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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / August 2005Strange happenings at the T house
mostly off topic... For the past week or so I've been leaving the door open and letting Spotty mix with LB and Sammy when I'm not here. This evening, I left for work like normal, but happened to be delivering a pizza in the neighborhood, so stopped by the apartment. Spotty and Sammy greeted me at the door, but seemed upset and nervous, and LB didn't come and look at me from the bedroom door as is normal. I didn't really notice anything out of place in the living room - things were as messy as normal. When I went into the bedroom I noticed right away things were not normal - even as lousy a housekeeper as I am doesn't normally leave the mattress half way off the bed. Little Bit was hiding under the bed and wouldn't come out at first, but finally she came out and I carried her around while I checked things out. As I walked back into the living room I noticed Spotty sitting in the kitchen window - which I keep open a crack for ventilation. Now it was wide open with no screen in it. I checked around to see if anything was missing - yep a roll of quarters, roll of dimes, couple rolls of pennies, as well as about ten dollars in ones was gone from the corner of the desk. I'm just lucky I happened to stop at the apartment while in the neighborhood. The policeman who came to take the report said it was probably just some kids who knew I left for work every night at five (the breakin occured sometime between 5 and 6 when I happened to stop by.) He said that if it was someone who had been watching and knew my schedule, they may have just grabbed up the change, and planned to come back later to the 'puters, tvs, vcrs etc - since they left the front door unlocked and I normally wouldn't come home until midnight. By the time I normally come home all the neighbors would have gone to bed and not noticed people carrying things out of the apartment. Course there's not a snowball's chance in h*ll that anyone will ever be caught, even if they did cactch someone there's no way I could identify rolls of coins and loose change anyway. I'm just glad I stopped by when I did, not only because it prevented them from coming back, but because the cats were still too upset by the breakin to realize that they could get out and explore the OUT through the wide open window.  SignatureSteve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Spot with loving memories of Rocky (RB) stouchst@JUNKsirinet.net [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html > I'm just glad I stopped by when I did, not only because it prevented > them from coming back, but because the cats were still too upset by > the breakin to realize that they could get out and explore the OUT > through the wide open window. Wow, that's awful! I'm glad you went home when you did. Did they get in through the window? This is one of the things I worry about quite often...being robbed and the cats getting out. My cats would freak out and probably take off. I'm sorry you had such a bad thing happen but it's good that the cats were okay and you didn't lose anything very valuable. Still, you have that sense of violation. Can you get an alarm system? Candace >Wow, that's awful! I'm glad you went home when you did. Did they get >in through the window? Certainly looks like it - though they left the front door unlocked when they left there was no obvious signs it had been forced open. I didn't notice it last night, but they also tried to can entry through the sliding glass patio door. They got the door open, but there the dowel rod and pin I mentioned in my reply to Pat stopped them. Now, If I hadn't been too lazy to put the rod and pins in place in the kitchen they might have given up without getting in. >This is one of the things I worry about quite >often...being robbed and the cats getting out. My cats would freak out >and probably take off. That's truely what upset me the most - the fact that the window was left wide open. If I hadn't stopped by several hours earlier than normal the girls might all have gotten over their nervousness and gone exploring. When I noticed the window was open Spotty was on the window sill looking out. Lucky for me, since I brought her inside she hasn't shown much interest in going out. LB and Spotty both lived on the streets for awhile before they let me know they wanted inside, but Sammy has never been in the OUT when I wasn't there keeping an eye on her. >I'm sorry you had such a bad thing happen but it's good that the cats >were okay and you didn't lose anything very valuable. Still, you have >that sense of violation. Can you get an alarm system? SignatureSteve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Spot with loving memories of Rocky (RB) stouchst@JUNKsirinet.net [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html > >Wow, that's awful! I'm glad you went home when you did. Did they get > >in through the window? You are okay, your cats are okay, and most of your stuff is still there. All things in all, you're not too bad off. I'm glad. I've never been burglarized. As former military security personnel, I've got braces on all the windows and doors, multiple locks, programmed lights