[GTGallop]

I live in a nice neighborhood in North Phoenix. As you find in any neighborhood there is always a criminal element. You can NEVER let your guard down.

But apparently my neighbors don't realize that. I hear about cars burglarized over night. Thieves get laptops, wallets, purses, checkbooks, cell phones, GARAGE DOOR OPENERS, one lady had her kids Christmas presents in the car overnight and one kid had his XBox stolen out of the car. Then there are the home break-ins. Homes here range from $250,000 to $650,000. Who has a house worth over a half a million dollars and doesn't have an alarm or a camera? These people lose TONS of things and their house and sense of personal security gets trashed in the process. TV's, computers, electronics, jewelry, personal files that are later used for identity theft.

I've talked to them, tried to help them, tried to show them simple little things they can do to keep the smash and grab opportunistic thieves at bay, and yet these people keep getting hit. Some cars and some homes more than once.

Here is the kicker - The neighborhood coddles them and tells them how horrible this is and that they are VICTIMS. Then when I approach it from the slightly hard-line stance of "you people need to quit being soft and inviting crime into the neighborhood," then I'm the monster - hated almost as much as the druggies that got $4,000 worth of shit out of someones car last night.

I agree crime and theft is wrong and no one deserves it, but like Clint Eastwood said, "deserves got nuthin to do with it." You look after your own stuff. If you are lucky, you get a good neighbor that is as attentive as you are and they'll cover your six when you are away. But not these people, they are so soft and blissfully ignorant that if TEOTWAWKI ever happens this will be ground zero for Mexican Biker Rape Squads to start pillaging.

BAAAAHHHHH!!!!!

 

[GTGallop]

OH and KEYS! Some people have left KEYS to their house and job in their UNLOCKED CAR over night. Who does that? Seriously?

 

[Targetshooter]

sounds like you live in a neighborhood you wish you didn't live in ..

 

[Auntie]

I live in a nice neighborhood in North Phoenix. As you find in any neighborhood there is always a criminal element. You can NEVER let your guard down.

But apparently my neighbors don't realize that. I hear about cars burglarized over night. Thieves get laptops, wallets, purses, checkbooks, cell phones, GARAGE DOOR OPENERS, one lady had her kids Christmas presents in the car overnight and one kid had his XBox stolen out of the car. Then there are the home break-ins. Homes here range from $250,000 to $650,000. Who has a house worth over a half a million dollars and doesn't have an alarm or a camera? These people lose TONS of things and their house and sense of personal security gets trashed in the process. TV's, computers, electronics, jewelry, personal files that are later used for identity theft.

I've talked to them, tried to help them, tried to show them simple little things they can do to keep the smash and grab opportunistic thieves at bay, and yet these people keep getting hit. Some cars and some homes more than once.

Here is the kicker - The neighborhood coddles them and tells them how horrible this is and that they are VICTIMS. Then when I approach it from the slightly hard-line stance of "you people need to quit being soft and inviting crime into the neighborhood," then I'm the monster - hated almost as much as the druggies that got $4,000 worth of shit out of someones car last night.

I agree crime and theft is wrong and no one deserves it, but like Clint Eastwood said, "deserves got nuthin to do with it." You look after your own stuff. If you are lucky, you get a good neighbor that is as attentive as you are and they'll cover your six when you are away. But not these people, they are so soft and blissfully ignorant that if TEOTWAWKI ever happens this will be ground zero for Mexican Biker Rape Squads to start pillaging.

BAAAAHHHHH!!!!!

I am so glad I live in a rural setting. I hope you have extra security and a way to barricade yourself. Remember the Alamo

 

[Prepared One]

That's one of many reasons I want out of the city GT. Dumbass neighbors. They make the whole neighborhood a target rich environment by being naive. Wait till there is a home invasion and someone is killed. Then they will all ask how such a thing could happen in such a nice neighborhood.

 

[GTGallop]

sounds like you live in a neighborhood you wish you didn't live in ..

Love my neighborhood! Even love my neighbors, well, most of them, well ok like a few. Alright! SIX I love SIX of my neighbors.
But seriously, it is the sheeple / ostrich cross breeding mentality that probably 25% of them have that really gets me. I think if they just hung their head in shame and quietly licked their wounds I'd be fine but they are almost bragging and pandering for sympathy about it - oh woe is me, my house that I leave unlocked while I go jogging was robbed! The nerve of some people. Oh I guess I'm just a hopeless victim now. This wouldn't happen if there was no crime in the neighborhood and no one told me it was a bad idea to leave the house unlocked; jogging with the extra weight of a key is just so much.

I am so glad I live in a rural setting. I hope you have extra security and a way to barricade yourself. Remember the Alamo

Not outlining my Security SOP but I have the things you'd probably EXPECT. Locks, lights, security doors, cameras, alarm system, safes, off site storage. Are we impenetrable? By all means no. But I am probably in the top 10% of homes in my neighborhood and I haven't done anything extreme. All just common sense stuff that everyone should do.

