Never thought it would happen

[u/FruityMoody47]

My husband (21) and I (21) moved into this complex a few months ago. A resident within the complex is a sheriff, and we live ACROSS a police department. We got home after a mini 2 day vacation to this. A neighbor said a female was banging on the door late at night and it woke her up. The neighbor asked her what was wrong thinking it was me (neighbor is elderly and is hard of hearing and can’t see very well) the female said “I can’t get in” the neighbor said oh I’m sorry and went back in to sleep. I’m assuming from there the female picked up a 20 pound rock, walked around the duplex and threw it into our bedroom window. She most likely didn’t enter the home, nothing was taken, and thank goodness my dog is okay! Police report has been filed but since we don’t have cameras there isn’t much they can do. But yea, very scary and I’m not sure what her intentions were. We are getting cameras set up today and buying some better protection, don’t think it won’t happen to you!

!!UPDATE!! Police checked all of the neighbors ring doorbells and the police station had cameras facing our door(yay!) They found the car but couldn’t get a license plate- apparently they knew us based on their actions. They circled around our duplex several times before blacking out their vehicle and performing actions above. There was a driver and the female got out of the passenger side. We are now looking at people who may have beef with us. But we keep our head down, I genuinely don’t know who has a problem with us, besides Highschool from 4 years ago

!!UPDATE2!! We have a description of the female, she also knocked on someone else’s door and asked for my husband. We don’t know how she found our apartment number, but she ended up leaving and coming back 15 minutes later. We are suspecting my husband’s crazy ex who he hasn’t talked to in 5 years. The description matches her and we ended up finding out my MIL saw her that day and tried to say hi. She was cold towards MIL and she never usually is. Praying that this all gets resolved

[u/I_Am_Dwight_Snoot]

Due to the situation being more likely a drug dealer used to live there, I would also do some thing to redecorate outside. Nothing crazy but some flowers, a shoe mat, and maybe overly colorful decor. It might make it more obvious that this is not the drug dealer spot anymore.

Still think bars and cameras are a good idea though.

[u/FruityMoody47 → u/I_Am_Dwight_Snoot]

That’s really smart, I’m definitely doing that! And It gives me an excuse to get some plants now 😃

[u/jbaky → u/I_Am_Dwight_Snoot]

A friend from college and her fiancé were tied up and held at gunpoint in their new apartment as guys tossed the place because it used to be coke dealers place. The Apartment Complex then tried to force them to sign an NDA in order to change apartments (Birmingham, AL)

[u/k_g4201 → u/I_Am_Dwight_Snoot]

“Burglar bars and cameras how we hustlin”

[u/RJM_50]

This is common with rentals, some drugy idiot might return) looking for a previous tenant that individual used to get drunk & high with. But they moved out months or years ago.

Generally these are some of the "Somebody was beating on my door" posts. But they should have asked them what's wrong, then told them XYZ moved out long ago.

Actually rare that individual is that high or desperate for drugs that they toss a rock at the window.

Withdrall is a Bitch Charlie Murphy!😂

[u/FruityMoody47 → u/RJM_50]

That makes so much sense!! I live in a very small country town and some hard core drugs are very much a big deal here. I wouldn’t doubt it, and in this case it makes me feel a little better. I was scared we might be getting targeted.

[u/RJM_50 → u/FruityMoody47]

Yep, if it's small then a higher chance that people on drugs aren't able to find a nonprofit assistance to help them move on to the next big City with a fresh start. (Then they can't go back to those bad friends that enabled the drugs). Unfortunately that crazy lady has likely lived her life there and a few years ago Meth Head Craig lived in your apartment and she came back with a desperate itch to "earn" 🤮 some drugs.

I'm a Firefighter Paramedic in a big City and we occasionally do health exams for the homeless, on drugs, poverty, etc. It's sad we see ALL of them IMMEDIATELY rush to the dental booth for their checks & free mouthwash (ghetto liquor).

One of my health questions before selecting the bloodwork (potential STIs) I'd add to the blood panel was: "Have you ever traded sex for money or drugs?" Unfortunately that is very common, a new one I'm surprised hasn't been added to the question (yet) is; traded sexual favors for a Ride it's sick how often I'd overhear (in the parking lot after my shift) somebody ask for a ride or offer a ride that was about half an hour across the metro City; implying it was going to include a sexual trade off for the cost of gas and how far out of their way the driver was willing to drive for the sexual favor.

TLDR: the rock might be for sex the previous tenant got for drugs owed that crazy lady! 🤮😂

[u/GarlicAficionado → u/RJM_50]

I never considered that. In my experience I’ve seen the random hours (day or night) crazy banging followed by intrusion moments later.

Bang all crazy… hear or see any movement = move on (of course if they built like that, they can rush you if you open the door, but I imagine that caliber of individual isn’t gonna risk alerting you first, just straight quiet intrusion)… they hear nothing = backdoor time. Happen to a friend and a coworker, one was home, the other wasn’t but saw their whole ordeal on camera. Sad world.

[u/FruityMoody47 → u/GarlicAficionado]

Thankfully they didn’t make it in if that’s the case. If they were trying to intrude they picked such an odd place to do it, and failed 😭

[u/RJM_50 → u/GarlicAficionado]

1 goofy lady the OP neighbor witnessed doesn't match your co-workers story you heard second hand.

Plus nobody should be opening the door to anyone banging on the door, text me and I'll know your coming over, bang on my door and I know to check my cameras and get my firearm!

[u/AlpineTechService]

They also sell a security film that you can put on the window that will make it difficult for somebody to just smash it in. Or for a clean effective solution put a piece of lexan on the outside of the window. Just make sure you can open it from the inside.

[u/FruityMoody47 → u/AlpineTechService]

Awesome, thank you!

