Posted: 1/11/2008 11:38:53 AM EDT
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Hey. I've got a friend who lives in Wasilla, and he's got a bit of a problem. I'll just copy/paste the message here (warning: naughty language): ================= Heres the story. Yesterday someones house next to ours was broken into. Their shit stolen (obviously), their dogs and their puppies killed. Guess who's yard they used to get there and back? Thats right, ours. So, as you may well know, I am not a fan of being staked out by a robber (and I am seriously not kidding). The guy circles around this neighborhood and I have seen him stop at our driveway and stare at our house. He robbed six places in the last two days. Heres my predicament. I don't feel like having my day ruined by a robber robbing us during the day, seeings how I am fucking here. Oh yeah, did I mention that? He does it during the day. He robs here because everyone usually works in Anchorage, they can't exactly get back in a few minutes if something happens to their house, or if their kids call. This guy is literally fucking inspecting our house during the day, I have actually seen him, I am seriously not kidding. Heres the question I pose to Mes and you (pass this onto him, will you? I don't write him very much due to him not having a working computer, etc), what should we (or I) do? ================== Aside from a few general things (call the cops, arm yourselves, don't be in the house all the time, etc.), I've got no real solid advice for him. I'm not a security expert or anything, I just like guns. He's 17, so he can't just stroll down to the local... whatever Wasilla has and buy a gun. I'm considering roadtripping down from Fairbanks with his bro and some guns, though I'm not sure if we have a car between us that'll make it there in one piece anyway. 'Sides, I'm broke. I'm waiting to see if he can convince his pseudo anti-gun parents to arm the household, currently. Outside of that, does anyone here have some good, general anti-robber tips? I dunno, maybe his folks will be more receptive to other security... "solutions." It doesn't seem like dogs are a fantastic deterrent to this particular gang of thieves, though, so that's probably off the table. I'm not asking for people to lend guns or money, just advice. Any would be appreciated. Thanks. |
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He has seen this guy and 1) not gotten a license plate/general description, 2) called the cops? WTF? He should arm himself with a video camera and if he sees the guy he should record him and call the police. Small tips like that are usually what breaks open a case Now, if this person should decide to break into his house all bets are off I am not sure, but I dont think Castle Docterine in Alaska extends to others property. How did the guy kill the dogs? Short of shooting my two dogs, it would be tough to kill them before one or both of them ate you and even shooting them would probably only slightly better the odds into his favor. |
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Yeah, I was wondering about the dogs myself. Might be the dogs were chained up outside or something... not likely, winter and all, but who knows. Apparently he lives in not so great a neighborhood. Seems affluent enough from what I hear about their house, but they've had tweakers try to break into their house before. Nothing serious like smashing windows, but walking up and trying the doorknob, walking around the house looking for easy ways to get in, shit like that. Most of it started right after they moved in, about a year ago. Quieted down until this newest rash of robberies. I've told him he needs a description of the car, driver, etc. Maybe he has one, I haven't heard back from him for a little while. The video camera's a pretty good idea. I also told him to go to a police station and file a report or whatever, that way it won't be so out of the blue if he calls about a car sitting in his driveway with the driver staring at their house. Granted, I'm mostly talking out of my ass here, I don't have the first clue as to how one would present this to police... going mostly on what I assume are good ideas. Also, I'd imagine the police are looking for these guys. I mean, six robberies in two days, all in the same little area, puppies getting killed and shit. Savage, I tell ya. My thinking is either the cops are incredibly busy taking care of tweakers or they've already got the guy(s). Hopefully the latter. |
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I agree with uafgrad. He needs to call the cops with a description of the guy and car, license #, etc. Tell them he is a suspicious character in a neighborhood with multiple robberies lately. What neighborhood is it? I live in wasilla and am stuck at home with injury. People stop in front of my driveway all the time it seems... |
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There's alot you can do in terms of home security. One key is to make your house less attractive than the others. Good exterior lights, motion sensitive are good. Have people drop in throughout the day at odd times. If he/they are casing your house, and cannot establish a pattern they will look elsewhere for easier pickings. Clear brush and hiding places from your property. Keep your doors an windows locked. Get an alarm system, or at least some fake placards and window stickers. Of course, get a description and license plate if you can. If you see them, let them know that you see them. Go out and let them see you writing down the license plate. Don't confront them, or challenge them, but once they know they've been seen, they probably wont come back. He is young, and I would never recommend he attempt to fight them. He should get out and away and call the cops if there is trouble. You don't need a vigillante scenario or worse here. The best and only advice is to keep awake, aware, keep nots, call the cops, and get out if there's trouble. Also get a neighborhood watch going. The police or troopers can help. |
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Dog Fatally Hurt During Robbery This happened next to your buddies house? Like posted above, tell your buddy to get a video camera... ~Dg84 |
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Agreed. If he can’t use a gun, then he should use the next most dangerous weapon. A video camera. Video these idiots ( be damned sure he isn’t seen ), and then play the videos into a usb tuner ( pinnacle sells them cheap ). Upload the videos to Liveleak.com ... and be sure to get closeups of faces and license plate numbers. Then spread the link around town ... post it on telephone poles in the neighborhood at night. If the kid doesn’t have a gun, his neighbors certainly do. Either a neighbor will deal with the problem, or the police will be embarrassed into dealing with it. |
| I like the idea of taking vids/photos especially if the perp knows he's been photoed. A few years ago I had two young kids(8yr olds) come to my door looking for their dog. I engaged them in conversation by asking them alot of questions like: describe your dog, who are your parents, where do you live and so on. Of course if I found their dog i wanted to let them know. it turned out these kids were breaking into homes in the area but left mine alone. I live in Meadow Lakes in a rural area and when I see strange vehicles or people checking out vacent lots and so forth I go talk to them. If they are up to no good they need to know the've been noticed. I would not accuse them of anything (approach determines response) but I will try to find out who they are and what they are doing. Nothing wrong with that. Just being friendly. |