[traevin]

Now this is a moot question if you keep dogs indoors while you're away; but for those w/out dogs, do you take any precautionary measures upon entering your home? If you think about it, that's where some of us are most likely to let our guard down.

 

[Patrickl]

Originally posted by traevin:
Now this is a moot question if you keep dogs indoors while you're away; but for those w/out dogs, do you take any precautionary measures upon entering your home? If you think about it, that's where some of us are most likely to let our guard down.

I'm not sure I clearly understand why you believe this would be a moot question if one keeps a dog in the house. Are you saying that people who have dogs in the house need to be cautious because their own dog might attack them or are you assuming that the dog would take care of any intruder, thus when you arrive home you don't have to worry?

Let us examine the first premise. If a person has to be cautious of their own dog I sure hope they don’t have children. I have no patients with aggressive dogs. I really smacked the living daylights out of a department K-9 once with a sap glove when the damn think took a chunk out of my Tuffy Jacket. The dog was in the back seat with the window partially down. I was simply giving the officer/handler some paperwork when the dog decided to bite me. The dog was permanently removed from duty that instant. I still cringe to think of the consequences if a child and not me had been bitten.

Now let us look at the latter assumption. I don’t know about your dog but my dog will bark if a stranger is outside but I don’t believe that she would actually scare away a determined intruder. I have had to make forced entry into homes for a variety of reasons over the years where LARGE and/or VERY aggressive dogs were contained. I have never had any problem easily dealing with them. Meat is an incredible peacemaker/distracter.

With all of that said a good alarm is an excellent idea. I would avoid internal motion / body heat detectors and stick with simple contact and glass breakage perimeter alarms. The former alarm types are notorious for false alarms and us cops just hate them.

Now, continuing, NEVER assume anything. Pay attention to what you are doing. If you are returning to your home have your guard up. Don’t have your hands full of groceries when you first enter the house. Clear the house first and then bring in your purchases. I am not advocating that you clear the house with gun drawn in a full blown tactical operation but you should be alert and satisfy yourself that no one unexpected has decided to take up unauthorized residence.

Some of the things that I have done to tip me off are to use “fake” but very expensive looking items as bait. I have left a counterfeit “Rolex” on the entryway table of my home. If I don’t see that “Rolex” as I enter things are not right.

Now back to dogs. My dog goes just about everywhere I do. When I come home my buddy goes in first while I kind of loiter outside watering the plants. She is my point man or girl if you like and if someone unauthorized is inside I will know very quickly. If she hasn’t gone with me and I am not greeted at the front door when I first open it, it’s time to pay attention because this is out of the ordinary.

Hopefully I don’t sound paranoid or crazy but it has just become habit.




[This message has been edited by Patrickl (edited 05-16-2001).]

 

[traevin]

Now this is a moot question if you keep dogs indoors while you're away

Patrick,

If someone has a dog in the house and it has free reign to roam, chances are very good that it will meet that person at the door, or at least bark. If not, chances are very good that someone has disposed of the pet/s, so one would know something's terribly wrong before even entering the home.

I also take my dogs just about everywhere I go. In the summer, they stay in the air-conditioned car while I run errands. But when I get home, they're usually the first to enter the house. Fortunately, I haven't had to test me theory; but I believe my dogs would know if someone was waiting in ambush inside my house.

But again, for those w/out dogs, do you take any special precautions when returning to an empty house?

 

[Citizen_Gilmore]

Nothing special, just being observant, the same as in public.. I could never just come in and sit down with out walking through the house first.. -Gilmore

[This message has been edited by Citizen_Gilmore (edited 05-17-2001).]

 

[Recon]

The best alarm system you can have is the old retired couple next door. They know everything that comes and goes for 3 blocks. I've bagged three burglary in progresses due to the elderly people calling. People spend big bucks for a monitored alarm system what a waste. These companies hire complete idiots. The alarm goes off they call us from 3 states away and then don't have directions, key holders or even speak english. If you rely on an alarm I hope you have damn good insurance! Just a cops ranting!

 

[Neil Casper]

We live on a dead end street with eight homes, in a very small village. Population under 700.
The police Chief lives around the corner, the judge lives across the street, everyone else is retired and at home.
I have a 60 pound dog and four Attack Cats roaming the house when my wife and I are away.
Shortly after moving in I had a repairman come in during the day while we were at work. Five minutes after he pulled into the driveway the Chief was there asking questions and he called me at work to verify the story.
Some would say my neighbors are nosy, but I love it! People looking out for each other instead of turning away because "It ain't my business."
Now I make sure I notify the neighbors of expected deliveries and call the police if someone will be working at the house.
This is a very low crime area!

------------------
Neil
"I AM my brothers keeper"

 

[Citizen_Gilmore]

Originally posted by Neil Casper:
We live on a dead end street with eight homes, in a very small village. Population under 700.
The police Chief lives around the corner, the judge lives across the street, everyone else is retired and at home.
I have a 60 pound dog and four Attack Cats roaming the house when my wife and I are away.
Shortly after moving in I had a repairman come in during the day while we were at work. Five minutes after he pulled into the driveway the Chief was there asking questions and he called me at work to verify the story.
Some would say my neighbors are nosy, but I love it! People looking out for each other instead of turning away because "It ain't my business."
Now I make sure I notify the neighbors of expected deliveries and call the police if someone will be working at the house.
This is a very low crime area!

WOW where do you live, mayberry?? LOL Thats a nice situation you have there..

------------------
ME,WE!

 

[simion_levi]

Anyone know if i can get the 'old folks next door' alarm system by mail order?

 

[10EC]

I don't know about anyone else, but I tend to take precautionary measures BEFORE I leave the house, and upon returning, plus I also have a dog. What do I mean about precautionary? Well, something as simple as glancing around the house prior to leaving might some day save your life. Alot of people tend to take their safety for granted, because most of us thankfully will not be victims of major crimes in our lifetimes. So, we tend to take things lightly, as in.......it couldn't/wouldn't happen to me. So again, something as simple as noticing the order in which you left things when you left your house can save you. Upon your return, when you walk in the door, you just may immediately become aware if something is out of place, or just "different". Face it, if you are concerned enough to be "carrying", and follow the alert conditions required in doing so, then why should you view entering and leaving you home any differently, regardless of where you live?