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Daylight Back to Back Burglaries In Same Town

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Most people think that burglaries happen at night, in the dark when burglars can creep undetected. But the reality is most burglaries happen during the day when you are at work. Burglars work too, in the day, 9-5, like you. This is why a home security alarm is so important.

In Warwick Rhode Island police are on the lookout for someone who forced their way into two homes that apparently didn’t have home security systems. Why in 2011 someone doesn’t have an alarm that sends a shrieking siren and calls the police is just mind boggling to me. Anyway the burglars apparently spent a significant amount of time there because they turned everything upside down and were able to steal “large quantities of jewelry, laptops and other electronic equipment from the properties.”

The statement “large quantities of jewelery, laptops and other electronic equipment” is further distressing because these people were naïve enough to believe they wouldn’t be targeted and didn’t even have the sensibility to get a safe!

In one instance the burglars broke a window near a door and were able to reach inside and get a key that was in the lock! Anyone that has a door surrounded by glass should invest in a window film glass protecting product called “Shattergard” that makes it difficult for a bad guy to simply break a window and reach in.

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist to Home Security Source discussingADT Pulse on Fox News. Disclosures

Burglar Hits 60 Houses in 60 Days

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Police in Morristown NJ have a prime suspect in mind which they call an “opportunist”. Sometimes the burglar breaks in by using a crowbar or breaking a window but mostly he just goes in through an unlocked door or window.

He’s going after the standard gold jewelry and laptops, stuff that’s easy to fence.

But what makes this story so interesting is the police know who he is but can’t arrest him.  The police Chief was quoted saying “This is a person who knows video surveillance very well and knows technology very well, and he does this for a living and he doesn’t want to get caught.”

The neighbors were quoted as saying stuff like “we never see a police car around” etc and the police respond by saying “the government can’t do everything anymore, the chief said. “We simply need more help from the communities we serve. Most of it is eyes and ears, and picking up the phone.”

The Chief suggested everyone pay attention and even start a neighborhood watch.

Readers of these posts know I’m all about taking personal responsibility. And while law enforcements role is to serve and protect, it is impossible to have a police car parked in every driveway. The fact that this neighborhood doesn’t even have a neighborhood watch in place is telling. These are people who simply aren’t proactive. Windows and doors are unlocked, and it seems residents don’t have home security alarms either.

But I’ll be they are installing them now.

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist toHome Security Source discussingADT Pulse on Fox News Live. Disclosures

 

Nicolas Cage’s First Hand Home Invasion Experience

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Apparently Nicolas Cage at one time didn’t believe in home security systems. He recently filmed a movie called “Trespass” about thieves’ who con their way into the opulent mansion where Cage’s character lives with his unhappy wife (played by Nicole Kidman) and their daughter, Reuters reports. The tagline for the title is: “When terror is at your door, you can run, or you can fight.” I recommend running.

Cage was quoted saying “It was two in the morning. I was living in Orange County at the time and was asleep with my wife. My two-year old at the time was in another room. I opened my eyes and there was a naked man wearing my leather jacket eating a Fudgesicle in front of my bed,” he told reporters. “I know it sounds funny … but it was horrifying.”

Doesn’t sound funny to me at all. Luckily the man was capable of being talked to and Cage talked him out of the house. Police arrived and arrested him. The man was relatively harmless, he was mentally ill.

Cage was also quoted saying that after the incident he could no longer stay in that home and has since moved.

People whose homes are burglarized or homes invaded often feel a constant sense of un-ease in a home that has been violated like that. Your home is your castle and is supposed to be a place of relief, solitude, safety and security from the sometimes big, bad, ugly, world. When it’s “soiled” like that, the stink never goes away.

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist to Home Security Source discussingADT Pulse on Fox News. Disclosures

Celine Dions Burglar Takes a Bath

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The burglar apparently sauntered up her driveway and jiggled the door of an unlocked car in the driveway. The door was open and of course the keys were in the ignition along with the garage door opener.

This was all the burglar needed to open the door, head inside and make himself a tasty snack (pastries, I love pastry, I’m Italian you know.). Meanwhile as he’s munching away he drew himself a nice warm bubble bath. I’ll bet Celine Dion has nice bubbles and a nicer bath. Must be as big as my whole first floor.

Celine actually had a home alarm, but apparently it doesn’t have a siren, I don’t know. Or maybe the burglar was hard of hearing.

A monitored home security system can be as little as $99.00 installed then a dollar a day for monitoring. Celine Dion probably makes $99.00 in a matter of seconds when she’s headlining and performing at the Coliseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

For the short money that a home alarm costs, she should have one that has a siren. Ya think?