and sound when I'm away (I put a radio on timer, set to CBC, to sound like conversation inside., and sleep with a nightstick by my bed. I have a disabler on my car. I also don't have that much worth stealing, really...no one wants my massive antique TV in an oak cabinet, or my hard drive covered in Transformers insignia. Unless someone's a toy collector... I'm also sure part of it is luck, and part of it is the warding charm I've got nailed above the inside of the front door. --Fil > mostly off topic... > [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > the breakin to realize that they could get out and explore the OUT > through the wide open window. Maybe you were sent a subliminal message from the mothership telling you, you ewere needed at home. I'm glad nothing of great value was stolen. SignatureAdrian (Owned by Snoopy & Bagheera) A house is not a home, without a cat. At least you didn't have to deal with a policeman like I did. He looked so sympathetic when he commented on how the burglars had trashed the place that I didn't have the heart to tell him I'm just a lousy housekeeper. Still Fugazi and Isis loved being burgled, it meant that they got to sit in the living room all day! So much for guard cats! Still if we could only get the burglar to make the mistake of touching Sarrasine's food bowl! Lesley Slave of the Fabulous Furballs > I'm just glad I stopped by when I did, not only because it prevented > them from coming back, but because the cats were still too upset by > the breakin to realize that they could get out and explore the OUT > through the wide open window. Oh my, Steve, how scary! I'm so glad the cats didn't run for the hills, and that the damage wasn't worse. SignatureMarina, Frank and Miranda. In loving memory of Nikki. marina (dot) kurten (at) iki (dot) fi Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki >> I'm just glad I stopped by when I did, not only because it prevented >> them from coming back, but because the cats were still too upset by [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >Oh my, Steve, how scary! I'm so glad the cats didn't run for the hills, >and that the damage wasn't worse. LB is still upset and being extra clingy today - I wouldn't be at all surprised if part of the reason she's upset is that they shoved the her litterbox out of it's normal place under the kitchen window - she SO hates it when things aren't where she is used to them being. To make matters worse she feels she any hoomin who comes near a litter box should immediately scoop it out - even of it was just scooped five minutes ago and hasn't been used since. SignatureSteve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Spot with loving memories of Rocky (RB) stouchst@JUNKsirinet.net [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html How horribly upsetting, Steve! I think you're very lucky that you came back when you did and that the cats were still there! Purrs for your nerves. Christine > mostly off topic... > [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > the breakin to realize that they could get out and explore the OUT > through the wide open window. >> I'm just glad I stopped by when I did, not only because it prevented >> them from coming back, but because the cats were still too upset by >> the breakin to realize that they could get out and explore the OUT >> through the wide open window. Wow, I'm glad it wasn't worse!! Whew. Money can be replaced, even if it does leave you a little financially strapped for awhile. Whew. I'm sorry this happened,but glad that nothing more was damaged and that you weren't hurt. That violated feeling is the worst, though, isn't it? Jane >>> I'm just glad I stopped by when I did, not only because it prevented >>> them from coming back, but because the cats were still too upset by [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Jane Sorry to piggyback but I would like to encourage everyone who rents to make sure they have rental insurance. It's not expensive. Sure, there's no way to identify stolen rolls of coins and some paper bills. But had they made off with Steve's computer, television, etc... you know. Rental insurance is cheap and I highly recommend it. Wouldn't be without it. Mine even covers earthquake damage (of course there is a sizeable deductible since I'm on the second major fault-line in the U.S.). And as someone else mentioned, it will also cover a stay in a hotel until my home is repaired if need be. Jill Steve, you can get devices that enable you to open a window partway (enough for air) and still be locked. http://www.replacement-windows-tips.com/window-locks.html >Steve, you can get devices that enable you to open a window partway (enough >for air) and still be locked. > >http://www.replacement-windows-tips.com/window-locks.html Actually, I just have to chalk this up to laziness on my part. The landlord has provided dowel rods which can be wedged in the window to prevent them from being raised. But, it's possible to get a coat hanger or something stiff up through the weather stripping and nudge the dowel rod out enough to raise the window, provided you're willing to spend the time and effort as it's not easy to do - I know, I've done it. When I moved in I also drilled a couple holes above the sliding window, into