Friday Not A Good Day:

[painman]

This could be a long story but will try and keep it short. I've lived at my current address in Antioch, Ca. for 27 years and 11 of those with my wife and step children. Haven't had much crime in our area until the last 3 or 4 years as people are moving in from Richmond and Oakland and Mexico. Not saying race is a problem here but facts don't lie. There have been stabbings, shootings, home invasions, robberies, drug deals on our street, etc. since the immigration into our town. Crime has increased 18% since last year that had an increase of 14%. Long story short, our home was robbed friday between 11 and 2 pm and no we don't have an alarm. Usually our dogs are here(reason for no alarm), when were not and friday I took them to my mom's while I did some yard work for her and just to give the dogs a day out. Luckilly we were not hit as bad as could been and only lost about 5 or 6 thousand dollars mainly jewelry, camera, palm pilot and misc. other items. Luckilly one of our neighbors saw one of the suspects going across a field from the rear of our house and was trying to break in to a residence directly behind us and called police. They chased 3 suspects through yards and finally cornered one behind a church near us and the other 2 got away. The one they caught was a 12 year old black kid with my daughter's laptop and some of my wifes jewelry on his person. (They said one that got away was 11), They arrested the 12 year old and he is locked up. This could have been worse as I am usually home and if I had been home and caught up in that situation I'm affraid I would have wasted a 12 year old black kid and buddies. The cop's said they probablly would have not done the robbery if our dogs were there. He said they "ping" houses with small rocks to see if any reaction is present and if not gain entry while one watches for anyone coming. The police said 4 houses very near our's were robbed that day within minutes of each other. We did recover a few items including my daughter's laptop. But believe me this is not over for the punks that did this or their parents. The "big" problem is my wife and daughter do not want to live here anymore and frankly I'm being forced to leave our home! With or without me they are leaving! Try and don't let this happen to you. This sucks. PM. <>< :angry:

 

[Fencer]

The new neighborhood could be just as bad. upscale or low scale it does not matter. if you are the target they will "pop" you. they hit the upscale neighborhoods as well.

Why? this could be viewed as political but trying not to make it so: The justice system allows it. I used to work as a juvy counselor in two diff "boot camps" that IMHO were jokes. The 12 yo and his parents where pretty much finished with the system as soon as they were picked up. Sure they will have a few court dates at the taxpayers expence, but that is pretty much gonna be it. and the kids will continue to do it.

In college I wrote a paper on "Deterence theory". The punishment has to out-weigh the crime in laymens terms. And in many cases it does not.

Would you ride your bike in tripple digits if the fine was $5. sure you would all the time and be happy to pay the $5 when you got cought.

If:

$100

$500

$5000 and three months in jail with an impounded bike. prob not.

Due to overcrowding it is the revolving door and alternative punishments (ie boot camp).

Don't move if you are happy with your home. install an alarm IF it will make you feel better, but crime is everyplace so a new home does not mean a safer home.

my .02

 

[Silent]

I'm with Fencer. Either add an alarm, or keep a dog at the house when you're away. I've got both, and a firearm. Crime sucks, but it's a small percentage doing the bulk of the crimes. When they get busted, the crime rate in that area usually drops.

Another 2 cents

 

[airboss]

I live in "Nice Neighborhood" and those problems still exist, +1 on what Fencer said about the alarms and dogs. PLus might try sitting out front in a lawn chair and cleaning some guns.

 

[rogdeb]

That sucks big ones PM. I'm with Fencer though.

pm'd ya.