Fortunately for the Dion’s, they were traveling. If you travel away from your home:

  • Don’t leave your keys in your unlocked car in your driveway.
  • Use timers on indoor and outdoor lights.
  • Let a trusted neighbor and the police know you are traveling.
  • Unplug garage door openers.
  • If grass is still growing where you live and if you’re gone for a bit have a landscaper mow your lawn.
  • Don’t share your travel plans on social media or on a voicemail outgoing message.
  • Lock everything of significant value in a safe.
  • Invest in a home security camera system and home security alarm system.

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist to Home Security Source discussingADT Pulse on Fox News Live. Disclosures

82 Year Old Man Shoots Burglars, Faces Charges

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Guns, guns, guns. Americans love their guns. Guns definitely are a layer of security. They can save your life and they can also be used against you and they can also get you in lots and lots of trouble.

An elderly man is now facing two counts of armed assault with intent to murder, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building for shooting 2 people outside of his home. He believed they were trying to get in, and his belief was affirmed when one of them tossed a boulder through one of his windows.

His attorney stated “This is the victim here, an 82-year-old man with no criminal record. He defended life and property.”

The Assistant District Attorney was quoted saying “We don’t live in a place where you can just fire from a window. It is fortunate no one died.”

True.

It definitely isn’t a good idea to shoot someone outside of your home even on your property. However in some states the laws side with homeowners when shooting trespassers.

I appeared on the Maury Povich show to discuss weaponry and self defense. The premise was the shows subjects were facing jail time or in jail because they killed their attackers, which almost happened in the above scenario.

Some of the subjects were victims of domestic violence where others were victims of home invasions or stalking.

So maybe the guy “jumped the gun”, maybe he was legitimately at risk.

The first layer of protection should always be locked secure doors and windows. A monitored home security alarm should run parallel to a secure perimeter. In the above situation with a proper alarm that included glass break sensors, law enforcement would have been alerted the moment the glass broke. The piecing alarm may have also made the burglars think twice.

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist toHome Security Source discussing Home Invasions on Maury Povich. Disclosures

Are Your Kids’ Friends Trouble?

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From childhood on, throughout life we develop relationships starting with your neighbors, classmates and eventually through work and of course through friends of friends. In high school I met this kid through my girlfriend’s girlfriend. He was a talented kid with lots of potential. I’m not using his real name, so let’s call him John.

John was great to hang with. He was fun and girls loved him. We got to know each other and were great friends, so I thought.

Then, items in my house began going missing. A coin collection, silver ounce bars, jewelry, watches, and a few sentimental items all vanished. I felt like I was losing my mind, assuming I was misplacing everything. None of it was very valuable, but it had value to a 16 year old.

One day when I came home from school, I found my father was freaking out that a ten-pound piggybank full of coins was missing from the kitchen counter. As soon as he saw me, he asked where John was. It was the first time he’d ever indicated that he had a bad feeling about my friend.

My dad called John’s mom, who said he had stayed home sick from school that day, but that she was at work so she didn’t know if he left the house. To this day my dad is certain — and I agree — that John went to my house and took the piggybank, in addition to all my missing items.

That was the last day I talked to John. It was also the day when I learned home security systems and safes are integral to any personal security plan.

Since that time, I have invested in SentrySafe fire-resistant safes. Their new Big Bolt Safe is the best they’ve made in 80 years. Check it out.

Robert Siciliano is a Personal and Home Security Expert Expert for SentrySafe discussing burglar proofing your home on Fox Boston. Disclosures.

Burglary from another Perspective

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I don’t see any signage saying “Home Security System”, and your front door is mostly glass and you sometimes leave the doors unlocked for bike rides.

I see you go to bed around 10 to 10:30. Most of your lights are off by nine. You rarely pull the shades down. You often leave a light on downstairs either in the front hall or over the kitchen stove. But when you leave the house for a night out all your lights are on until late night.

You have a newspaper delivered a 6:30 am and you’ve probably never met your paperboy because he only leaves you an envelope and picks it up without you two ever coming in contact.

You have that little dog and let it out around 7:30 am. Sometimes your kids walk the dog at 8 and I’m pretty sure you leave the door open for them when they come back.

During the day you have cleaners come at least once a month, It’s usually the last Monday of the month, they have their own key.

When your kids get home from school I sometimes see them flip up the mat at the front door if they forgot their key.

Every time you leave for work I see you are half way down the street before your garage door closes. I think it’s on a timer.

I looked up your family’s phone number in the directory, it’s listed. I’ve called a bunch of times from a payphone in front of the convenient store down the street and pretty much know when someone is home based on when they answer the phone.

It’s easy to follow you on Facebook, your names on the mailbox, all your kids and spouse is connected. I pretty much know who your extended family is and who your friends are and a bit about your plans. You can’t stop posting your whereabouts.

I’m not telling you all this to creep you out, although I know it’s creepy. But I can’t help pointing these things out. It’s my nature, I’m observant and I’m a burglar.

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist to Home Security Source discussing self defense and rape prevention on NBC Boston. Disclosures.

