I'm No Burglar...
By twoey68
@twoey68 (13627)
United States
July 25, 2009 7:02pm CST
A recent news article has gotten me thinking about something.
I'm sure we've all locked ourselves out of the house at some point or another and had to crawl in a window or jimmy a door to get in. Now, let's say a neighbor or a passer-by saw us, didn't recognize us and called the police b/c they thought it was a break-in. Now, the police show up, your in the house, they ask for ID.
What would your reaction be? Would you willingly hand it over or become angry that the officers are there and asking for it?
Personally, I'd hand it over, granted I probably wouldn't be thrilled at having to go through the hassle but at the same time at least the police are checking it out to make sure that it isn't a break-in. After all, how many homes get broken into and no one does anything? I think I'd be grateful to the person that called it in for being concerned about my home and of course, the police would have to ask for ID to verify that the person in the house actually has to be in the house...they can't just take their word for it.
Now, this isn't about politics or race, it's about how would you personally react to the situation. Put yourself in their shoes and see how you would react.
[b]~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~
**STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS**[/b]
19 people like this
48 responses
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
26 Jul 09
would be very imbareassed to be locked out but what if your ID is in the house?
Yup I have had to climb in and all that in different places I have lived even here when I didnt know the back door was locked too .
IF I had id on me i would show it.
If not Iwould have to go to one of my neighbots for the police to let them know it was my home!
4 people like this
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
26 Jul 09
Well, if my ID was in the house, I'd either ask the officer to accompany me into the house so I could show them or I'd ask a neighbor to identify me. I think if it was a house I was trying to break into that I'd hang around and talk to the police unless I was just really gutsy LOL
[b]~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~
**STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS**[/b]
2 people like this
@Sweetchariot (1718)
• United States
26 Jul 09
First of all, if I got locked out of my house, and a neighbor saw me crawling in my window, I would hope that that neighbor would recognise me. How can you live next to someone and not recognize the person at the window? I would not expect her to call the cops and report a break in unless she was sure it wasn't me or my family....I would hope that she had enough sense to do that first.
Now if was a passer-by who didn't know me...well, I would have to put myself in their shoes, and think if I would call the cops. Probably not, because my first assumption is that they lived there and got locked out. I am probably wrong in not calling, but I would hate to assume something that is really not taking place, and put someone thru the interogation by the police.
4 people like this
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
26 Jul 09
Well, unless the houses are really close together, a neighbor might not be able to recognize you from a distance. Also I live in apartments and I don't even know everyone that lives here but if I saw someone forcing open a door or crawling through the window, I'd call it in. It's better safe then sorry. Different ppl react different ways to situations which is why I started this discussion in the first place...to see who ppl would react.
[b]~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~
**STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS**[/b]
3 people like this
@jezzmay (1845)
• United States
26 Jul 09
I would give them the ID. I would not like it,
but it would be the thing to do. I have locked
myself out of my house, and even my car. Their
maybe someone who will call the police, and we
have to show ID or get arrested.
Have a blessed day.
4 people like this
@cyrus123 (6363)
• United States
26 Jul 09
There have been plenty of times when I've locked myself out of my house and it can get very frustrating. I have storm windows on my house so I can't crawl in mine. I'm not sure if I know what you mean by "jimmy" a door to get in but somebody helped me get in by using a credit card one time. Not all credit cards will work, though, I've found out. You just have to keep trying until you find one that will work. I live in a small town and just about everybody knows where I live. However, if the police asked for ID, I would hand it over. I would also be grateful to the person who called. I now have an extra key that I keep in the glove compartment of my car if I lock myself out. Thank you for posting this. This is a very good discussion. Kathy.
3 people like this
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
26 Jul 09
I'm sorry, "jimmy" is just a term, I didn't think that some ppl might not know what it is. You described it accurately though...using a credit card to open a door, sometimes a pocket knife or a bobby pin can be used as well as professional look picking tools.
[b]~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~
**STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS**[/b]
3 people like this
@nannacroc (4049)
•
26 Jul 09
First of all I would be surprised that the police actually turned up, they're not good at coming out to prevent crime, they're not too hot on solving thefts and burglaries either. If they did, I would explain the situation and, if I had any, would show them some form of ID, as I don't have a passport or a driving licence I don't know what I would show them. I would be grateful that someone was keeping an eye on my home and feel safer when going out for long periods.
