Interesting stuff in Texas City
Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 4:17 pm
From:
Judy Loney
Director, Special Use Facilities
Office of the President
University of Texas Medical Branch
I wanted to share a recent personal incident with you all just to make you aware that it could happen to you (and is apparently happening around the TC area) and to give you some tips I’ve learned about safeguarding yourself and your personal information. My husband and I went to bed Saturday night about 1:15 a.m. At 2:00 a.m. our dog started growling really low but loud enough to wake me. I got out of bed and walked to the bedroom door and thought I heard footsteps coming from our den. My husband woke up at that point. I said I think someone’s in the house. We looked around the room for some sort of weapon (we had nothing, not even a mace). After a minute we didn’t hear anything else so we walked into our den to discover our backdoor and breakfast room window wide open. We called the police who were at our home immediately. When I calmed down long enough to survey the house I discovered my handbag, my iPhone, and other electronic items missing (the dog barking scared them off before they could get our flat screen completely disconnected). Anyway, we think they were able to access our house through the doggy door (which we’ve since removed).
I’ve learned (from the police and family/friends who have been through similar incidents) a few things since Saturday night about safeguarding yourself and some of your personal information I wanted to share:
· Never leave you handbag, wallet, keys or your cell phone (which can contain your life information) easily accessible. Always remove those items to your bedroom (closet if you can). My handbag was sitting on the den floor by my chair and needless to say I’ve spent 2 days canceling cards, securing funds in my checking/saving accounts, flagging accounts for possible theft, etc. etc. etc.
· Leave your car keys by the bed. If you suspect someone is in your house hit the panic button…the alarm sounds similar to a home alarm system and might just frighten the intruder away.
· Install a deadbolt lock on your bedroom door. Secure the lock if you think someone is in your home, call the police, and loudly announce you have called the police and you have a weapon (my weapon of choice by the way was a leather wedge shoe and I’m fairly certain at this point that wasn’t going to do much good….my sister said I should have at least gone for the stiletto! LOL).
· Lock the doggy door at night (or remove it if possible), some thieves are using children to crawl through the door and unlock windows. If you can, install window locks that secure in the window track.
· Make sure you close all your window blinds/drapes at night. I didn’t and I left a light on in the den for anyone to view the contents of my home….big mistake. The thieves knew what they wanted from my home before they even entered the house.
We don’t know why our house was singled out but the police assured me our yard was most likely not the first yard they were in that night. I suspect it was because the thieves could see in the window and knew exactly what would be easily accessible, and could access the house fairly easily through the doggy door.
Anyway…just wanted to share so you all are aware of what is happening in the area and give you some ideas to help safeguard your home and yourself. By the way, when we were in Lowe’s purchasing new locks, the Lowe’s sales person told us she had just that morning sold new locks to someone from Dickinson who had a similar experience Saturday night.
Share with others to give them a “heads up”….be safe!
Judy
Judy Loney
Director, Special Use Facilities
Office of the President
University of Texas Medical Branch
Judy Loney
Director, Special Use Facilities
Office of the President
University of Texas Medical Branch
I wanted to share a recent personal incident with you all just to make you aware that it could happen to you (and is apparently happening around the TC area) and to give you some tips I’ve learned about safeguarding yourself and your personal information. My husband and I went to bed Saturday night about 1:15 a.m. At 2:00 a.m. our dog started growling really low but loud enough to wake me. I got out of bed and walked to the bedroom door and thought I heard footsteps coming from our den. My husband woke up at that point. I said I think someone’s in the house. We looked around the room for some sort of weapon (we had nothing, not even a mace). After a minute we didn’t hear anything else so we walked into our den to discover our backdoor and breakfast room window wide open. We called the police who were at our home immediately. When I calmed down long enough to survey the house I discovered my handbag, my iPhone, and other electronic items missing (the dog barking scared them off before they could get our flat screen completely disconnected). Anyway, we think they were able to access our house through the doggy door (which we’ve since removed).
I’ve learned (from the police and family/friends who have been through similar incidents) a few things since Saturday night about safeguarding yourself and some of your personal information I wanted to share:
· Never leave you handbag, wallet, keys or your cell phone (which can contain your life information) easily accessible. Always remove those items to your bedroom (closet if you can). My handbag was sitting on the den floor by my chair and needless to say I’ve spent 2 days canceling cards, securing funds in my checking/saving accounts, flagging accounts for possible theft, etc. etc. etc.
· Leave your car keys by the bed. If you suspect someone is in your house hit the panic button…the alarm sounds similar to a home alarm system and might just frighten the intruder away.
· Install a deadbolt lock on your bedroom door. Secure the lock if you think someone is in your home, call the police, and loudly announce you have called the police and you have a weapon (my weapon of choice by the way was a leather wedge shoe and I’m fairly certain at this point that wasn’t going to do much good….my sister said I should have at least gone for the stiletto! LOL).
· Lock the doggy door at night (or remove it if possible), some thieves are using children to crawl through the door and unlock windows. If you can, install window locks that secure in the window track.
· Make sure you close all your window blinds/drapes at night. I didn’t and I left a light on in the den for anyone to view the contents of my home….big mistake. The thieves knew what they wanted from my home before they even entered the house.
We don’t know why our house was singled out but the police assured me our yard was most likely not the first yard they were in that night. I suspect it was because the thieves could see in the window and knew exactly what would be easily accessible, and could access the house fairly easily through the doggy door.
Anyway…just wanted to share so you all are aware of what is happening in the area and give you some ideas to help safeguard your home and yourself. By the way, when we were in Lowe’s purchasing new locks, the Lowe’s sales person told us she had just that morning sold new locks to someone from Dickinson who had a similar experience Saturday night.
Share with others to give them a “heads up”….be safe!
Judy
Judy Loney
Director, Special Use Facilities
Office of the President
University of Texas Medical Branch
I may have to add one to my toys. I have a couple Monadnock batons by doors but no mace (yet). 