which I can put a pin. That's a lot harder to remove then the dowel rod. Course if they want in they'll get in, but the theory is to make it as hard as you can and hope they'll move on to easier pickings. But, I never bothered to put in the pins or dowel rod in the kitchen window. What makes it worse is that the kitchen window is on the back side of the building, not visible from any other apartments, while the patio door and bedroom window are visible from three other apartments. So, I had the pins and rod in place in the visible window and door, but not the one hidden from view. Like I said, pure laziness ;-(( SignatureSteve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Spot with loving memories of Rocky (RB) stouchst@JUNKsirinet.net [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html > mostly off topic... > I'm just glad I stopped by when I did, not only because it prevented > them from coming back, but because the cats were still too upset by > the breakin to realize that they could get out and explore the OUT > through the wide open window. Yikes Steve - I'm glad you got home early too. Like you said - let alone the theft - but what about if you'd lost your cats??? Susan M Otis and Chester Scary STeve!! I hope you invest in some good window security. That's really rotten :( I am glad the kitties are ok though. > mostly off topic... > [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > the breakin to realize that they could get out and explore the OUT > through the wide open window. > mostly off topic... > [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > the breakin to realize that they could get out and explore the OUT > through the wide open window. Ohmygawd, Steve, that's *horrible*! Thank gawd it wasn't any worse and your babies were still safe! Hugs, CatNipped > mostly off topic... > [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > the breakin to realize that they could get out and explore the OUT > through the wide open window. Scary stuff. Glad the cats didn't escape! They (even not "kids") watch people's schedules and figure out routines. When I myself was a teen there was a rash of burglaries in the neighborhood. Everyone around my parents' home was hit because they all worked. Mom stayed home and the officer said whoever was doing it knew that. My brother Scott had his house burgled twice. They just backed a van up, broke in through his garage and loaded up his stuff... in broad daylight. Everyone in the neighborhood is at work during the day. Then they waited until he'd replaced all of it via his homeowners insurance and did it again! After that he installed a monitored alarm system. He doesn't live in a bad neighborhood; criminals are mobile. I had a neighbor in this apartment complex a few years back who was a stay-at-home mom while her husband went to work. They got the daily newspaper but she'd just let them pile up out back behind the patio fence where they were tossed by the news carrier. It looked like no one was ever there. *I* was going to work every day, so no one was home at my place. I got very upset with her and said "If you aren't going to read the paper, cancel the subscription." She got mad at me. But I said, "Look, you're at home with an infant and it *looks* like you aren't home. Do you really want some idiot breaking in thinking no one is there when it's only you and the baby?" Gee, she hadn't thought of that! Of course, I also didn't want potential burglars to realize I was gone every day and break into my place, too. Self-preservation and all that. Jill >My brother Scott had his house burgled twice. They just backed a van up, >broke in through his garage and loaded up his stuff... in broad daylight. >Everyone in the neighborhood is at work during the day. Then they waited >until he'd replaced all of it via his homeowners insurance and did it again! >After that he installed a monitored alarm system. He doesn't live in a bad >neighborhood; criminals are mobile. My car was broken into and robbed during my first few weeks in my current apartment. There wasn't anything of value in there, but they did steal my CDs. (At least half of them were Christian music, too) I was furious mostly because I really *like* that complex and wanted to stay. So I'm still here, and then the dead body shows up. Wha-?? Yeah, some guy got shot while sitting in his car in the parking lot, not too far from my front door. I slept through it. (So much for my future as a bodyguard) I only found out when I came out at 5am for work and found the place full of police and tape and had to negotiate to get my car out (after checking it for bullet holes). Jane - owned and operated by Princess Rita > >My brother Scott had his house burgled twice. They just backed a van up, > >broke in through his garage and loaded up his stuff... in broad daylight. [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > Jane > - owned and operated by Princess Rita GULP. Wow. I don't know if I could stand staying there after taht. Unless it was a really, really one time thing. It's not an on going thing is it? >>> My brother Scott had his house burgled twice. They just backed a >>> van up, broke in through his garage and loaded up his stuff... in [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > Unless