 

[radman]

Here in Lakeville, we each keep an eye on each other-and each others property. We know whats what, anything unusual gets called in, and the cops here are super cool, fast, and intolerant of the creepies. Not saying it can't happen here, but as a result of the general attitude here, it's pretty rare. Yes,it's a suburb, and yes, light on diversity. But the minorities that do live here appreciate the atmosphere, the beauty, and the low crime rate. Racial problems are non-existent here, while 25 miles north, in Minneapolis, the center of diversity, someone gets whacked every day, hence it's nickname, Murderapolis. The rats are leaving the sinking ship, their tax base grows smaller and smaller, while the social services bill keeps climbing and climbing. I grew up in the city (St Paul), but am a small town guy at heart. You can take all the metropolises and stick 'em. Oh, and I use Mobil 1 15w50 due to it's excellent lubricity.

I live in "Nice Neighborhood" and those problems still exist, +1 on what Fencer said about the alarms and dogs. PLus might try sitting out front in a lawn chair and cleaning some guns.

They'll just steal those too. Try and stop 'em and you're the one in jail.

 

[Kevin Daly]

Seriously, where does your wife and kind think they can go that will not have crime? You might find a lower crime area, but that wont last because people will be attracted to it for that reason. A wise onld man once said of my burgening home town of Issaquah WA "people move here because they want to get away from crime in the cities, the problem is that they bring thier kids"

-Note that the guys that boke into your house were not only "minorities" they were also juviniles. ANd I know the feeling of being violated by someone breaking in and swiping my stuff, it sucks but your not going to change that from being a possibility just by moving. I'd say get a gun but they will just steal that too. So get the alarm and keep the dogs in the house. Best of luck with the family...

 

[painman]

Thanks for those replies but like I said this isn't over. We will go to civil court to try and get insurance deductables, atty. fees ect. because we want the parents to know they are the ones to correct their children and not the justice system and it shouldn't be at our expense. Even though chances are the parents are not able to pay up they and the DA are going to know us real well. I think this is too political maybe but the thing I was trying to get across is with all the crime now going on to just be more aware of your situation at home and everywhere especially with your families needs. The wife and I are looking to move into a rental until I'm 55 so in two years I can use my prop. 13 when we buy a new home. Our move is not just because we were robbed but because of the declining situation that is happening around us and she wants to be closer to her work. If your woman and your family doesn't feel safe, you got to take care of business. And that's what matters most to me. PM. <><

 

[Toecutter]

Seriously, where does your wife and kind think they can go that will not have crime?

Come to Clovis. Safest town in California, or at least trying hard to be. Heaven in Hell, but only in the summer months. You could buy a phat pool with the change left over from your new 3500 square foot home after you cash out on the Bay Area equity. And twisties for days.

My neighbor has been leaving a compound miter saw, among other tools, in the bed of his truck, (parked on the street) for over two years, untouched.

We did get our neighborhood tagged a few months back, but the city crews had it cleaned up before the paint dried.

 

[evilmedic13]

Sucks to hear about that, glad everyone is okay and even happier PD caught the little pricks. 11 and 12 yo olds :glare: , starting young on what is sure to be lives well spent, on the taxpayer dime of course. Good thing you didn't have to use your weapons, waaay more drama than is needed! Any more comments from me would not be very welcome, so I'll leave it at that.

Again, glad you're okay, awa your family!

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

What ever happened to the good 'ol days of the cold war when we were scared everyday no matter what neighborhood we lived in?

Sorry, couldn't think of anything else to say. Okay I will. I think the sentiment of quite a few posts is right. We are never truly safe from crime and certainly living in a wealthy place, or a neighborhood lacking diversity doesn't mean you're safe from this kind of thing. In my experience, I've seen the richest kid in my school get booted for stealing $12 from the science lab the same year his dad bought him a 1969 Ferrari Daytona for his 16th birthday. Yep, no ****. That kid caused trouble just to cause trouble and anywhere you have kids lacking parental supervision and activities you're gonna have problems.

