Cliff Notes version:
We were robbed, I walked in on the intruders, we thought we lost a cat.

Full version:
I came home about 4:20 pm, which is roughly the normal time I get home. I turned off the ADT alarm (which covers both doors and all windows), unlocked the front door and dead bolt, came in, let the hyper dog out, and noticed the door to my spider room was open. I thought maybe a cat had pushed it open after I didn't latch it all the way.

I went to close it, and then noticed that our bedroom door across the hallway was closed. I figured the cats got into a tussle and closed the door on themselves, but when I tried to open it I found it was locked. I also noticed that the light was on in the room. Then I noticed that the guest room, which also remains closed at all times, was open and the box containing the Xbox 360 we were selling was open and empty.

For some reason, it didn't click. Maybe it's because our alarm system wasn't tripped, maybe it was because the dog wasn't acting overly upset (I think she was just relieved that I was finally home). Either way, I tried popping the lock for a few minutes. Quite frustrated, I called my husband and asked if he was responsible for this. At about that moment, it all caught up with me and I ended up waiting in the locked car with our dog while my husband drove home and called the police while en route.

From what we can tell by the damage, at least 2 people broke out our bathroom window at the back of the house, propped a plastic lawn chair against the siding and climbed through the broken glass. This avoided opening a window, which would have set off the alarm. They tore apart our bedroom looking for valuables and made off with our camera, camcorder, some cash and coins in a jar and the necklace my husband gave to me for our 1 year anniversary (which I also wore in my wedding). Overall, about $1350 in theft. Then the opened the spider room door, saw there was nothing of value (and maybe they were a bit freaked by hundreds of tarantulas, a lizard, a snake and several frogs) and moved on to the guest room. They began to tear that room apart, nabbing the Xbox360 (another $300) we were actually going to sell to someone that night.

From what we can tell, that's when I walked through the door. They apparently grabbed the samurai sword off my dresser (which I gave to my husband, who is a brown belt and is well-trained), left the sheath in the bedroom on the stand and took the sword into the bathroom. I don't know if they intended on stealing it, but the fact that it was unsheathed suggests that they were going to use it if I managed to get through the bedroom door before they got out the window.

On top of the theft, damage and general disregard for property, we couldn't find one of our five cats. Fiona, the cat I've had for almost 8 years, normally sleeps in my husband's computer chair in our bedroom. Police suggested she went out the window, but we couldn't imagine her jumping up there (much less WANTING to go outside). We were both terrified that the intruders had either thrown her out or taken her, whether it be for dog baiting or sale or just to hurt her. My husband and I took turns walking around the neighborhood looking for her. Fortunately, once the police and forensics had left (no prints were recovered) we found her in the only place we didn't think she would be- wedged in a 3" x 6" gap behind the head of our bed, formed where the raised bed frame's outer lip met the wall. With the exception of being obviously traumatized, she appears fine. We were so relieved when she came running out from her hiding spot that we actually broke down crying.

My husband is working from home until we have the window repaired (which is currently boarded over) and the detectors for glass breaking installed. I've cleaned up most of the bedroom, but I still need to get all the glass out of our bathroom so we can get in there. I'm glad I came home when I did, or they would have made it to our living room, and then we would have lost a Wii, Xbox360 Elite, PS3, DVR, a $400 Bose speaker, all the gaming accessories and maybe even the new TV if they felt brave. But more than that, we can't be thankful enough that all our "babies" are safe. We would rather lose everything in a fire than to lose one of them.

And in the middle of all the anger and anxiety and frustration for what's happened, I can't help but laugh when I imagine the reaction those guys had when they opened up my "spider room." Like I said, not a single thing in that room had been moved.

[/blog] [/venting]

[beer]

1/6/2009 11:00:42 PM

~

1/6/2009 11:02:37 PM

I'm sorry

1/6/2009 11:02:46 PM

well damn

1/6/2009 11:03:29 PM

no motion detectors?

Is a HUGE bummer though... hope you get everything back and they get jailed for a good while.

1/6/2009 11:03:53 PM

Dayyamn, sorry to hear that Lauren

1/6/2009 11:04:46 PM

Holy shit I am so sorry to hear that
Glad you guys are okay!!!!

