Yesterday there was near burglary in our apartment

@vandana7 (100302)
India
November 2, 2019 8:38am CST
I always thought my city is the safest place on earth, for elderly. So around 8 pm there was this courier guy who told the watchman to which flat he was going. The watchman did not doubt him because he came with his backpack filled with goodies like Santa. The guy rang the doorbell of one of the apartment owners, who is a widower and lives alone. The gentleman opened the door without looking through peep hole. It is quite normal here. Pizza boys bring in pizza as late as 11 pm. And I really don't know anybody who checks the peephole before opening the door. The person would be considered paranoid. And this guy now his head covered with helmet so as to hide his face completely hands over a fairly large carton to the gentleman saying this arrived for you. The gentleman has kids living in other towns, so he wondered who sent him what. Before he could read the details the guy stepped inside, latched the door from inside and covered his entire face with his hand, so as to prevent him from screaming. The 62 year old man nearly fainted and fell back..which released the grip, and soon the gentleman recovered rushed to the rear door started screaming for the watchman. Seeing that now he cannot leave without being caught, the burglar ran away without lifting anything. Now they are contemplating CC tvs door latches, watchman bell, intercom, etc., etc.
16 people like this
16 responses
@LadyDuck (471421)
• Switzerland
2 Nov 19
Well, no matter what they add as "security item" if nobody cares because they would be consider paranoid is wasted money. I do not open my door to someone who wear a helmet.
4 people like this
@vandana7 (100302)
• India
2 Nov 19
We tend to keep our doors open and move around thinking nobody will harm us. Now we are alerted. I don't think change will come overnight. But I think folks will be a tad wary now.
2 people like this
@vandana7 (100302)
• India
2 Nov 19
@LadyDuck True. But we never had such issues before. We are now alerted.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (471421)
• Switzerland
2 Nov 19
@vandana7 In our modern world it is better to be taken by paranoid than to be killed by a thief.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38219)
• Philippines
4 Nov 19
Oh no! Take care, Vanny-san. Check the peephole before opening your door- paranoid or not.
2 people like this
@vandana7 (100302)
• India
4 Nov 19
@sol_cee san, I do believe I am inclined to be paranoid. LOL. I opted to live in this town which can be disgustingly hot, and dirty and noisy, sometimes ..only because natural calamities do not trouble us here, and compared to many other cities it has better amenities and in general, it is /was safer.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218921)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Nov 19
I think Vanny Ji knos how to take care of herself.
2 people like this
@sol_cee (38219)
• Philippines
4 Nov 19
@TheHorse Oh! Then they should watch out for Vanny-san.
2 people like this
@rebelann (112875)
• El Paso, Texas
2 Nov 19
I'm glad the elder man was not harmed and that the thief didn't get anything. It's a shame when things like that happen.
2 people like this
@vandana7 (100302)
• India
2 Nov 19
Really scary. The way everybody is offering suggestions...I wonder what the Building secretary will decide finally.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (112875)
• El Paso, Texas
2 Nov 19
I would only suggest that people keep their doors closed and locked and to look through the peep hole before opening the door for someone @vandana7
1 person likes this
• United States
4 Nov 19
oh my, what a horrifyin' time fer that gentleman. so glad he 'twas no seriously 'njured. yepperz, gonna need more security 'round there from the sounds 'f 't. sadly there's very few safe places these days.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (178877)
• United States
2 Nov 19
Terrible. I'm glad the elderly man wasn't injured and didn't get anything stolen.
2 people like this
@vandana7 (100302)
• India
2 Nov 19
Really lucky. But the gentleman was really shaken up.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (218921)
• Walnut Creek, California
2 Nov 19
Was he elderly? Or 62? If the guy was unarmed, I'd have gone for his knees.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (178877)
• United States
2 Nov 19
@vandana7 I can imagine. I would be too!
1 person likes this
@yoalldudes (35037)
• Philippines
2 Nov 19
That is scary. Added security will help address the problem but it also invades somewhat of privacy.
2 people like this
@vandana7 (100302)
• India
2 Nov 19
Yes. Privacy is a concern. But there are kids in the building. So somewhere we need to draw a line I suppose. They are zeroing in on intercom, so that watchman confirms from us whether or not to allow the person to come up.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (100302)
• India
4 Nov 19
@yoalldudes Actually, I have kept my gardening tool in the drawing room just under TV stand. That is the best place for it..invisible. But it can be handy. LOL
@yoalldudes (35037)
• Philippines
4 Nov 19
@vandana7 Maybe you need a baseball bat by your bed just in case (kidding)
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (47341)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
2 Nov 19
That was terrible, and lucky that the elderly gent wasn't hurt.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (100302)
• India
2 Nov 19
Absolutely. The apartment closest to them has a couple who return late in the night as they both work.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (180820)
• United States
2 Nov 19
Well that is scary! Take care
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (180820)
• United States
4 Nov 19
@vandana7 sounds like someone was trying to distract you
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (100302)
• India
4 Nov 19
@snowy22315 Not sure...but it surely has made us cautious.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (100302)
• India
4 Nov 19
And last evening there was somebody knocking our door for donations around the same time, requesting us for a few minutes. We told him no.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
2 Nov 19
they target the elderly who live alone
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (100302)
• India
2 Nov 19
I realized that... so now they are asking for quotations for CC TV cameras. LOL
1 person likes this
• United States
2 Nov 19
Yes better to have prevention with CCs there. The world is becoming highly unsafe. The poor man must have been terrified. I have cameras here and alarms which I have had fitted myself Vanny. I did my own work to be safe.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (100302)
• India
2 Nov 19
Intercom is what is suggested...that way Watchman can confirm from people whether or not to send the person upstairs.
1 person likes this
• United States
3 Nov 19
@vandana7 Yes the ones I have allow me to speak like intercom.
1 person likes this
@marlina (154131)
• Canada
3 Nov 19
We have a peephole and always check it. And we do not open the door to every body.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (100302)
• India
3 Nov 19
We have not had such issues earlier so we have never resorted to such things. Now we need to cultivate that habit. They are saying Intercom. But some are opposing because they are too expensive. So it may be CC TV after all. I would prefer intercom.
@wolfgirl569 (106394)
• Marion, Ohio
2 Nov 19
Glad he is ok. Hope they catch the guy.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (100302)
• India
2 Nov 19
Nobody bothered to find out who came. LOL. But now everybody is worried...this building there are 10 senior citizens and totally 14 units of which 2 are vacant, and three have some offices. 2 are hardly around. Easy to target elderly then.
2 people like this
@Starmaiden (9311)
• Canada
2 Nov 19
Wow! That is scary. Must be someone who targets only the elders. Such people are the lowest.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (100302)
• India
2 Nov 19
He is also a banker so I guess the burglar did his homework.
1 person likes this
@ExplorewtMe (6332)
• Nairobi, Kenya
2 Nov 19
Good to know that he is safe and everything is fine. Be alert . Which city incident is it?
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (100302)
• India
2 Nov 19
@ExplorewtMe Oh great... yes, in general, it is one of the safest cities. People are generally quite laid back.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (100302)
• India
2 Nov 19
Hyderabad, India.
2 people like this
• Nairobi, Kenya
2 Nov 19
@vandana7 I had resided there around 6 months, and I found it safe enough. But this incident can happen anytime so better to be alert.
2 people like this
@Alexandoy (65308)
• Cainta, Philippines
2 Nov 19
I find that cctv is now a must in all homes.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (100302)
• India
2 Nov 19
Yes I too felt the same way.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (19942)
• United States
4 Nov 19
wow. I hope there is some security put in place for on.