Do you ever feel not safe being the only ones in the neighborhood home all day?

[annettemarie]

My neighbor two doors down just knocked on the door to see if we heard a crash or saw anything suspicious today. Someone broke into his house sometime between when he left at 8 and when they got home at 3. Granted, we were gone from 12:30 to 2:30, to the store and then to take Michael to orchestra, but I'm feeling really creeped out that this happened two doors down from us. I feel awful for them, guilty that we didn't see anything, and even guiltier because I'm glad we didn't notice anything. My oldest was outside playing for about 1/2 hour this morning and he took the trash out. I'm thankful he didn't wander into the middle of a home invasion. Still, this all leaves me feeling rather freaked out and unsettled.

[briansmama]

Oh, how terrible! I'm so glad you guys are all ok. That would definitely freak me out, especially since your ds was out front on that day.

I don't feel unsafe anymore, but we used to live in a neighborhood that was very sleepy and all kinds of strange things happened on our street all the time. There was a murder/suicide two doors down in the middle of the day that happened right after I had taken my dc out for a short walk, a rehab home on our street, car theft, high speed chases, and domestic violence.

We eventually moved. My dh never felt comfortable leaving us all day while we lived there, and I wanted to move right after we had our first ds (there was also no yard to play in, so we had to go out into the craziness to be outdoors).

Now I don't worry at all. There are several other stay-home moms and work-from-home parents around us all day.

[annettemarie]

Honestly, I would like to move. We're not in a "bad" neighborhood, and yet we've had our cars broken into several times, a murder a block over, someone tried to break into our house a few years ago, just several blechy incidents. Sadly, moving isn't in the cards right now, but I'll be glad when we can.

[justthinkn]

It is weird sometimes. I've called the police once or twice when there were men wandering around with no obvious purpose - I feel confident that I know most faces in our neighborhood, and I'm always clear with the police that I haven't seen them do anything wrong, I'd just feel better with a drive-by. There are some parks I feel more and less comfortable in as well - some just feel too isolated, and there are so rarely other kids...

[Lillian J]

For whatever it's worth, I think it's a good idea to set up some signs of activity in cases where you're not completely comfortable being gone - such as a light here and there and a radio. When we were house hunting years ago, our realtor took us to a house where there was talk show radio coming from the master bedroom - we were all concerned that maybe the owner was home and that we'd disturb him, but it turned out he purposely left the radio on when he was away. - Lillian

[CariOfOz]

Yikes! I have never felt unsafe being home during the day alone.. but at night I occasioanlly used to. Our previous house was up on a hill and very hidden from the road .. I used to worry that if someone DID try to get in that none of the neighbors would notice a thing.

We moved last april (we rent) into a new housing development. It's NOT in the best area (but not the worst either I suppose) but I have never felt unsafe here alone during the day or at night. Our neighbors on one side are home during the day often, as are the ones across the street (we know neither of them)... and DH left the garage door open one night and the other side neighbor actually came & knocked on our door at 1130pm to let us know so someone didn't take advantage of it. Little things like that let me know that at least we have moderately observant and kind neighbors.

I would definitely go out of my way to make it obvious that someone is 'home' because the perpetrator would have gone for a home that looked empty, and thus an easy target. I'd have curtains open, music on, kids being loud (oh wait... that's everyday here ) I'm sure HAD you noticed anything you'd have immediately called the cops, so try not to feel guilty that you didn't...

[annettemarie]

Well, I'm sure the sounds of my screaming "Are you finished with your schoolwork?!?!!?"... erm... I mean, I'm sure the happy sounds of my children busy at playful discovery tip people off that we're home. We're not exactly quiet folk.

I have a bad habit of answering the door as well. Part of me thinks who would be stupid enough to try something when there are 4 kids here, but I guess you never know.

We usually don't open our curtains in the winter-- it's too cold-- but maybe we should just suck it up.

[elizawill]

yikes! that is very scary!! i'm so glad you all are okay!! i live in a town that is very small. it's a lot like mayberry where everything is in walking distance...we all know each other's business...everyone is nosy, lol. my MIL lives next door, and most of my neighbors are elderly - so i feel pretty safe honestly. i'm sorry that happened to your neighbor, but i'm glad no one was hurt.

