The Reason I Could Not Attend

[Raquel]

Up until this past week I had every intention of coming to Shadowmoor this past weekend. I had signed up to bring food and planned on being really involved with... well everything.

Some of you on Facebook may know that on Monday I started a new position. When I came home from work I discovered that my house had been broken into. My tv (really the most expensive thing I own minus my car) and some jewelry were missing. They had riffled through my drawers and invaded my privacy.
I called the cops and handled the whole situation rather well. Although it is difficult to explain to a two year old why he can't watch Thomas and where "his" tv went. But, I figured at least the "bad guys" saw that I didn't have anything all that valuable and they wouldn't be back.

On Wednesday, my third day on new job, I once again came home to find that I had been broken into. This time they broke down a door and went through a lot of effort to take something very small, a digital camera and an ipod. Mind you I still have my computer on which I'm typing now. This let me know that it was not about the stuff but about a mental game.

The cop suggests that it is someone I know. Someone that I have trustingly let into my home. He says it is very rare for someone to break into a house twice like that so close together. I am suspicious of everyone and have absolutely no peace of mind.
This morning my power went out and I immediately jumped to paranoid mind mode where I thought they had come back to kill me and my son. Apparently it was an area wide power outage.

Needless to say, I could not in good conscience leave my home unattended for a full weekend.
I am in the process of ordering two new doors. Right now they are secured in a way that nearly makes me think of zombie movies.
People have suggested that I install cameras, some say get a dog and many have said to get a gun.
I have upped security but I am still ready and willing to take shooting lessons from anyone willing to take me.

[Cassandra_Castagna]

I'm really sorry to hear that. I would say installing cameras, but not on the outside, in case someone destroys them. Set one up inside, peeking through the blinds, if you have any. Check the footage every chance you get, just in case. I know it's a slow and annoying process but it could help a lot to identify who's doing it, if they come back again. Trust me, video cameras can be a life-saver.

If I knew how to shoot, or knew a shooting range, I would help... but I'm useless in that department. Hope the terrorizing stops soon, and that whoever's doing this gets caught. Also, I'm glad you and Clark are safe. I'll keep you both in my best wishes and prayers.

[toddr]

. Right now they are secured in a way that nearly makes me think of zombie movies.
People have suggested that I install cameras, some say get a dog and many have said to get a gun.
I have upped security but I am still ready and willing to take shooting lessons from anyone willing to take me.

Okay, take it from someone that has a law enforcement background, if you don't know how to use/shoot a gun, it can be just as dangerous to you as someone that breaks in.  If you are in the Greenville, SC area I will be more than happy to teach you how to use one.  Getting a dog is a good idea.  One thing you can do (if they do this there) is go to your local police department and have your home placed on security check.  Doing that will have an officer ride by your home about once an hour and if anything looks out of the ordinary, suspicious, whatever, they will check it out.  Another thing you can do is get a security system.  Hope this info helps.

[La-Price]

oh wow, im so sorry. i hope everything gets worked out and that you guys can feel safe again O.O
but a dog is a good idea, not an aggressive one per say, but one that has a deep bark

[Mitzi]

A dog is a lot of work and responsibility for someone that may not have a life style for a dog.  Either if it’s an indoor dog or out, it can be "eliminated" if someone really wants to get into your home.  I'm sorry to sound so dark.. but good doors, good locks and talk to your neighbors may be your best bet darling.  Talk to the ones you trust, let them know your being broken into, ask them to keep a look out for anyone out who looks out of place and call 911.  See if you have a neighborhood watch or think about starting one. 

Also Todd is correct, unless you KNOW how to use a fire arm and are comfortable with it and using it, it can be just as dangerous to you as well as Monkey.  You can rent guns and learn to use them at a lot of shooting ranges.  You can take classes for gun safety and shooting.  http://www.shootersexpress.com/basichandgun.html   I’m down with going shooting with you, if you want to go.

I’m so sorry this is happening to you… I can relate to your pain begin a victim of grand larceny and identity theft from someone who LIVED with me.   I understand how the sound of a car door slamming in the night will pull you out of a dead sleep and make your heart race.  Or a sound in the house you don’t recognize will make you stop breathing…  If you want to have some coffee and talk or just someone to give you big hugs, I’m here for you.  Also, I don’t know if you had any personal information lying around but I would put a credit alert on your credit reports just as a precaution. 

These are products I would recommend looking at to reinforce your doors, not only the door but the frame. 

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202359356/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202551374/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

http://www.bing.com/search?q=door+reinforcer&src=IE-SearchBox&Form=IE8SRC


Love you darling!  Please call me if you just need to talk.
  OXOX,   Mitzi

[mOss]

Missed Waryn... but very glad YOU are ok.

Even being 6'2" I keep A LOT of weapons around the house.  Yes I'm paranoid about the fall of society.

A gun isn't the only answer... pepper spray and stun guns are fairly reasonable... as well as baseball bats or machetes or police batons or tonfa (I picked up all of the above at the local flea market for around $5 each)

Todd's suggestion of putting your house on a watch list isn't a bad one.

Be safe!

[Raquel]

My house has been on security check. I live a block (literally) from the police department. What I'm concerned with is that this isn't a burglar in the night type of occurrence. This is someone in broad daylight that I know and that I've let inside my home. I have talked to my neighbor but if it is a friend of mine or someone that has been there before my neighbor nor a dog would be much use.
I appreciate all of the support.
I am in total agreement about gun usage. I understand that currently I don't have enough experience with them to own one. But that is precisely the reason I want to learn. I've always wanted to learn, long before this all happened. But again someone that knows me, that knows my schedule, knows when to do the damage because I'm not there, isn't going to get much scare from a gun either.
As for the doors, I'm getting two new doors and spoke with the police department and Lowes about which ones to order for more resistance to breakage.

[Cassandra_Castagna]

don't forget windows-and make sure they're able to be locked and are locked. We had that issue at my house recently, where we had no idea. that and the garage doors were not secure at all. I would hate for that to happen to anyone else.