 

[GTGallop]

That's one of many reasons I want out of the city GT. Dumbass neighbors. They make the whole neighborhood a target rich environment by being naive. Wait till there is a home invasion and someone is killed. Then they will all ask how such a thing could happen in such a nice neighborhood.

I KNOW you know The Woodlands - Back in the 80's when it was smaller, the hike and bike paths were all the rage. People would go out running or biking at 11:30 PM on those unlit paths that ran through the woods and about once a month some one was mugged or raped. In the 90's there was one or two (ABC13 wasn't sure) serial rapists hitting women. We had a stretch of one to two rapes a week one summer. And yet the typical woodlandites were always shocked and outraged when it happened - but they kept jogging through the woods with no guns or mace or anything. Every time it happened , the church where the victim went would hold a prayer vigil for their recovery and a fund raiser to help with their medical costs.

Blew my mind how utterly stupid these people were. They kept saying, "But we're the WOODLANDS and crime doesn't happen here!" Guess what Miffy - it sure as hell does!

 

[Mad Trapper]

There were some B + Es in my town about a year ago, druggies feeding their habits. Everyone in my neighborhood was on the lookout for everyone else. Everyone hunts and are well armed and know how to hit what they aim at, even their teenage kids.

We are on a dead end road and anyone who drives through gets a good look over. Suspicious types usually get asked politely if they are "lost". Last time this happened to me it was a van with out of state plates, containing three sketchy men eyeing houses/properties as the drove by. A friend and I happened to be cleaning rifles, so we walked out to the road, and we asked if they were "lost". They were surprised two men with rifles "came to their aid", and gave a BS story about trying to find a road back to their state............never saw them again.

 

[txmarine6531]

I don't live in the best of areas, and I've had a jack stolen out of the back of my truck (my fault, forgot to bring it in, cheap jack), and someone broke into the tool box on my truck and stole a socket set and wrench set that I've had since 2002. Other than that, it's actually kinda quiet around here. Every once in a while I hear a gun shot ring out, I think, lots of fireworks go off all year round here so I can't be entirely sure. The area I grew up in used to be almost crime free. It was no big deal to leave windows down, doors unlocked, keys in ignition, house unlocked and you didn't worry. Was even able to do that out in town. And most trucks you walked past had a gun or two floating around in the cab. Not these days though.

 

[NotTooProudToHide]

I live in a nice neighborhood in North Phoenix. As you find in any neighborhood there is always a criminal element. You can NEVER let your guard down.

But apparently my neighbors don't realize that. I hear about cars burglarized over night. Thieves get laptops, wallets, purses, checkbooks, cell phones, GARAGE DOOR OPENERS, one lady had her kids Christmas presents in the car overnight and one kid had his XBox stolen out of the car. Then there are the home break-ins. Homes here range from $250,000 to $650,000. Who has a house worth over a half a million dollars and doesn't have an alarm or a camera? These people lose TONS of things and their house and sense of personal security gets trashed in the process. TV's, computers, electronics, jewelry, personal files that are later used for identity theft.

I've talked to them, tried to help them, tried to show them simple little things they can do to keep the smash and grab opportunistic thieves at bay, and yet these people keep getting hit. Some cars and some homes more than once.

Here is the kicker - The neighborhood coddles them and tells them how horrible this is and that they are VICTIMS. Then when I approach it from the slightly hard-line stance of "you people need to quit being soft and inviting crime into the neighborhood," then I'm the monster - hated almost as much as the druggies that got $4,000 worth of shit out of someones car last night.

I agree crime and theft is wrong and no one deserves it, but like Clint Eastwood said, "deserves got nuthin to do with it." You look after your own stuff. If you are lucky, you get a good neighbor that is as attentive as you are and they'll cover your six when you are away. But not these people, they are so soft and blissfully ignorant that if TEOTWAWKI ever happens this will be ground zero for Mexican Biker Rape Squads to start pillaging.

BAAAAHHHHH!!!!!

Believe me its not just you its a plague in our area, at one point it was an every night occurrence and its the same song and dance every time. Call comes in, officers respond, the suspects are either out of the area or they run like hell and officers have to use force to arrest them, and then after officers canvass the neighborhood they find 10+ cars have been hit.

The real kicker is the SOB's that get caught are doing it again within a week because the courts only give them around 5 minutes in jail before releasing them and giving them a gift card for the inconvenience.

 

[Arklatex]

I lived in a high crime area for awhile. I learned all the common sense things and use them even now in an area with almost no violent crime. We get a couple burglaries and domestic violence type stuff all related to drugs. Maybe a murder once every 5 years. What I find funny and disturbing at the same time is when I have friends or neighbors over. They are always surprised that all doors, sheds, vehicles, etc are lock up tight and secure. I just ask them why wouldn't you lock that stuff up? Never got a good answer to that...

 

[Maine-Marine]

The soft ones provide and easy target so the bad folks do not mess with US....

