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by gilesanauthor from plano

Last Post 85 days, 5 hours Ago


limited writing
Mar 14, 2008 | 9:43 AM
Category: News
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I may not be writing as often as I had hoped.  We were robbed two months ago.  We were gone for only 1 day, and so thank goodness we weren't home, and our dog was with us.  What was taken--my computer, my husband had his lap top with us on our short trip to east Texas.  They threw my jewelry all around, but didn't take anything--none of it really worth anything--except sentimental value.  The fact  they took my computer is most upsetting as that is the computer where I do my writing.  I had all my past books, and current projects on that computer.  Yes, I had back-ups for everything, and all password protected--as if that will do any good.  They left my good color printer--but tore up the insides.  Also, as we have been doing some remodeling, we had new bathroom faucets, sitting in boxes, and other items to be installed.  The thieves left the expensive faucets but took 2 inexpensive ($39.00 ea.) mirrors from Garden Ridge.  Go figure--the two faucets were over $300.00 total.  They also left my good digital camera, but took a 30+ year old 35mm single reflex camera that my husband used to use, but has really  not worked very well for years--and was all but forgotten, except they left the case it was stored in.

The Plano police said it was similar to a number of burglaries in the city--but the first in our little area--great--not what I wanted to be first in.  They busted out our Pella storm door, and the exterior steel door and two deadbolts to get in.  Messed up both doors and the jam--but does the insurance company help with anything--well, only enough to repair--which couldn't be done to the storm door--that had to be totally replaced.  The exterior steel door and locks we have been able to repair and the door jam--is now better than before.  But my computer--no money for that--and believe me short of getting an attorney we have complained and fussed and written letters, and spoken with all kinds of people up the chain--and thus far, no luck.  I still haven't bought a new computer.  I am still too attached to the old one--I really liked it and it was only 3 years old--that is the frustration.  Its time with me just wasn't up. 

So, if I don't write as often as I would like, it is because my husband and I are currently sharing his lap-top--and that goes with him quite a lot.  Soon, I will get a new one, I used to have only a lap-top when I taught school, but I really loved my PC that I have written on for the last 3 years, now though, I am trying to convince myself into going back to a laptop so it can go with me!  Sure wish they would have just taken the printer rather than tearing out the insides!

Don't know if this is really a news blog, except for those of you in the Plano area--the police have told me this type of break in is becoming more and more common in the city--they have really seen an increase in the last 8 months.  So, all of you--watch out for your neighbors and yourself.  None of my neighbors saw or heard anything, but NOW--we are all more aware of who comes and goes on our block--and it is not an easy street to even find!

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terrellmom read my blog view my photos
Mar 14, 2008 | 10:13 AM

Why will home owner ins not replace your laptop? Could they get fingerprints or anything? This is horrible for you and i hope they find who did it.
chardoney read my blog view my photos
Mar 14, 2008 | 11:05 AM

More and more crime the lasts few years... everywhere. I always wonder how much is related to illegals, drug dealers, etc. Sorry for your loss... hope all will work out well.
scottythecomic read my blog view my photos
Mar 14, 2008 | 5:24 PM

I am of the opinion that is it money well spent that is earned by a house sitter relative or friend.
gilesanauthor read my blog
Mar 14, 2008 | 5:27 PM

No clear fingerprints, and too many so smudged that they couln't get any clear patterns. We had the computer on our homeowners--but the catch is that we have a high deductable and not enough in value taken. So, that is where the rub is to this. And if the police ever find the computer--which they doubt--I am not sure I would want it back, and no telling the condition. Any way--first time in 34 years of home ownership and first time in this house where we have lived for 16 years.
The police feel it was random. And a burgalar alarm wouldn't help as the response time--the police think they smashed in the door, quickly took--and all the cords were really torn up--the computer--tore it out of the place it was connected to, grabbed the mirrors--which really weren't small as they were for a bathroom wall, and ran. Police figure maybe in about 4 minutes time. So, what do you do? Just give thanks it wasn't worse, and that no one including our doggy were here to be hurt in anyway!
Klutzy2508 read my blog view my photos
Mar 14, 2008 | 5:49 PM

I live in the Plano area, also, and I've heard of the break ins. They don't know if they're taking things to hock (a computer's kind of big, but who knows), or if they're taking things for their personal use. I've also heard that it's kids, but haven't been able to confirm this. BTW, was this in East Plano, or West Plano?

TM, speaking from experience, they don't usually fingerprint, if it's a first occurrance. That stuff's expensive, and it's the dickens to clean off your surfaces. Once done, then they turn around and fingerprint everyone in the household. This isolates the prints that don't belong.

I had 2 break ins, within a week of each other. Once on a Friday, and again on a Tuesday. That Friday, I'd lost my job. I'd gone back on Tuesday (gone for 1 1/2 hours) and they broke in, again while I was cleaning out my desk. I was definately being watched. They finally caught the person (after I'd moved). She had a $1500. a DAY habit, and was stealing to buy drugs. I can think of a lot of things I could do with $1500.00 per day. Can't you?

Now, your homeowners insurance has a deductible. Chances are, that if they were to pay you, it probably wouldn't be much more than the deductible (by the time they added the depreciation, and everything), so it would hardly be worth it.

