bother calling the police or turning their lights on to give the impression that they know whats going on. They don't want to get invovle for fear that the criminals might get back at them. This is because of our little faith in the police who have been clogging the news not as crime busters but as crime perpetuators themselves.
Because of this, our only option is to be vigilant and arm ourselves to be able to fight back.
@pearl23 (243)
• United States
28 Mar 07
You might want to invest in a prepaid phone that way you can call 911 if needed. There may be a church or organization to supply one. They have motion sensor light that automatically come on if someone is in range. I would let the police know there are prowlers hanging around maybe they can patrol more.
@scotsgal (6)
•
28 Mar 07
you can buy burglar alarms, safe locks or you can even get a a panic room incase there is one just to be on the safe side. I think you should get the burglar alarm so you can be alerted but make sure you get safe locks on the doors and windows so they cant use objects to open them.