1/6/2009 11:05:14 PM

that sucks

1/6/2009 11:05:16 PM

you live in durham???

and you got robbed???


NO WAI

1/6/2009 11:05:16 PM

1/6/2009 11:05:53 PM

Sorry to hear this.

Will insurance help you with anything that was stolen, or are you just screwed?

1/6/2009 11:06:14 PM

Quote :

"no motion detectors?"

im sure that would work well with those 5 cats that she has

^ it is generally not a good idea to put a claim on homeowners unless it is catastrophic

[Edited on January 6, 2009 at 11:07 PM. Reason : 

1/6/2009 11:06:43 PM

you need an attack dog

1/6/2009 11:07:07 PM

We didn't have motion detectors because we were worried about the retards (aka, cats and dog) somehow setting them off. We didn't get glass breakage because it was another $900. I mean, setting up the system was a big deal while try to fix the house up because it already ran us about $900. Now we're out about $1550 in stuff and about to sink the $900 in glass breakage anyway.

But hey, our pets are safe, most of our stuff wasn't taken and I didn't get stabbed. Oh, and a kid we know in the neighborhood happened to see someone trying our front door not long before I came home (as he was getting off the school bus), so he was able to give the cops at least some form of a description.

1/6/2009 11:08:11 PM

The lesson of the story is keep all of your valuables in the spider room

1/6/2009 11:08:42 PM

That sucks...Glad you're alright. My mom walked in on a robber one time. It was this guy actually http://tinyurl.com/a42rhk (one of the 1988 Felony B&E convictions). It's amazing how long it can take for those things to register. She actually called my dad to ask why he had to bust out a window and why the Atari was ripped off the shelf and left on the floor (the cables were run through the wall.) That's about the time it hit her and as she went out the back door he went out the front.

1/6/2009 11:08:43 PM

sorry to hear that. getting robbed sucks.
hope you had insurance

1/6/2009 11:09:38 PM

Welcome 2 Durham

1/6/2009 11:11:05 PM

Quote :

"The lesson of the story is keep all of your valuables in the spider room "

AGREED! From now on, all things of value will be stashed behind the walls of spiders!

1/6/2009 11:11:41 PM

^^^^

Quote :

"INITIAL 79012386 COMMON LAW ROBBERY (PRINCIPAL) 01/01/0001 FELON"

That dude is old

1/6/2009 11:12:27 PM

modern motion detectors are tunable so they won't trip on pets. The nice ones use infrared mass detection and can be set to ignore things under say 45-50 pounds. Unless you have a big dog, then you're out of luck. Still sad...



[Edited on January 6, 2009 at 11:14 PM. Reason : .]

1/6/2009 11:12:33 PM

Quote :

"The lesson of the story is keep all of your valuables in the spider room "

Or keep spiders in every room.

Quote :

"It's amazing how long it can take for those things to register. She actually called my dad to ask why he had to bust out a window and why the Atari was ripped off the shelf and left on the floor (the cables were run through the wall.)"

Same with my mom. She came in through the back, to put groceries in the freezer on the back porch, so she never saw the side door (that we use most often) busted open.

The she got inside, and started getting mad at dad for taking all the CDs and stuff without calling her. She was calling him to bitch about how he needs to tell her this sort of stuff, or else she'll get paranoid and think they've been robbed

...and then she went 'oh shit'.

1/6/2009 11:12:44 PM

Sorry to hear about your robbery. Hope they catch the fuckers that did it.

1/6/2009 11:15:55 PM

Quote :

" WALL OF TEXT "

1/6/2009 11:16:34 PM

i lived in durham for 15 years and never knew of anyone or heard of anyone getting robbed

I'm big business and i approved this message.

1/6/2009 11:17:06 PM

as mentioned previously most motion detectors used in homes have a "weight limit" on them and don't trip for pets

also $900 is a bit absurd for glass break sensors - how many is that for?

are you really blaming/angry at durham for 1 break in? is there a town in the world where a break in hasn't happened....

1/6/2009 11:18:24 PM

Quote :

"That dude is old "

OMY2K!