it was a really, really one time thing. It's not an on going > thing is it? / On soapbox I had lived in my last apartment complex for 5 years before I moved to this one. I got tired of hearing gunshots. Honestly, when I moved in it was a nice little gated complex. It only took that last year for it to go downhill *fast*. I remember one day before Easter in 1997 I noticed my quiet neighbors across the hall moving out (very quickly). Easter Sunday evening I'm sitting in my living room watching television when I hear this *crash*. I looked out the peephole - there were people kicking in the door of the apartment across the hall! I went back to my bedroom and called 911. Apparently that quiet woman (or her son) had been dealing drugs and had ticked off (or tipped off) the wrong people. After that there were a series of odd neighbors and more incidents. I remember one time sitting on my balcony and watching as some of the kids in the complex almost completely tore down the patio fence of an empty apartment below and across from me. I yelled at them to cut it out and called the apartment manager. He came around to talk to me. Stupid kids (we're talking young kids, too! like 8 or 9) were still walking around like they'd done nothing. I pointed out several of them and well... the youngest one confessed and named the others. The manager evicted the families for lack of control of their children, destruction of private property, etc. But by that time everything in the complex and neighborhood was breaking down. Around 1998 there was a drive-by shooting at the gas-station on the corner next to the complex. The guy who did the shooting was caught; he claimed he thought he saw someone in the parking lot who had "ripped him off". What the a.shole *did* was "accidentally" shoot and kill a woman who was pumping gas while her 2 young children were in the car. Time for me to move. Crime can happen anywhere. But when it becomes the norm in the neighborhood and most people turn the other cheek or think it's not their problem so nothing is done, it's just time to get the hell out. /Off Soapbox Jill >> to stay. So I'm still here, and then the dead body shows up. Wha-?? >> Yeah, some guy got shot while sitting in his car in the parking lot, [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >GULP. Wow. I don't know if I could stand staying there after taht. Unless it >was a really, really one time thing. It's not an on going thing is it? I'll let you know. I haven't even been here a year yet. Janex >mostly off topic... > [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] >the breakin to realize that they could get out and explore the OUT >through the wide open window. Oh, {{{Steve}}}}. I'm so sorry. That had to be scary for you, as well as the cats! I'm glad you stopped by when you did and probably prevented an even worse burglary. Hopefully, that'll scare the kids away for good. Purrs for you, your cats, and your home's protection for the future. Ginger-lyn burglarized twice in her life Home Pages: http://www.spiritrealm.com/summer/ http://www.angelfire.com/folk/glsummer (homepage & cats) http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~summer/index.htm (genealogy) http://www.movieanimals.bravehost.com/ (The Violence Against Animals in Movies Website) > mostly off topic... > [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > the breakin to realize that they could get out and explore the OUT > through the wide open window. What really stinks is they likely know you work in part for tips and would likely have a bit of cash around. Bartenders and waitpersons are considered easy targets too. I'm so glad the important things are OK. Jo > mostly off topic... > [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > the breakin to realize that they could get out and explore the OUT > through the wide open window. Major bummer, Steve. Glad the loss wasn't too great, and especially that your feline family's still safe. Sam, closely supervised by Mistletoe (snipped) > I'm just glad I stopped by when I did, not only because it prevented > them from coming back, but because the cats were still too upset by > the breakin to realize that they could get out and explore the OUT > through the wide open window. > -- What a rotten thing! We're sending soothing purrs to your kitties after their trauma, and security purrs to you. ------ Krista That is so scary, Steve! I'm so glad to hear your kitties are ok and that you prevented further theft. Best wishes and purrs for your home to be safe, SignaturePolonca & Soncek > mostly off topic... > [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > the breakin to realize that they could get out and explore the OUT > through the wide open window. That's just terrible Steve, to think someone was in your house and might have hurt your kitties. Burglars do harm pets sometimes, I know someone it happened to. Thank goodness you decided to come home when you did. Sorry you lost some money but at least you didn't lose your cats. Purrs for your nerves too. Tweed > mostly off topic... > [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > the breakin to realize that they could get out and explore the OUT > through the wide open window. |
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