Need some advise

[ssgharkness020147]

To make a long story short, I was at dinner a couple of weeks ago with a friend and got a call from my mom. She asked me if I was at their house (I dont live there). I told her no and asked why, she said that my 16 year old sister heard somebody downstairs, and caused the dogs to run upstairs (they have the most timid black lab alive, and a laberdoodle ). I ducked out on dinner and met her, my father, and the police as fast as I could get there.

Nothing was found, nothing was taken, nothing came of it. The police advised keeping the doors locked and using the security system more often. So life goes on and its over. Nope.

Monday morning my 21 year old sister thats home from school heard footsteps on the first floor at 9:30 AM. Duchess our black lab was so afraid of whatever or who it was downstairs that she was throwing her body against my sisters bedroom door to get in.

My sister went to my parents room, locked the door, called 911, and had the police on the way. This time we are pretty sure all the doors were locked. Again everything was there, some things were knocked over, but it appeared the puppy did it. Police advised to buy pepper spray, keep the security system on at all times, and have the locks changed. Which has all been done. They then went over to the neighbors house to check with their domestic help to see if they saw or knew anything, and follow it up with more patrols. There are 12 cops for 600 people, so there's no shortage of police.

What creeps me out are the intervals which this person came, my mom is at the gym three days a week at the same times. They usually go to dinner on X nights, at X time. But what really bugs me is the time the person is showing up, I dont know if they want to jack the house, or wait for her and or my dad to get home, or my sister for that matter. Predictability is part of the problem in my eyes.

What would you guys do to prevent this stuff in the future. I think a surveilence system would be a good measure, but the houses' walls are 2 feet thick poured concrete, so running wires and all that good stuff will be hard. Camera's at every door to take pics of whomever comes to the house is a must IMO. Guns... I'm all about guns for personal protection. Much to my dismay they are not, guns are out of the question. Any of the above would be a good step in my opinion, but the problem is there are all more or less a reactive solution.

I want them to purchase a warning dog. A dog that will display an aggressive stance on command, but not bite. My apathetic/complacent father would never own a "guard dog", rolling my fuking eyes on that one.

What would you guys do?

[DRTYFN]

Rack a shotgun or handgun loudly. There's not a better deterrent.

[drmiles]

Racking a Shotgun simply alerts the intruder to your location.
Security cameras help the police catch your killer.
You/your family must learn to protect themselves. Shotgun and defense training are a must. If you do not protect yourself, the police will only do paperwork after the fact.


You could get the other neighbors to kick in and hire a security gaurd to patrol at night. Expensive but deters some criminals and take the burden of self defense out of the hands of your family.

I also agree with a good aggressive dog. I have an English Springer Spaniel. Very teritorial and very loud bark. Also he does not bark at just anything. He sleeps outside my bedroom door.

[Adam in CO]

Interesting responses.

Mine suggestion would be to tell your sister to quit being so freakin paranoid.

[Big Dad]

Racking a Shotgun simply alerts the intruder to your location.
Security cameras help the police catch your killer.
You/your family must learn to protect themselves. Shotgun and defense training are a must. If you do not protect yourself, the police will only do paperwork after the fact.


You could get the other neighbors to kick in and hire a security gaurd to patrol at night. Expensive but deters some criminals and take the burden of self defense out of the hands of your family.

I also agree with a good aggressive dog. I have an English Springer Spaniel. Very teritorial and very loud bark. Also he does not bark at just anything. He sleeps outside my bedroom door.

Agreed. Except shotguns make a hell of a mess, that, guess who, is responsible to clean afterwards.

But if it was me, I'd find a way to personally bust them in the act.

And then, go from there....

MHO.

[devilsfan]

So your sisters heard footsteps, the dog flipped out, but no one saw any signs of an intruder and you're pretty sure the doors were locked the 2nd time?

I agree with Adam. Sounds like a mouse in the walls or something the first time. And sister #2 was probably hypervigilant after what happened with sister #1 and thought she heard things. If there really was an intruder, I think the dog would have barked or the guy would have left the door open after getting out of there after seeing a dog.

Save your money on a personal guard and hire an exterminator instead.

Stacy

[ssgharkness020147]

My youngest sister has problems with anxiety, she goes a bit off the deep end at times. However, she is not a paranoid schitzophrenic. The house is old, there are mice that get in the walls and attic. However, I have yet to see a rodent large enough to produce enough noise while scrambling around that it sounds like a man in boots or some other hard sole shoe. Despite the fact that the dogs are totally worthless for protection. I'd bet they'd love to tear a mouse, rat, or raccoon apart given the chance.

[Agriv8r]

move.....house is haunted....

[DDWH]

move.....house is haunted....

:iagree: Call Ghost Busters!

[tower]

Racking a Shotgun simply alerts the intruder to your location.
Security cameras help the police catch your killer.
You/your family must learn to protect themselves. Shotgun and defense training are a must. If you do not protect yourself, the police will only do paperwork after the fact.


You could get the other neighbors to kick in and hire a security gaurd to patrol at night. Expensive but deters some criminals and take the burden of self defense out of the hands of your family.

I also agree with a good aggressive dog. I have an English Springer Spaniel. Very teritorial and very loud bark. Also he does not bark at just anything. He sleeps outside my bedroom door.I agree with all that. You could always surveil the house yourself when Mom is at the gym. In that case it would be good for you to know self defense and how to use a gun. Running lines to a concrete wall... If they are on a dirt or grass floor, you can trench and use flexible conduit. Solid metal conduit to run up the walls for code, but after all, this is low-voltage stuff. This is NOT one that I would chalk up to people being spooked. The consequences of doing so could be devastating.