@Destiny007 (5805)
• United States
26 Jul 09
When the police are called about someone breaking into a house, they are required to make sure that the people who are in the house actually belong there.
That is their job, and I am truly amazed that a college teacher is not intelligent enough to know something that basic.
Yet he is teaching young adults? I think he should be fired for stupidity.
1 person likes this
@finlander60 (1804)
• United States
28 Jul 09
If Mr. Gates is an example of who is teaching our greatest resource, our children, our country is in SERIOUS TROUBLE. I AGREE WITH YOU.
@jdyrj777 (6528)
• United States
26 Jul 09
I think if this happen to me i would just show my id. I would be angry about it but i would be angry at myself for causing the whole thing by stupidly forgeting my keys inside. When i was in my 20's i constantly like a wkly event lock myself out of the house.
2 people like this
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
26 Jul 09
Hi twoey68,
I would thank the neighbour and the police for careing really and for the police for doing their job, but there is a big but, when your place is being done in where is the police? no where to be seen, as once hace my place was burgled and it two two hours for the police to show up and then they didn't take any finger prints, they were just a waste of time, then again that was in London and the police was not much cop. Now I live in the country and the police pretty good.
Tamara
2 people like this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
27 Jul 09
My ex locked himself out of the house a couple of times, and one day when I was trying to climb in through the window, a couple passed by the house, and they thought that I was a burglar, so they wanted to call the police. My ex talked to them and managed to convinced them that it was his house and that he had asked me to climb in through the window, because he locked himself out. They didn't call the police after all, but if they had done it, I wouldn't have been angry about it, because I know that they were just being concerned. I would show the police my ID if they arrived. Of course they need to check my identity, anyone can say "that is my house".
2 people like this
@wonttakelong (3555)
• United States
29 Jul 09
I have had to break into my own house
I forgot my house keys and had to climb through a window
I was upset that noone noticed someone climbing through a window
heck even my dog did nothing about me climbing through a window LOL
2 people like this
@tammytwo (4298)
• United States
27 Jul 09
I would hand over my ID and be thankful they are doing their job. It would make me feel safe in my community, knowing the police are watching out for my property. I know this wouldn't happen to me here because the police all know me, as my husband is a part time officer on the force in our small community but I would still be thankful if they did come to check things out.
1 person likes this
@slickcut (8141)
• United States
28 Jul 09
Actually i would have been thankful for good neigbors that thought enough of me to care..I know it was you doing the breakin but that was easy enough to prove..But what if it had been a stranger? then your neighbors would have saved you from a big thieft...
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
27 Jul 09
We live in the country, our neighbors know everyone and granted, if they saw anything they'd have to be walking down the street or in the field. However, while I might be angry, I'd eventually get over it and be greatful that the law and our neighbors cared so much to come out and make sure everything was okay. Especially when my fiance's father works night shift so is here during the day, if we weren't home and it really was a burgular we would be greatful to our neighbors, who also know that he works night shift!
1 person likes this
@deejean06 (1952)
• United States
28 Jul 09
Hi twoey...I have locked myself out of my house. I didn't attempt to get back in myself - I thought that I would break something in the process and didn't want to do more damage. I just called my parents who have a spare set of keys - they came over and I got back in.
However when I was younger our house was burglarized. I wish that someone in the neighborhood was watching because people were lurking outside and it turns out that these young men were burglarizing the entire neighborhood. I am quite thankful that my neighbors notice changes around my house and have questioned me about it - cars and such. At first I thought they were nosy but I'd rather have people taking note and questioning then something bad happening and no one notices.
I wouldn't have a problem showing ID especially in my own home. The police have a job to do too.
@scififan43 (2434)
• United States
31 Jul 09
If the police where to show up at my house wanting to know what is going on, I would coperate. the police have porcedures that they must follow and even thouhg they may have been called there by mistake. we also depend on the the police to serve and potect it citens and that calls for trust despied what a few rottne appls will do.
@anniefannie (1737)
• United States
26 Jul 09
i have lock my self out of my house before and had to crawl in the window and i would be mad to if they arrested me in my own house if they were checking me out because i went threw the window it wouldn not bother me it would be a good thing it would mean they were doing a good gob.they went to far with this man and the cop will not even say he was wrong.
@finlander60 (1804)
• United States
28 Jul 09
Why is the policeman automatically wrong for just trying to do his job while being verbally assaulted by what could have been a burglar? I REALLY WANT TO KNOW.
