Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Window Of Opportunity

We all know not to do certain things (leave an item in a parked car overnight, play Angry Birds on our smartphone on the el), but we figure -- just this once, nothing bad will happen!  So save the sanctimony and just be grateful for the reminder to be vigilant:

Just wanted to remind readers that, though it’s nice to have windows open during this nice weather, it invites thieves to let themselves in. A neighbor of mine went on a walk with their dogs for just under an hour and while they were out someone raised a screen and made off with their shiny new iPad 2.

8 comments:

  1. So sorry! it just sucks that we have to be so cautious about leaving the house. No judgement here. You should be able to leave your house with the windows open. Blaming the victim is ridiculous. It somehow makes the victim responsible for the crime.

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  2. That's the duality of nonsense we have to deal with in Uptown (and many other neighborhoods).

    You've got the visible gang members, fighting their battles and selling their drugs in public....and you've got the slippery slimy criminals breaking into homes and cars.
    (are they related? Probably)

    Even on the 2nd floor, I'd never leave windows open at night.

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  3. Yeah, Stark, I was really surprised to find out that the two "juveniles" I saw break into a parked car on my street last summer were active gang members. They're like cockroaches: into everything and welcome nowhere.

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  4. TSN, you're right.

    The 'folks' on the wrong side of the law up here, exploit all venues.

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  5. i am not sure this is a problem only in the "bad area"..there are plenty of break ins in lakeview and l park..juts got to be more careful

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  6. Last year right around this time my neighbor on the second floor of my condo left her window adjacent to her rear door open to create a nice breeze. When I came home from work at 5:00 am I noticed their rear door ajar and called police. Apparently someone had cut the screen to the window and took a wallet and a jar of change (which was in their bedroom). Since that incident we all have alarms and have no further issues.

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  7. My neighbor and I both have pitbulls. Gangbanger types tend to fear and respect the breed (for obvious reasons) but they make a great theft deterrent! Im just tired of being asked by every thug if I want to breed her. No, I don't want to, she's fixed, thanks.

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  8. At my last residence if you were unfortunate enough to have a window near the fire escape, other residents of the building would use that as a means to break into your apartment.
    Some of it was so petty, actually stealing elderly people's medication and stale food.

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