Of course, dual income families are more the norm now than 27 years ago when you moved into your house so kids are having less guidance and adult supervised activities is also the norm. This isn't going to be a good trend until we get so poor that we have to start working our kids when they turn 11 instead of babying their ***** the way we do with video games and microwave dinners and law imposed minimum ages and hours. Kidding? No, I started working for my money when I was 12. Before that, I had paper routes and I raised cockatiels for pet stores. I also had a lawn mowing/snow shovelling service in my neighboorhood with 27 full year customers. That did pretty well to keep me out of trouble...mostly. I also appreciated that **** takes hard work to get so stealing and vandalism just ain't cool. How are the kids today supposed to learn that? It's against the law for kids to work until they are 14. Think it works that way in Nebraska on a farm? Heh heh...nope. Part of being a kid used to be getting the crap jobs. Now I'm not for working kids in coal mines 18 hours a day 7 days a week, but we have drawn the line way to far down the road on this one in my book.

My kids grew up in one parent homes. Yep, I'm divorced and remarried 7 years after my divorce. Let's face it, divorce is still rising and one parent homes (even if both parents are heavily involved as in the case of my kids (50/50)) just aren't as good as two parent homes (with some exceptions, of course). Let's also face it, latchkey kids have a disadvantage and we're lucky if all they are doing are bulgary and drugs. Youth rape is rising. Teen pregnancy is rising despite the scare of aids. WTF are we doing wrong? It's not what we are doing, it's what we aren't doing. We are not raising our kids. We don't take them fishing, camping, working and we don't often sit at the table and eat meals that we cooked together. We let cable TV, myspace, xbox and microwave dinners do that for us while both parents work. It ain't working folks.

You can blame whatever you want for wanting a new house, but our culture has taken a wrong turn in the parenting of our children. They are no longer the most important part of our lives, our jobs and material possesions are. If we don't regret it now based on crime statistics, just wait until you are in Painman's shoes. I know, I'm going to now hear about all sorts of examples of kids that grew up without robbing that didn't have a two parent house or that were latchkey kids. I know this because my kids never got into serious trouble despite some of these things. But Painman is right. When a 11 and 12 year old are out burglarizing homes, it ain't the kids who should take the brunt of the punishment. Some adults are seriously ******* up. Crime is rising...I'm sure I don't know all the reasons but I figure I have some pretty recent experience on some mistakes of parenthood. My kids are 17, 18 and 19 years old. I have more mistakes to make, but I sure wish someone would listen to the ones I've already made and avoid them.

 

[Geezer]

I understand your family's feelings. They have been violated by people entering their safe space and it is no longer safe. With time they will become comfortable in their home again, but may never feel as comfortable as they had been.

As others have said, where are you going to go? However, if your neighborhood is declining then you may want to sell now before it gets worse. You should be able to find a nice neighborhood and still be in or near your home town. Besides, if you do decide to move away, no matter where you go, your family will be with you and that will be home.

 

[painman]

Sucks to hear about that, glad everyone is okay and even happier PD caught the little pricks. 11 and 12 yo olds :glare: , starting young on what is sure to be lives well spent, on the taxpayer dime of course. Good thing you didn't have to use your weapons, waaay more drama than is needed! Any more comments from me would not be very welcome, so I'll leave it at that.Again, glad you're okay, awa your family!

Evil, concerning what I had said about using a weapon, anyone who has a weapon in their home has that weapon for mainly self defense in that home. While it would be the farthest thing from my mind to willfully go out of my way to use it, still the ones who are carrying weapons are sad to say, young people who are totally misdirected in their lives and are the ones to most likely use a weapon. I am from a background that I have had much training in the use of a weapon and am not a sadist just waiting for a chance to use one. But believe me if your 12 or 80, you break into my home and make an overt action even simulating the use of a weapon I will defend myself just as any citizen or police officer would. Heaven forbid that day but that is sorry to say is reality. I know I would use every bit of restraint I possiblly could but like you said, glad were ok and I'm still glad me and my family wasn't home. The officer handling our case said he is really surprised more people haven't been killed or injured as a result of break-ins. Anyone who commits a crime such as what happened to us takes that chance plain and simple and really deserves to be should I say, put out of their misery and all this is really not drama, it is reality. As you said, I'll leave it at that. Take care Del.<><