[jmsspratlin]

Consult a spiritual advisor to cleanse the house

[O3H3]

Rack a shotgun or handgun loudly. There's not a better deterrent.


Drawing is an act of shooting, shooting is an act of killing. I doubt anyone would hear the **tick** of my 1300 coming off safety. Yep, there's always one in the 'pipe'.


Back OT: Get a real dog. I cannot reccomend an Austrialan Shepard enough. All the cajones of a German shepard in a cute, compact package..............

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o137/d01jeep/PICT0066.jpg


That's one on the left :D

[RubHer Yellow Ducky]

He was about 175 lbs and attacked trained...

No one ever messes around at my Moms house

[O3H3]

Danes are good too! :D

They'll 'detain' the indivdual without creating grounds for a lawsuit. ;)

[Big Dad]

Drawing is an act of shooting, shooting is an act of killing. I doubt anyone would hear the **tick** of my 1300 coming off safety. Yep, there's always one in the 'pipe'.


Back OT: Get a real dog. I cannot reccomend an Austrialan Shepard enough. All the cajones of a German shepard in a cute, compact package..............

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o137/d01jeep/PICT0066.jpg


That's one on the left :D

I like the way you think! There's always one in the pipe of my 1911 .45 acp also!

;)

[jmsspratlin]

Drawing is an act of shooting, shooting is an act of killing. I doubt anyone would hear the **tick** of my 1300 coming off safety. Yep, there's always one in the 'pipe'.


Back OT: Get a real dog. I cannot reccomend an Austrialan Shepard enough. All the cajones of a German shepard in a cute, compact package..............

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o137/d01jeep/PICT0066.jpg


That's one on the left :D


Those your dogs? Whose ever they are...they are def pretty :beerchug:

[mikejr]

I'd suggest that you do some recon on the house yourself. You would need to get into the house without alot of people seeing you so to speak so the perp also wouldnt see you in the property.

Another thought and please dont take this the wrong way, but could this be an act of your sister to get attention? Seems there would be some evidence of an entry.

I always say, in Glock we trust.

[Agriv8r]

...they are def pretty :beerchug:

thats a little scary....tmi....

[NJ H2]

This might work:
http://www.wilife.com/Home/Products/Indoor-Camera.aspx
http://www.wilife.com/Images/ProductImages/Heros-System/SYSTEMHERO-indoor-webres.gif

This will work: :D

http://www.hkpro.com/usp45light.jpg

[DRTYFN]

My youngest sister has problems with anxiety, she goes a bit off the deep end at times. However, she is not a paranoid schitzophrenic. The house is old, there are mice that get in the walls and attic. However, I have yet to see a rodent large enough to produce enough noise while scrambling around that it sounds like a man in boots or some other hard sole shoe. Despite the fact that the dogs are totally worthless for protection. I'd bet they'd love to tear a mouse, rat, or raccoon apart given the chance.
Oh, now you decide to add that little tidbit. That's kind of an important detail to leave out.

[drmiles]

Shoot first ask questions later

:jump:

[ssgharkness020147]

Seeing, as how the other sister has all her marbles I disagree. Not to mention there have been house sitters at the house lately, who could have easily made copies of the keys.



Oh, now you decide to add that little tidbit. That's kind of an important detail to leave out.

[Big Dad]

I wanted to ask about the key issue...but figured you'd be having the locks re-keyed. House-sitters, hmmm, there's another interesting twist. What would you want to do to one of those trusty house-sitters? You might not want to put a hole in someone after all.

[ssgharkness020147]

I just thought about the house sitter component today. I asked my mom about her and her character. I guess she's engaged, makes sense I stopped over when she was house sitting and there were two chairs out in the breakfast room. Supposedly they are some "born again" type people, people I dont trust one bit. Regardless, if it were them or not, the had NO business coming back in to the home when they did.

[3Hummer]

coudl have been the dog running? Maybe freaked out froms oemthing it saw out the window? and when it ran it created those sounds? And youd otn a huge vicous dog to be vicous, if my dog tiny little 9.5 lb maltese hears something outside she goes insane i know if was a robber and heard that id be scared of what would happen, also now whoever is inside is alert. But defintly look for a system with a camera to set up, safety is worth any cost. and perhaps "stake out" and see if youj see anything suspicous. or set upa video camera when your parents are out just on record so if you hear anything after the fact you can go and look.

[3Hummer]

coudl have been the dog running? Maybe freaked out froms oemthing it saw out the window? and when it ran it created those sounds? And youd otn a huge vicous dog to be vicous, if my dog tiny little 9.5 lb maltese hears something outside she goes insane i know if was a robber and heard that id be scared of what would happen, also now whoever is inside is alert. But defintly look for a system with a camera to set up, safety is worth any cost. and perhaps "stake out" and see if youj see anything suspicous. or set upa video camera when your parents are out just on record so if you hear anything after the fact you can go and look.

[3Hummer]

coudl have been the dog running? Maybe freaked out froms oemthing it saw out the window? and when it ran it created those sounds? And youd otn a huge vicous dog to be vicous, if my dog tiny little 9.5 lb maltese hears something outside she goes insane i know if was a robber and heard that id be scared of what would happen, also now whoever is inside is alert. But defintly look for a system with a camera to set up, safety is worth any cost. and perhaps "stake out" and see if youj see anything suspicous. or set upa video camera when your parents are out just on record so if you hear anything after the fact you can go and look.

and similar story, my best buddy called me up freakin when this one happened he was in Texas visiting his cousins. There was construction going on around the neighboorhood and what not. Anyway they were upstairs hear someone bust the door open, a vase knock over and shatter and then after whent hey went to check it out the door handle area was broken and the vase was shattered but nothing was taken or anything else.