[CariOfOz]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

Well, I'm sure the sounds of my screaming "Are you finished with your schoolwork?!?!!?"... erm... I mean, I'm sure the happy sounds of my children busy at playful discovery tip people off that we're home. We're not exactly quiet folk.

I have a bad habit of answering the door as well. Part of me thinks who would be stupid enough to try something when there are 4 kids here, but I guess you never know.

We usually don't open our curtains in the winter-- it's too cold-- but maybe we should just suck it up.

OOPS! Pardon that, I didn't think about it being winter there That's not a worry we *ever* have to have I answer my door as well, but most homes here have security screen doors so that's locked so that even when I open the actual door, nobody could get IN unless I chose for them to. Maybe a security chain for your door might help you not worry about that so much?

And we have the same 'blissful homeschooling' sounds emanating from our house as well hehehehe

[kittywitty]

I always worried about this when we lived in another town. It was very urban and our neighborhood was *horrible*-murders, stabbings, theft, everything. I would bolt the doors, keep the phone by me...but we were so loud, I'm sure that no one would've messed with us. I never ever opened the door when I was there alone with the kids except for the UPS guy.

Where we live now...we have a school across the street, priest next door, and a couple of homeschooling/homeschool friendly people. I'm sure my kids running around like loons all over the yard give it away that we're home, anyway.

Have you considered getting a dog? Mine is loud and annoying so that wards people off pretty well.

[jessicaSAR]

Originally Posted by kittywitty

Have you considered getting a dog? Mine is loud and annoying so that wards people off pretty well.

This was my thought. We have a German Shepherd (actually this is our third GSD), and she is way better than any alarm system or police drive-by.

[kittie313]

I don't worry about it normally, as almost all our neighbors are retired old folks who have nothing better to do than nose around where they don't need to (translation: nitpick at how we are doing the upkeep in our yard and peeking through our windows when they think we aren't home, when will they learn that I'm a sahm and ALWAYS home?) OK so its only one particular neighbor that's so nosey and a problem for us, but with neighbors like that I don't need to worry. We've had the cops come visiting the day after we moved in because dh went and walked down the side street our driveway loops into and the neighbors didn't notice we had moved here, they just watched him walk down that street to see what was there and then come back and go in our back door. LOL Needless to say, we had just a few cops to explain THAT one to lol (thankfully we still had a ton of boxes lying around still packed so they got it and nobody got arrested) So nope, I'm not worried at all, my neighbors are better than any security system out there LOL

[elizawill]

kittie313, i think we have the same neighbors, lol. the elderly couple across the street come over and bring us food all of the time (i.e. they want to see what we're up to) and they know the business of everyone in our town! we know everyone on our street & the police department is literally a block away. i'm not worried. i grew up in atlanta though and lived downtown for years, so out of habit, i still lock my doors when we're home and i won't answer the door unless i know the person. annettemarie, having a dog is a great idea! we have 2 dogs & they hear everything and will bark...no one would ever break in here with all that yapping.

[annettemarie]

You all are great, but were not getting a dog. We can't afford it and I don't like animals. We just got a betta fish and THAT was a huge deal, LOL!

[luv-my-boys]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

You all are great, but were not getting a dog. We can't afford it and I don't like animals. We just got a betta fish and THAT was a huge deal, LOL!

but you could make look like you own a dog Who's to know if you put say an old tennis ball chewed out front. Or say a leash or bowl on the porch. Heck even a "beware of dog" sign on the gate.

Its key to make the house look Lived in but yes home invasions do exist. They happen a lot in some parts that we lived in the US. I never answer the door to anybody I dont know and even then I have know them, not of them. I ask all workers that may come to my house for ID and I make sure when we are not here that our house appears as if someone is here. Plus having a trained german shepherd who literally could eat you helps

[kittywitty]

Originally Posted by luv-my-boys

but you could make look like you own a dog Who's to know if you put say an old tennis ball chewed out front. Or say a leash or bowl on the porch. Heck even a "beware of dog" sign on the gate.

Its key to make the house look Lived in but yes home invasions do exist. They happen a lot in some parts that we lived in the US. I never answer the door to anybody I dont know and even then I have know them, not of them. I ask all workers that may come to my house for ID and I make sure when we are not here that our house appears as if someone is here. Plus having a trained german shepherd who literally could eat you helps

Good idea!!!