One thing you can do, to try to curb these type of break ins, is to get with your neighbors, and the local police, and form a Neighborhood Crime Watch. It's easy, and it's a good way to meet your neighbors. Crimewatches have curbed more than one burgulary, because it's neighbors wat
scottythecomic read my blog view my photos
Mar 14, 2008 | 10:24 PM

Keep an eye out in the electronics section of Craigslist as well.
scottythecomic read my blog view my photos
Mar 14, 2008 | 10:24 PM

Oops, and the Computer section!
Klutzy2508 read my blog view my photos
Mar 15, 2008 | 1:51 AM

oops...it cut me off. It should read:

Crimewatches have curbed more than one burgulary, because it's neighbors watching neighbors.
moankie82 read my blog
Mar 15, 2008 | 7:38 AM

This is why I love to hear it when a homeowner kills a robber. The courts won't do anything when they do catch them.
scottythecomic read my blog view my photos
Mar 15, 2008 | 7:47 AM

Moankie, we see guys (and gals) going to prison every day for burglary.
moankie82 read my blog
Mar 15, 2008 | 7:52 AM

Yes but how long till they are back on the street as habitual criminals. Sentences need to be tripled in most cases. Home owners have the best idea. Kill them when you can. A bullet cost 10 cents. If a scumbag knows he can make 100 thousand dollars stealing cars and only spend 6 months in jail for it. He is making 200 thousand dollars a year. Make that sentence 30 years without parole.
scottythecomic read my blog view my photos
Mar 15, 2008 | 8:04 AM

Moankie, I generally agree with a lot of what you have to say. But stay away from cop shows on TV. They, along with lawyer and doctor shows, are full of crap and not indicative of how it works in the real world. Trust me, no one is stealing 100,000 worth of cars and doing 6 months. In fact, inmates are doing MORE time. The days of the revolving door have long ago closed. The system is wayyy overcrowded again though, which is not good. Check this article out here.

http://www.texaspolicy.com/pdf/2006-10-PP-parole-ml.pdf
moankie82 read my blog
Mar 15, 2008 | 8:46 AM

It was just meant to be an example. I told a defense lawyer once that the reason I would only vote for the maximum sentence was because the max wasn't near enough. She sent me home.
My brother had his car stolen and totaled. When he called the next day to see what would happen to the crook. He said he was already out. Probably in the lot looking for a car to steal to get home in. Turned out he was right. Rearrested the same day he got out.
scottythecomic read my blog view my photos
Mar 15, 2008 | 12:19 PM

Some are like that. We have had them and they're difficult to defend.
moankie82 read my blog
Mar 16, 2008 | 2:36 PM

Who would want to defend them? Please don't tell me your a lawyer.
scottythecomic read my blog view my photos
Mar 16, 2008 | 2:59 PM

I'm not an attorney. I am partners with one. We pick and choose who we wish to defend, however, the court appoints defendants to us as well. You have no choice. Some states actually have a public defenders office comprised of nothing but new attorneys (Florida for instance). Texas is obviously not one of them.
moankie82 read my blog
Mar 16, 2008 | 3:11 PM

So you wouldn't like my idea to cap em all. LOL
I cannot understand defending someone you know is guilty as he--.
gilesanauthor read my blog
Mar 16, 2008 | 5:06 PM

I live on the side just west of 75--off of Custer north of Legacy. The police have really had an increase in break-ins north of Legacy. And yes, the fingerprint dust is really messy to get off of surfaces. The loss of items I can handle, it is just the idea someone I didn't invite was in my home, I had trouble sleeping for a couple of weeks after the incident. But now, the door is strong and repaired with all new locks, an uber storm door with bullet proof material, and 2 dead bolts. The police also said the computer would be more useful than jewelry and easier to sell. They doubt they will find the person (s)--I am not sure they will try to hard anyway. I don't think though I could shoot a person, then again, I don't (we don't) own any guns, so that would limit that. I think it may have been kids--our neighbors had seen some kids wandering through the neighborhood that they didn't recognize. But they weren't even sure of making that statement. TIME TO MOVE PAST THIS!
moankie82 read my blog
Mar 17, 2008 | 7:27 AM

What makes it so bad is that the majority of the scumbags are repeat offenders. Because the sorry justice system puts them back on the street.
gilesanauthor read my blog
Mar 17, 2008 | 9:24 AM

And truthfullly, while the police came promptly, and the CSI was doing all she could to get a clear print, and I have had one follow-up call, I get the impression that so what--this was a fairly small break-in--monetarily speaking, no one was hurt, and no one saw anything. So, they move on, and I just know that I will never hear or see anything about this. I know there are larger crimes taking place, but this affected me, and to me it was huge. The insurance company gave us a minimum--and certainly not enough to even replace the door that was completely beyond repair, or even to get a complete new exterior deadbolt door. Only enough to repair the door jam--which wasn't much. So, we got screwed all the way around.
And don't think Plano is a safe place anymore--it certainly was 16 years ago when we moved into this house. And we chose the area we did because it is somewhat off the beaten path, not your regular through str
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gilesanauthor

Just me, writing about my observations of life.

Member Since: 2/28/2008


 

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