 

[Prepared One]

I KNOW you know The Woodlands - Back in the 80's when it was smaller, the hike and bike paths were all the rage. People would go out running or biking at 11:30 PM on those unlit paths that ran through the woods and about once a month some one was mugged or raped. In the 90's there was one or two (ABC13 wasn't sure) serial rapists hitting women. We had a stretch of one to two rapes a week one summer. And yet the typical woodlandites were always shocked and outraged when it happened - but they kept jogging through the woods with no guns or mace or anything. Every time it happened , the church where the victim went would hold a prayer vigil for their recovery and a fund raiser to help with their medical costs.

Blew my mind how utterly stupid these people were. They kept saying, "But we're the WOODLANDS and crime doesn't happen here!" Guess what Miffy - it sure as hell does!

Maybe it's because they feel sheltered and that's the way the were raised. I had the unseen benefit of growing up in a neighborhood that taught me different. Trust no one and stand your ground or you will be a target. Crime is no longer limited to just the bad areas of town.

 

[Arklatex]

The soft ones provide and easy target so the bad folks do not mess with US....

Or maybe the soft ones attract the bad folks who may make the mistake of messing with you... Better to not have soft targets in the first place.

 

[Camel923]

Security is an issue to me and Mrs. Camel. Two dogs and the house and barn are wired to an alarm. I openly confront any one trespassing to find out what their business is. i do not want anyone feeling comfortable enjoying my property uninvited. I annoyed the neighbors with a complete survey when I moved in and a few were not pleased were the lines where. Not my fault they bought and failed to survey their property and believed what they were told.

 

[SGT E]

It ain't just the rich...It's Middle class or Low class AND it's today's Generation....Here near Lexington Ky your always hearing about someone losing credit cards...cash....car keys...car taken with keys...Car taken with keys, billfold ,weapon,wifes purse and that was after the thief had come in the house in the middle of the night and stole the big screen TV.


Friggin Idiots!


Come a serious SHTF event these people are beggars and the first to get gone.....Not a lick of common sense between a hundred of em!

 

[Doc Holliday]

When I was a kid living in Maine, my aunt used to work at the bank in Sherman Station.. She would leave her windows on her can down, keys in it and purse sitting on the seat. No one would even think of stealing it.... This is no longer those days!

I just moved up here to Oregon, the wife and I watch our grand babies so both the parents can work to afford a home some day. We had to move into a not so nice neighborhood. The first day while we were moving the boxes into the garage, we had some shady looking neighbors watching what we were doing. The closest neighbors (a couple black kids) were watching and caught that I was carrying my 1911 (opps, it was supposed to be concealed) They asked if I always carried, I said each one of us is always armed. So far, no one has looked at the property again. Hope it stays that way until we can afford our forever home away from the city.

On another note.... When I was young and single, I loved my soft neighbors

 

[kevincali]

I'm lucky that where I'm at, it's a "decent" street. Dead end, dirt road, unlit. A week or so ago, in the new neighborhood behind me, 2 guys were breaking in in the middle of the day. I could throw a rock and hit the house that got broken into. Luckily there was a 12yo home that called the cops.

In MY neighborhood, it's fairly good. There was a home invasion down the street a few years back, but we think he owed his connect some money for drugs. So it was a targeted incident.

No strange vehicles come up here. I know what all the neighbors vehicles sound like, down to how it sounds on the gravel portion in front of my house.

My neighbors are not too soft. The end house is a rental. He has a flood light on a pole he keeps on during the night that lights up the street down to my house. Annoying? A bit but it's his light bill, not mine haha.

My mom and gramma seem soft but aren't. My mom used to have a substance abuse problem. When she got arrested, she fought the officer pretty good. She isn't weak hehe. She's clean now, but still a badass if need be

My house gets locked up TIGHT. I have a friend staying with me, but he is moving out. One thing we disagreed on was that he kept his outside bedroom door unlocked when he left. I would lock his inside bedroom door from inside the house, and he didn't like it. Yeah I live in a busted trailer, in a street of busted trailers. But thieves don't care. Luckily, it's been quiet. Right now, I have tools in the back of the 4x4, and I know they'll be there in the morning. That doesn't mean I'll leave the keys in the ignition.

My other neighbor is a single mom of 2 college kids. The times that stuff has gone down on this street, she has thanked me for intervening.

As far as the rest of the neighbors, they all have adult males in the house to protect them if need be. But since we all watch each other's backs, there has been no need.

Oh and as far as being "soft", the last time someone lived on this street that we didn't like, there house got burned down. Wether it was because of the meth they were cooking, or an outside source, I will never know.

 

[tirednurse]

OH and KEYS! Some people have left KEYS to their house and job in their UNLOCKED CAR over night. Who does that? Seriously?

ummmm me. I have never locked my vehicles or my house door in the 18 years I have lived here. I leave the car keys in the ignition on all my vehicles. that way I don't ever have to look for them.
I have never been robbed. All of my neighbors all around me have, some more than once. Nobody ever has tried here.

 

[Plumbum]

ummmm me. I have never locked my vehicles or my house door in the 18 years I have lived here. I leave the car keys in the ignition on all my vehicles. that way I don't ever have to look for them.
I have never been robbed. All of my neighbors all around me have, some more than once. Nobody ever has tried here.

Could it be the severed heads on poles lining the driveway works as a deterrent to would be thieves?