In light of my recent posts about home security issues, it is somewhat coincidental that there was a home invasion in my subdivision yesterday.
I learned of the existence of a problem via an email from Princess M’s school. The email indicated that they were in lockdown due to a “neighborhood disturbance” and dismissal would be delayed. It was followed within a half-hour by another email indicating that the lock-down was over and students were being dismissed, except for children in my subdivision. I called the daycare to confirm that M had indeed been permitted to leave on the daycare bus (she had, and was safe at daycare).
It seems that four would-be burglars waited for a man to leave his home, and then tried to break in. They didn’t know his college-age son was home. No one was hurt. As of yesterday evening believe the police had caught three of the intruders; the fourth was still at large. They also think these guys may be the ones responsible for a string of recent area thefts.
All during the afternoon I kept thinking about it, feeling vulnerable because of the fact that he was out there somewhere. But I realized at some point during the evening that probably we were safer than before. For one thing, there was such an increased police presence in our area, it would be crazy for someone to attempt a crime. For another, it isn’t like he wasn’t out there before, with three of his friends, planning their criminal activity. My main fear was of him happening to come upon my family and doing something desperate because of his fugitive status.
I’ve always been pretty vigilant about having the security system armed when we’re home, and that is continuing; I’m also reviewing various areas of my home against some security tips I’ve been given. And of course, I’m continuing in the self-defense and firearm areas. (In fact, this week there is a great deal on a particular model of semi-automatic at a local store and I’m considering purchasing one; I’m going to go hold it tomorrow or the next day.)
On the lighter side, CBS was filming for their evening news program right in front of my house (across the street, with my house and my neighbor’s house as a backdrop). Can I interpret that to mean that my yard is finally looking better?
