Home break-in near Porter Square

[androidqueen.livejournal.com]

(Not directly related, but we're so close to Davis, and I figured it was worth keeping people informed.)

Our apartment was broken into yesterday.

The officer who came by and took our statements reassured us that the odds of this particular house being hit again are pretty slim, but he also mentioned that there have been a rash of these lately in the Porter Square area, usually during the day. Often a thing where one person knocks on the front door to see if anybody's home and then either they or someone else breaks into the back. (We actually believe this break-in was at night -- the TiVo finished recording Battlestar Galactica before they unplugged it. Hell yeah.)

We live in a first-floor apartment just off Elm St. They got in through a window in the back that does not latch properly - so we didn't leave the back door open, but they didn't have to smash anything to get in either. They took a few obvious things - the Wii, my laptop, some jewelry, my gym bag. They clearly dumped a few things off shelves to see if we'd stashed any valuables behind them. Thankfully, they did not think to take the cats or the hovercraft, both which are explicitly not covered by our renter's insurance.

So, in brief:

1. Check your apartment for weak points, and if you find any, call your landlord
   
2. Put your valuables in places so completely ridiculous that nobody would think to look
   
3. If you see any shady characters poking around your neighbor's apartment, be a good neighbor and shoo them away
   
4. If you don't have it, GET RENTER'S INSURANCE.
   

Happy Hallmark Day!

(x-posting this to porter_square as well.)

Comments

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

Well, at least they didn't take the TiVo with the BSG on it. That would be the last straw...

Hooray for Renters Insurance!

[lizzielizzie.livejournal.com]

Part of me hates the idea of nosy neighbors, but in this case I find it a very effective deterrent. If you see out-of-place people in a nearby building/yard (or your own!), Be bold. Ask them who they are and why they are there. If they act suspiciously, call the cops on 'em.

Sorry to hear...

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

I wonder whether cheap security cameras that send clips (when motion-triggered) to a remote site might help... I have a couple of motion-activated webcams looking out the windows, just for some wacky art project. They can dump clips onto a web site (the remote dumping is important, in case thieves steal your computer).

[davelew.livejournal.com]

ummm... hovercraft? I'd love to hear more about this.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

It's full of eels.

[androidqueen.livejournal.com]

Well, it's a toy. But our insurance policy explicitly claims to not cover it.

[m00n.livejournal.com]

So while we're on the topic, can anyone recommend a good renter's insurance plan/provider? Preferably one that can also provide non-car-owner auto insurance (for rental cars, etc.) as part of a package.

[ron_newman]

I get mine from Alderman Jack Connolly, whose office is next door to the Somerville News on College Ave.

[moireach.livejournal.com]

Aldermen offer insurance? Or are the two facts unrelated?

[ron_newman]

Alderman is not a full-time job.

[m00n.livejournal.com]

What's his insurance company called? Wedgwood-Crane & Connolly Insurance (http://www.wccins.com)?

[ron_newman]

Yes.

[blacktigr.livejournal.com]

You've convinced me to look into renter's insurance. I've had it on previous places, but was waiting until I could afford it out here. We just have too many portable electronics and a problem with a rarely locked shared entrance.

[deepti-arrora.livejournal.com]

i have also many portable electronics with me. portable electronics (http://www.infibeam.com/Portable_Electronics/) is one of the great invention.

[totient]

Oh, that sucks. I'm so sorry to hear that.

[tanick.livejournal.com]

This is a fairly common tactic (the knocking at the front, and then going 'round back). My girlfriend and I live in Medford, and she was home sick some months ago when someone repeatedly buzzed our apartment. She never answers the door when she isn't expecting someone or a package, so she just ignored it, and then shortly thereafter heard voices from our back porch.

She very boldly opened the back door and asked them what the hell they were doing, and they gave a lame excuse about being friends of the people in the apartment downstairs (we live on the 2nd floor), and had gotten locked out. She threatened to call the cops and they left. When I got home from work, the side door that leads up to the back stairwell (which opens on each of the three back porches on that side) was kicked in, the lock broken off.

So, yeah. Moral of the story is, no matter how secure you think you might be, these things happen, and renter's insurance is a fantastic idea.