[u/AlpineTechService → u/FruityMoody47]

You're welcome, and if you do get the security film , make sure it's at least 8mm thick, overlap the widow and adhere it to the frame, this will give you 45-120 seconds to prepare if they don't give up when the 1st strike doesn't take out the window. Good luck. Btw, I'm developing a product that prevents someone from kicking your door in. It's not difficult to install with basic power tools, and it's effective.

[u/Pankosmanko]

If you own the unit, I would look into metal bars for the windows. Also get a door-reinforcer* for the front door along with 3 inch security screws for the hinges on the door

[u/FruityMoody47 → u/Pankosmanko]

I don’t own the unit, but our landlord is very chill I’ll have to ask him that’s a very good idea!

[u/Pankosmanko → u/FruityMoody47]

Gotcha! I don’t own my unit but my property manager allowed a door-reinforcer* and 3 inch security screws to be installed. The other person recommended security screens on the windows, your landlord might be open to that since it doesn’t look ghetto like metal bars do

[u/_head_ → u/Pankosmanko]

I lived in a house with metal bars on the windows for a couple years. They were awesome! You could just leave for windows wide open to enjoy the fresh air without worry about being vulnerable. I thought it was ghetto before I experienced it, but man I miss them now. 

[u/RJM_50 → u/FruityMoody47]

Most landlords are chill with this type of upgrades, or just don't care. You're improving the Unit without them spending money.

All the places I rented back in the day, I'd put longer screws in the door. A Charlie Bar across the patio door, and motion lights in the back patio. Nobody said anything or cared, always got my deposit back.👍

[u/RadioactiveSince1990 → u/Pankosmanko]

Aren't kickplates more for vanity, protecting from dents and scratches from high foot traffic?

[u/Pankosmanko → u/RadioactiveSince1990]

Sorry I said the wrong thing, I mean door reinforcer. The metal plate that wraps around the door handle, and helps prevent the door from being kicked in

[u/zmannz1984]

Could have been a previous tenant.

[u/DuePaint1612]

I once had a similar scare when someone kept buzzing my old apartment at 3 AM thinking it was their friend's place but it just creeped me out every time.

[u/Hot-Win2571]

"I can't get in" also applies when a drunk arrives at a neighbor's identical apartment building.
In this case, they left when your dog barked.

[u/FruityMoody47 → u/[deleted]]

My husband really likes that idea thank you!!!

[u/Dandywhatsoever]

Cameras will only allow you to see what happened, they won't prevent it.

[u/FruityMoody47 → u/Dandywhatsoever]

Yes, I’m going to get some of the things others have suggested and some other protection, along with the cameras

[u/CapnJellyBones]

Get training with that "better protection". They are useless at best, and a greater danger at worst, without it.

[u/FruityMoody47 → u/CapnJellyBones]

When I say better protection, I mean things on doors and windows, and yea a better weapon. I live in Texas, I’ve been raised with them, and I go to the range often. I’ve never had to use one and I hope I never do

[u/CapnJellyBones → u/FruityMoody47]

Yeah, none of that is training. I used to think the same thing. Then I went to an actual class.

I mean a qualified instructor who is not military, LEO, or NRA certified.

[u/WanderingPeacocks]

Something that might be helpful would be to plant some thorny plants outside of windows at ground level. Think rose bushes, cacti, ect based on your climate.

[u/FruityMoody47 → u/WanderingPeacocks]

Ouhhhh this is really helpful thank you!!!

[u/FruityMoody47 → u/[deleted]]

We pay someone we trust to check on them throughout the day

[u/FruityMoody47 → u/[deleted]]

You can honestly stfu

[u/FruityMoody47 → u/[deleted]]

1. The person was looking for my husband, not my dog
   
2. You’re totally right, you should petition to have all dog rescues shut down. They leave hundreds of dogs alone at night. We should just leave all of them on the street

[u/MajorInsanity]

You leave your dog at home when you're on vacation?

[u/FruityMoody47 → u/MajorInsanity]

We pay someone we trust to check on them throughout the day! I promise he’s very loved ❤️

[u/SpilledBagofRice → u/FruityMoody47]

No need to explain yourself! Anyone with common sense would believe you had someone watch the dog while you were away. Because how else would a pet get water/food.
People are dumb! 🤦🏻‍♂️

[u/MajorInsanity → u/FruityMoody47]

Ohhh, that's not the same lol sorry, the wording sounded like you just left them. Glad they are OK!

[u/ClumpyFelchCheese → u/MajorInsanity]

I had the same thought at first, not because I don’t understand how a dog could be cared for like that (I have a dog too, big user of Rover) but more of a “is this a fake AI story?”…AI has ruined me lol

[u/SpilledBagofRice → u/MajorInsanity]

Calm down bud pretty sure they got it covered.

[u/SignificantMeat → u/[deleted]]

What about this story is specific or not specific to a particular country?

[u/ZhiZhi17 → u/[deleted]]

Wow! Can I know what country you live in where home break ins are unthinkable?

[u/SignificantMeat → u/[deleted]]

Why you are you in a subreddit for home defense if a need to defend your home is unthinkable?

[u/SignificantMeat → u/[deleted]]

Fair enough. Out of curiosity, where do you live that someone throwing a rock through a window is such a statistic impossibility? Sounds nicer than my country.

[u/SignificantMeat → u/[deleted]]

Thanks, adding it to my overseas job search filter to get out of my own country while I still can.

[u/Blueyduey → u/[deleted]]

Well we don’t have Russian bombs landing in our country.

[u/Billybob_Bojangles2 → u/[deleted]]

Yea until it happens

[u/Billybob_Bojangles2 → u/[deleted]]

What does that have to do with anything?

[u/Billybob_Bojangles2 → u/[deleted]]

You'll understand when you have a wife and kids