1/6/2009 11:24:29 PM

i hit "SPIDER ROOM" and stopped reading

you don't need an alarm system, just let the spiders roam free

won't no shit get stolen

1/6/2009 11:25:18 PM

i love how you avoid setting off an alarm by BREAKING the window instead of opening it



all that shit ass home defense shit is a fuckin scam


buy a gun...thats one alarm thatll go off whether the window breaks or slides open

1/6/2009 11:26:28 PM

No, I'm not blaming the city. I just thought it made a good title.

ADT charges $150 per room for glass breakage detection using a wall (or ceiling)-mounted device (individual detectors for each window is $125 each), and then there's a $60 installation fee and then the total is taxed. So about $870 total.

Fucked up thing is that we're on a "hot list" to get someone here, but our official appointment isn't until next Tuesday.

[Edited on January 6, 2009 at 11:30 PM. Reason : we would consider motion detectors as well, but we're trying not to go broke]

1/6/2009 11:29:46 PM

^^ If no one was home, what good is a gun going to do?

1/6/2009 11:31:01 PM

well hell can you ask them to install glass breakage and forego the glass sliding open protection?


cuz anyone who takes the time to slide a window open isnt the most dangerous thing on the street


^shut the fuck up, i was speaking in general but if you want to be a goddamn faggot be my guest

[Edited on January 6, 2009 at 11:32 PM. Reason : sd]

1/6/2009 11:31:32 PM

spider room?
pics plz

1/6/2009 11:34:44 PM

Quote :

"you don't need an alarm system, just let the spiders roam free"

no kidding. it's a shame you can't train them to attack intruders

but that really sucks. here's to hoping they catch the fuckers. which area of durham do you live in?

1/6/2009 11:54:41 PM

the fuckin durham police department will not catch anyone

1/6/2009 11:56:21 PM

damn that sucks.

but that's Durham. gg on installing the window break sensors, a little late though.

I'd get a gun, too. What if they were in the house when you got there and decided to attack?

1/7/2009 12:36:16 AM

I was robbed on Christmas night 2005 when I lived off of lineberry... lost a laptop, tv, ext. hard drive, digital camera, comforter , video camera..

renters insurance ftw

1/7/2009 12:40:34 AM

you're officially a member of the Durham club now lol

I got shot at while I was living there and my ex-fiance got mugged a few months later

1/7/2009 12:40:35 AM

i bet that chick pistolwhipped herself

1/7/2009 12:42:49 AM

im in the durham club i got robbed last year

1/7/2009 12:43:10 AM

^^ 'tis true, her reality is an unknown best derived from empirical evidence

1/7/2009 12:45:25 AM

remind me to tell you the story one night when i'm not way way way past my bedtime

but i do know of one other tww chick who ran an elaborate con to get me to "save her" at like 5am from a guy outside her house with a knife

snewf came with me, he has balls

1/7/2009 12:47:09 AM

Quote :

"I'd get a gun, too. What if they were in the house when you got there and decided to attack?"

given the way we found the sword, i would have been shot if we had a gun in the house.

1/7/2009 1:05:13 AM

Get a gun and velcro it to the back of your bed's headboard.
Unless you're an active sleeper with night terrors and shit. Then don't do that.

1/7/2009 1:07:05 AM

Quote :

"comforter "

lol who the hell steals a comforter? Those have zero resale value.

Train your spiders to fire guns.

[Edited on January 7, 2009 at 1:09 AM. Reason : .]

1/7/2009 1:08:37 AM

They tossed all the shit on the bed, grabbed the four corners of the comforter, and used it like a sack. In the criminal world we refer to it as a "reverse Santa Claus".

1/7/2009 1:13:00 AM

Quote :

"i love how you avoid setting off an alarm by BREAKING the window instead of opening it "

I thought that was hilarious.

1/7/2009 2:59:58 AM

^agreed

i don't think i'm gonna sleep tonight. no scared of them coming back, just still too wound up. and i get ready for work in about 2 & 1/2 hours. i foresee being up for about 42 hours straight. YAY.

1/7/2009 3:14:21 AM

Shoulda left the windows unlocked I guess.

1/7/2009 4:02:35 AM

set em up

1/7/2009 4:05:54 AM