Hi so  I need advice regarding my safety. A few months ago I almost got burgled. Some guy was banging on my door and shouting loudly. He only targeted my flat....nobody else. He put his hand through the letterbox and then banged on my windows too and tried to open it. This has not happened to me before and has only happened since my new neighbour moved in. My neighbour is the only person that has seen me come in and out of my flat. It is generally a quiet area and when the attempted break in happened, my neighbour was awake and entered his home a few minutes after that guy left my flat. I think the neighbour was behind this, the way he's stared at me going into my flat. He even has a camera now placed on his window (inside his home) pointing to my front door (but he could get away with it saying it's pointing to his front entrance/door). I've started to put an alarm at night and I also put my big armchair in front of my bedroom door...is this a good way to stop people breaking in? Will the armchair in front of my door method work as the handle doesn't go down because of the armchair underneath it so I'm thinking it's good method. I just need ideas as to what else I can do to stop someone breaking in please? Thanks.

I think you should tell the police what's going on.  The other things you're doing are good, but if the guy really wants in he'll just break a window.  To stop that you'll need to put bars up and maybe an alarm system.


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Welcome to Susan's Place. I had a break-in recently and it depends on how far you want to go. Without an alarm, sticks to block the window are a possible solution. I took a long stick, cut a V in one end and use it to block the door. I also beefed up the screws in door latch so it would be near impossible to kick the door in. Alarm system with window, door and motion detectors. My system can activate everything except my bedroom at night so even if they break a window, the motion detectors will get them. The final thing to consider is a safe fastened to the floor.

Nothing will ensure they won't get in but the point is to make it uncomfortable for them to stay around and nothing says you aren't welcome more than a blaring alarm that's summoning the police.

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@ Jay: As Dena and Deborah suggested in the previous replies I think you should get the police involved... at least they will file a report that can be refereed to later is more problem arise.

I see that you are brand new to the site... WELCOME to Susan's Place. You will find this a safe and friendly place to share with others about your transition and to read about others transition and their trials, tribulations, and successes in their transition journey.
It is nice that you have signed up so you can share with others and involve yourself with some give and take with other members.
When frustrated or if you have a successful moment in your journey you can share it here if you wish and receive support from others and offer support to others. You might even find that you will make some new friends here.  Please come in and get involved at your own pace.

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Wishing you the best.... and please contact the police about your break in situation.   Stay safe.

Danielle
Again, Welcome.
Danielle

We had tons of break ins when I was a kid due to the area. Some places had bars on the downstairs windows, we just made sure they were screwed down with a block that only allowed them to open about 10cm. We put extra bolts on all the main doors and had to secure the cellar as well because someone found a way in that way once. We had a dog. My dad used to sleep with a hammer next to him, and I used to sleep with a baseball bat next to me.

If someone really wants to get in that badly, a chair isn't going to stop them. Banging on the door/shouting doesn't sound like someone trying to quietly burgle someone. Sounds more serious than that. Might want to ring the police for advice.

Quote from: Deborah on March 13, 2018, 03:45:36 PM
I think you should tell the police what's going on.  The other things you're doing are good, but if the guy really wants in he'll just break a window.  To stop that you'll need to put bars up and maybe an alarm system.


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Or arm oneself properly and know how to use it. We don't have to be victims. Seek out The Pink Pistols if one wants to learn.


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Quote from: Gertrude on March 15, 2018, 02:51:06 PM
Or arm oneself properly and know how to use it. We don't have to be victims. Seek out The Pink Pistols if one wants to learn.


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Knowing how to mechanically shoot is the easy part.  You need to also develop a mindset to be able to kill without hesitation and be able to recognize when that action is both appropriate and legal.

Quote from: Deborah on March 15, 2018, 02:55:30 PM
Knowing how to mechanically shoot is the easy part.  You need to also develop a mindset to be able to kill without hesitation and be able to recognize when that action is both appropriate and legal.

And have insurance to cover legal costs is a good idea too. Many states require safety courses before getting a license, which cover law. My state doesn't require a license, but I have one, which required having taken a course in the last few years. I've had one since I was 19 in NY, which isn't the easiest place to get one. It's an option. Too many lgbt folks are averse to it as the talking points of being a presumed progressive is to be anti gun. I'm not conservative at all, but I'm not a fool. When it comes to my safety, I'm ultimately responsible for it as I can't have an armed cop with me 24/7. I'm not saying anyone has to do it, just that if you live in a place where you can, consider it.


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Many states require zero training for either purchase or concealed carry license.  In my "progressive" opinion [emoji56]  a person should either get good certified training or be ex-military or ex-police before they should even be permitted to buy a weapon, much less carry it.


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Quote from: Deborah on March 13, 2018, 03:45:36 PM
I think you should tell the police what's going on.  The other things you're doing are good, but if the guy really wants in he'll just break a window.  To stop that you'll need to put bars up and maybe an alarm system.


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If you can have one, a dog is good. 

A gun in the wrong or untrained hand can cause more harm then good. 

Don't get me wrong, they do have their uses and can be a deal breaker in a pinch but in a situation where someone's breaking into your home, it can be a little iffy depending on which state your in (in the US of A).  Hell,some states even reward burglars it seems.

The key is Fear and it has to be present.  Ironically, in the military they sometimes wanted you to wound the enemy because it would take more of them out of the battle to attend to the one you wounded.  Then,and this was in the 70's, if you were a cop, there was no warning shot or shoot to stop, but to kill because if they survived they'd try to sue the pants off you.

No matter what course of action, remember that whatever you do, you have to live with what happens for the rest of your life.

Quote from: Deborah on March 15, 2018, 03:10:59 PM
Many states require zero training for either purchase or concealed carry license.  In my "progressive" opinion [emoji56]  a person should either get good certified training or be ex-military or ex-police before they should even be permitted to buy a weapon, much less carry it.


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Totally agree.

Quote from: Deborah on March 15, 2018, 03:10:59 PM
Many states require zero training for either purchase or concealed carry license.  In my "progressive" opinion [emoji56]  a person should either get good certified training or be ex-military or ex-police before they should even be permitted to buy a weapon, much less carry it.


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While I think people should take training to get a CCW, some states don't require a CCW to own and carry. My current state does not. Neither does Vermont and I think Alaska. None of these are the wild west though. I've had a license for 37 years now and it's about being responsible and understanding the law. Could I defend myself or others with a firearm? Sure. Do I want to? Not if I can help it, but I decided a very long time ago that I wouldn't be laid a hand upon or be a victim to someone's violence, not without a fight. Some don't have that internal vigor or force, but I do. Part of it is personality, part of it is experience. I just think that to some degree there is a lionization of victimhood in the LGBT community and it just seems...foolish to me. People have a lot more agency and options than they realize, with a lot of things. Our own thinking puts limitations on what we can do and I mean that broadly.

Quote from: Kylo on March 14, 2018, 07:53:07 AM
We had tons of break ins when I was a kid due to the area. Some places had bars on the downstairs windows, we just made sure they were screwed down with a block that only allowed them to open about 10cm. We put extra bolts on all the main doors and had to secure the cellar as well because someone found a way in that way once. We had a dog. My dad used to sleep with a hammer next to him, and I used to sleep with a baseball bat next to me.

If someone really wants to get in that badly, a chair isn't going to stop them. Banging on the door/shouting doesn't sound like someone trying to quietly burgle someone. Sounds more serious than that. Might want to ring the police for advice.

In Beverly Hills!!!!!!!