3. Write a blog post inspired by the word: final.
I told Pat we should get some sort of home security, like a Ring cam…something that could alert us about robbers.
For over a year now I have pled my case, but he insists there is no point to having one so I have not followed through with a purchase.
To Pat’s credit, he is correct that a huge reason we attract prowlers is because I forget to lock my car door. I’ve gotten much better about it, but my car has been prowled at least a dozen times in our own driveway over the course of the past 18 years. They have stolen change, sunglasses, and an equestrian helmet…but have never taken anything of serious value. Thankfully I do remember to bring my purse and camera inside…for the most part. Over the years I have finally trained myself to double-check that my car is locked before I go to bed each night. But I would love to see who is approaching our vehicles at night because I know they still wander through and try the doors.
Pat also thinks a camera is pointless because even with an image of an intruder’s face, it is unlikely the cops will do much about it. Again, this may be true, however, I would like to receive the notification that someone is snooping around so that I can turn on the speaker and scare them.
I told Pat that I fear someday they are going to get into my car and use the garage door opener to gain access to the house. I do have a lock on the door coming into the kitchen from the garage thanks to toddler Kainoa escaping from the house at one point, so knowing the house is securely locked is good but what about the garage itself? Everything we store in there is at risk.
Regretfully, Pat waved off my concerns and I didn’t push it. This morning, Kainoa woke us up around 6 am with, “Dad? Your car has been robbed and the garage door is open.” I have never seen that man spring to his feet so quickly. Sure enough, his car door was wide open and his lunchbox, wallet, and work phone were all missing. The garage door was wide open and the garage door opener is gone. This has been the worst heist to date. Thankfully, the items in the garage are untouched, but we are extremely uneasy about the fact that the door opener was taken since that indicates the robber intends to return.
Since Pat has shamed me for years about how irresponsible I can be to leave my car unlocked, let me just say I wasn’t GLAD that it happened to him for once, but I was reallllyyyy relieved that this major breach of security was not my fault. I feel terrible that Pat had to cancel his cards, that the lunch box he has had for over 20 years will not grow old with him, that he had to apply for a new license and order a new wallet…I feel bad about all of it…but I did kind of sort of paint this exact scenario and was kind of sort of dismissed about it.
So I took matters into my own hands today and ordered the damn security camera. I’m going to catch these prowlers and that’s final!
Now it’s your turn!
Choose a prompt, post it on your blog, and come back to add your name to the link list below. Be sure to sign up with the actual post URL and not just your basic blog URL (click on the title of your post for that URL). For good comment karma try to comment on the three blogs above your name!!
The Prompts:
1. Write about something someone said that gave you clarity.
2. The last thing that made you laugh.
3. Write a blog post inspired by the word: final.
4. List 7 things you have loved about summer so far.
5. Throwback Thursday: Choose a photo from a previous June and write a blog post
Abby says
Migosh, how awful, and scary! Glad no one was hurt and nothing else was taken, but geez. We bought another security camera we have yet to install – our Ring is on the doorbell (obviously) which is recessed from the front of the house. Good luck!
Our Ring subscription includes neighbor alerts from other Ring owners. When others catch something concerning on their cameras, we get a notification and video . Sometimes somebody knows something that helps the police. Most are prowlers going through cars.
Betsy says
As a woman who spends quite a lot of time alone in my home (working from home, husband is traveling for work, only have the kiddos half the time) I LOVE my ring. It gives me peace of mind knowing who is at the door. I hope you are able to catch the prowler in your neighborhood!
madamdreamweaver says
Riffling cars outside is one thing; getting into your garage with the opener is quite another! That’s scary. One step from break in thru the house door. Luckily, most thievery is centered on what’s convenient. I hope the security camera works. Aren’t you going to something about the garage door opener? I mean either get reprogrammed openers (don’t know if that’s possible) or a new garage door opener entirely? Because the thief still has your opener and can back anytime. Regardless of camera.
Someone was going thru neighborhoods in our area riffling thru unlocked cars. Saw it mentioned in the police blotter in the local paper. Then one night, they riffled my husbands Saturn that was unlocked. They empty the box between the seats out—but luckily, nothing but paper napkins from fast food restaurants and floss were in there. We locked the doors more faithfully after that. I currently don’t always lock my car, but nothing is in it to take. You weren’t believe what’s reported in the newspaper that people have stolen from their unlocked cars around here (and we’re sort of country-fied, so people are more inclined not to lock their cars). Expensive jewelry over $1000, purses with cash over $500 and hand guns are some of the items left in cars around here. One guy left his keys in his truck and the whole truck was missing the next morning.
madamdreamweaver says
Oh and I DON’T have a garage opener.
john Holton says
Give Pat my condolences about his lost lunchbox. I know how important things like that can be: of all the things that were taken, that’ll be the thing he misses the most.
I agree with Bev: I would look into having the remotes reprogrammed, if possible. If not, you might want to have the garage door opener replaced. Our garage door openers each have a switch on the inside so you can turn off the opener. That way, even if someone has a remote, they can’t get in.
Is the picture on top your house? Is the picture on the bottom your neighborhood? Just curious…
Paula Kiger says
I am soooooo with you (but I haven’t convinced my husband yet). Really sorry about the annoyance and hastle of Pat getting robbed though.
Patty says
Definitely get those remotes re-programmed, Kat.
These, almost constant, neighborhood and parking lot hits are happening everywhere. Our Florida family was just victimized in their “upscale” gated community where residents mistakenly feel that they’re protected by gate security….the thieves simply climbed over the gate, went through the area and made off with whatever they could carry….from unlocked vehicles, tossed the goods over the fence to where a car waited outside the locked gates. All of this activity was caught on security cameras but the hoodie-wearing thieves were not apprehended.
So sorry you had to go through this. Stay safe!