 

[rangerray]

Sorry for your loss and here's hoping that you and yours find a peaceful place to live. What the others are saying about the youth in our country can certainlt be observed here. Here's an example from where I live: On May 26, 2007 a 12-year-old girl was attempting to move the family vehicle. She hit the accelerator instead when she meant to hit the brake and ran over a 69-year-old man sitting on his front porch across the street. According to the Chief of Police (Sammy Webb), after an investigation by his department, no charges will be filed. He said, "It was an unfortunate accident. There was no criminal intent." the name of the girl, nor the names of her parents was released to the media.

So, in Senatobia, our message is that as long as it's an accident you don't have to be responsible. Funny, as far as I know, it's still illegal for a 12-year-old to operate a vehicle. Kids aren't learning so much about personal responsibility these days. It's always somebody else's fault or it's just unfortunate (bad luck).

 

[rogdeb]

I have some stats from the L.A. Times that were mailed to me - interesting. Don't want to derail this thread though. pm me if you want it sent to you

Rog

 

[mike25]

All you need to do is look at some of the parents in

this country, the kids don't have a chance.

This could go very political, but we can't do that here. (****)

 

[DucatiSSsp]

Seriously, where does your wife and kind think they can go that will not have crime? You might find a lower crime area, but that wont last because people will be attracted to it for that reason. A wise onld man once said of my burgening home town of Issaquah WA "people move here because they want to get away from crime in the cities, the problem is that they bring thier kids"
-Note that the guys that boke into your house were not only "minorities" they were also juviniles. ANd I know the feeling of being violated by someone breaking in and swiping my stuff, it sucks but your not going to change that from being a possibility just by moving. I'd say get a gun but they will just steal that too. So get the alarm and keep the dogs in the house. Best of luck with the family...

There's enough people in Issaquah, WA. Damn MicroSofties are buying up everything around here. I must give Kudos to our Bellevue Police Dept. They don't put up with gangs or other type of BS. Of course, having the main Microsoft Campus next door helps out too!$$$

I live in the slums of Bellevue where you get the occasional home break-in, car or bicycle theft. It seems like you don't hear too much about it though. Considering the amount of different vegetables in our "melting pot," I'm surprised people aren't killing each other

BTW, my little slum of a house that I paid 135K for 15 years ago would probably fetch me 425K+ now.

Think I'll head down and buy a large gun safe just in case....... :glare:

 

[03HiYoSilver]

Painman,

My heart goes out to you and your family and would not do anything radical until things settle down. I've had those same things happen to me in the past and it is a horrid feeling and hard to shake. It reminds me when John Ramsey(JohnBenet's dad) moved to a swanky part of Atlanta from Colorado with a $50-100k security system when some thieves got in (how?) roughed him up and took some of his belongings. So even the most $$ security can only do so much.

I used to live in So. California, where the laws do not favor homeowners self protection WITHOUT seeing DEADLY force IN THE HOUSE. Here in Georgia, we just passed a law called Stand Your Ground, much like the one passed in Texas and Florida. Pretty much you can defend yourself with Deadly force IN/OUT of your house and on Public grounds. Thieves/Ner-do-wells have a hard time telling who's who now and don't take many chances.

Probably the most effective way to protect yourself, outside of animals, is to get a Community Watch and get involved. I have in my neighborhood and stopped some crimes, put up NO Trespassing Signs, and got others(Trusted) to follow suit along with my trusty portable protectors that can be anywhere(at least in this state).

May things go well for you and don't over react for a time...lightening can strike anywhere....Just ask John Ramsey.

 

[Midlifefjr]

Sorry to hear about your situation, I imagine the apple didn't fall too far from the tree with the three perps. I keep putting off installing an alarm, but I just bought a safe - - you'd be welcome in Sactown, but I'm not sure its any better here.