68 Year Old Grandmother Shoots Home Invaders

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In Nashville where smoked ribs, country music and 68 year old grandmothers sleep with shotguns, a take no prisoners Nana picked off two home invaders breaking in as she slept. She was quoted saying “Never in my whole life have I ever harmed anything or anybody, but I’ve never been put in that position.”

Well now she has and two men are full of lead as a result.

Her husband is wheelchair bound so when she heard them kicking the door she grabbed her gun. Apparently she has had a shotgun next to her bed her whole life and has had people laugh about it. Today nobody is laughing.

She also has a home security alarm system, which is definitely a layer of protection. I wonder if she had any signage outside alerting the home invaders. So as soon as the door came crashing in the alarm went off and so did the shotgun.

One guy was shot in the face, another in the chest and lost part of his finger.

She has no regrets she said. She did say she is glad she didn’t kill them as she would have felt bad about it forever.

I’m not saying you should or shouldn’t have a shotgun next to your bed. Either way as long as you survive you’ve done the right thing.

Additional measures of protection might be a big dog bowl outside, men’s army boots near the door, signage saying ADT Home Alarm, and in this case signage saying “Forget the Dog, Beware of Owner!”

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist toHome Security Source discussing Home Invasions on Maury Povich. Disclosures

Teens Trash Ex-Besties House When Away

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My assistant sends me this:

“Here’s a story that you can use for a Home Security blog if you want:

Jodie (my daughter) gets a phone call Friday night from her best friend Audrey about their old best friend Nancy. Nancy was Jodie and Audreys best friend up until 6-8 months ago when Nancy started hanging with “the wrong kids”.

Apparently this weekend Nancy decided it would be fun if her and her boyfriend and 2 other couples partied in Audrey’s house while Audrey and her family were away. It was easy for Nancy because she knew where the family hid the spare key.

So Nancy and her boyfriend and the 2 couples broke in to Audrey’s house, drank their booze, used their bedrooms and trashed the house.

Then the neighbors noticed something going on and knew the family wasn’t supposed to be there. Cops came, kids ran, they caught 2 who rolled on the 4 others. The police contacted Audrey’s parents who were asked by the police to press charges. Well Audrey’s parents didn’t press charges because they were friends with Nancy’s parents. Who have been oblivious to all of Nancy’s shenanigans as of lately.”

OMG! I’m not sure what amuses me the most about this story. On one hand we have the drama of “best friends”, on the other hand we have “teens gone wild” and on the other hand we have “Nancy’s shenanigans as of lately”!! Someone strap a video camera to that kid! MTV needs a new show!

Jodie’s best friend Audrey’s parents who are friends with Nancy’s parents could have avoided their home being used as an unauthorized teen social soiree if they:

Realized everyone including burglars, the mailman and especially Nancy knows where you hide the spare key.

Prohibited their child from socializing with anyone ever for any reason and kept her in the basement until she was 30.

Had a home security alarm system equipped with home security cameras to alert them to an unauthorized intrusion.

Just sayin’

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist toHome Security Source discussingADT Pulse on Fox News Live. Disclosures

Predators: Nurture or Nature?

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Have you ever watched a flock of seagulls on the beach? I live in close proximity to the ocean, and I see them all day: fishing, eating, and ultimately stealing from each other. Usually a more aggressive seagull chases and screams at a gull that’s just cracked open a clam. Sometimes the aggressor will snatch a fish right out of another’s beak, midflight. While this behavior may be cruel and unfair, it is natural. In the animal world, the strong thrive and the weak perish. It’s survival of the fittest.

Humankind has the conscious ability to discern that stealing is wrong, and the civilization to enforce laws against stealing. Nevertheless, there have always been thieves, many motives that go beyond hunger.

Theft is generally motivated either by greed, drug addiction, or survival instinct. Some thieves are born predators, wired that way from the start. Predators, by nature, fail to see any reason to refrain from harming or robbing others. To them, victimizing you is an entitlement. They can conjure a hundred reasons to explain why you deserve to be violated.

On the other hand, some predators are nurtured. These are people who may have been born into a destructive or abusive home, and over time, under the influence of others, developed drug or mental health issues. Their circumstances and confusion force them into survival mode. To hunt, harm, and rob their fellow man.

The chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime are real. It is essential that you be able to recognize predators all around you, in their different forms. They may look and act like us, but they think very differently. They have no respect for any boundaries between themselves and you, your home, or your small business. It is therefore essential that you protect what is yours.

That includes protecting yourself, through self-defense skills, and your stuff, with home security alarms, layers of protection, and a fire–resistant Big Bolt Safe from the best in the business, SentrySafe.

Robert Siciliano is a Personal and Home Security Expert for SentrySafe discussing home security and identity theft on TBS Movie and a Makeover. Disclosures