How would you handle a thief casing your home?

[stormtrooperx]

Every week I hear about another case of a would-be burglar casing homes in our neighborhood, the pattern's become pretty predictable: they bang and bang on your door for several minutes, and if you answer, they have a standard ruse: does so-and-so live here, need your gutters cleaned (for a home that doesn't even have trees), etc... If nobody answers, they go around back and break in.

On one hand, I feel bad when I answer the door, knowing they're just going to go rob one of my neighbors that aren't home (and I hear those sad stories on a regular basis), yet I also don't want to invite trouble (for all I know this person could be armed).

What would you do? Wait for the person to do something, then call 911 hoping they catch them in the act? Just send them on to the next home? Answer, and then call PD and report a suspicious person? What advice would you give?

[uzigalil]

photograph them

[Tarmy]

[jfk]

Answer the door. Take a covert picture with your cell phone of the person. If someone acts like a solicitor, ask them for a copy of their clearance from the local police. A solicitor must be investigated and cleared by the local authorities. Politely ask them to show you their clearance. That tells crooks you know the procedure. Most crooks leave and don't return.

[Philinsocal]

This has been a problem in our neighborhood as well. I answered the door with a barking (and vicious sounding dog) and then called the police to report suspicious people in the neighborhood (it is always a team of at least 3 including the driver).

[sanjoseskater]

In Cupertino?? That's a nice city

[rivraton]

Every week I hear about another case of a would-be burglar casing homes in our neighborhood, the pattern's become pretty predictable: they bang and bang on your door for several minutes, and if you answer, they have a standard ruse: does so-and-so live here, need your gutters cleaned (for a home that doesn't even have trees), etc... If nobody answers, they go around back and break in.

On one hand, I feel bad when I answer the door, knowing they're just going to go rob one of my neighbors that aren't home (and I hear those sad stories on a regular basis), yet I also don't want to invite trouble (for all I know this person could be armed).

What would you do? Wait for the person to do something, then call 911 hoping they catch them in the act? Just send them on to the next home? Answer, and then call PD and report a suspicious person? What advice would you give?

Watch my back door

[psssniper]

I take a surreptitious look at the security camera behind him, the front door has a simplisafe sticker on it and if he looks close enough the pissed off owner has a .45 on his hip. I also usually say something to the effect of "you better stop talkin and start walkin" while making little walk away motions with my fingers.... unfortunately I have no visible abs

[Guns and guitars]

Put a few cameras up. A sign that warns of alarm system or dog.

Then spend more time sitting in the dark.


Quietly.


With a shotgun across your legs.

[sfe187]

1. If you are home - After interact with the casing subject, if you feel the subject is not known or does not belong to your neighborhood, or something just don't feel right. Put a call your local PD with good description. Depend on how busy your PD are, usually they'll respond quickly. If you live in a ghetto neighborhood, maybe not so you just have to defend yourself. Always have your firearm in near-by mode as you never know like some have suggested, back door.

Don't be a hero and go and confront if your neighbor is being burglarized. Witness and call it in.

2. If you are not home - I suggest you get one of those Ring cameras WITH A LOUD PANIC ALARM. Usually when they hear loud alarm going off, they'll flee.

[dozer wright]

Anyone on my Property with no business being there gets meet with anger and Aggression.
I've caught guys Snooping even people parking in front of house. All it takes is A hey how you doing . Are you waiting on someone ? No ? . Been lots of breakins around here so if you don't have a reason to be here I'd suggest you go on your way . As not to get caught up .

[God Bless America]

I would wait in the back with a phone and a gun. Phone first, shooting as a last resort.

[sbo80]

that's one of the oldest burgler tricks in the book.

[splithoof]

Answer the door carefully while holding a tape measure. Ask the solicitor to hold one end of the tape while you take measurements of them. Call out loudly towards the inside "Betty-Sue Jane, call up ya pappy and asks him if he has room fer one more, a medium-sized feller".
Bet he leaves quickly.

[71MUSTY]

Same thing happened to us. When we didn't answer the door they threw a bag of dog food over the fence and opened the gate.

Dog was smart enough not to touch the food and bit them instead.


Next day I installed cameras and lights. No problems since.