The first incident occurred around 8pm, and the second, just days later, happened this morning at 6:30am. The man took a chair from the front porch to look into the kitchen window on both occasions. It was obvious that people were home, as there was a car in the driveway and the lights were on.
She lives alone with her two young daughters on the edge of a low-income area, though it’s not known for violence. Could this behavior suggest a potential abduction? Why would someone make such an effort to look into the kitchen window early in the morning, knowing the house is occupied? Do we have some time to address this, or should we leave immediately?
I plan to stay with her, along with my shotgun, until we find a safer place for her to stay, and the police have already been informed. I’m just trying to stay ahead of the situation and be prepared before anything happens. Thanks for any advice.
Motion activated bright LED lights and cameras.
It is so cool that the cost of cameras has come down to the point that Joe Average can afford a couple. Even cheapy cameras are a strong deterrent and motion lights have always been. Combining the two will help you get a good look at what is going on. If you light up the dark like a baseball stadium it doesn’t take a good camera to get a clear picture.
Absolutely, I’m in a city in a neighborhood where there is enough low level crime. The prior owners had dusk to dawn lights, but I replaced them with motion activated lights because I want anyone walking into the yard to think someone’s going to notice that the lights came on and look out the window.
We’ve had very few trespassers in 10 years because of this, as well as simulated and real cameras and camera warning signs.
Calling this behavior suspicious is an understatement.
First, remove anything from outside the house that could assist with entry or surveillance, like the chair used to peek into the window. Don’t leave tools or other items outside, as criminals often use what’s available rather than bringing their own. Ladders are especially problematic because they’re bulky and often left outside, making it easier for someone to bypass door security and access windows.
Second, when setting up a child’s room, avoid making it obvious from the outside. Don’t use things like window clings or cute curtains that clearly indicate it’s a kid’s room. If you have a spare room, consider making that one look like a child’s room as a decoy.
Third, you can only speculate about their intentions. They could range from being harmless peeping toms (disturbing but not physically dangerous) to potential burglars (posing more danger but possibly only after valuables) to someone planning more serious harm, like kidnapping or assault.
Fourth, since you’re planning to move, you may not want to invest too much in securing the current home. However, one small improvement with a big impact is upgrading the screws in the exterior door locks. Replace the short screws in both the door and the frame with 3-inch surface-hardened screws. It’s a simple fix that strengthens security. Consider upgrading or temporarily securing the ground-floor window locks as well, making them easier to undo later when moving out.
Fifth, if she’s open to it, consider getting her a gun and ensuring she takes proper training. Help her find a firearm she’s comfortable using by renting different options. Eventually, the children will need to learn basic gun safety, which is important in any home with a firearm. While locking up the gun is step one, it’s crucial to follow all necessary safety measures to prevent accidents in the future.
Excellent comment, with priceless advice!
Also it’s good (if possible) to make it so that the kid(s) room is not accessible from the street without passing the parents room first, to minimize the chances of someone being able to get to their window unnoticed. So if there’s two or more rooms in a home, the hardest one to access needs to be the kid one.
It’s one extra little safety if the parents room is on the way/before the kid(s)’s room and even better within hearing distance.
If you can, I would do everything possible to get them out immediately. It’s a stressful, traumatic situation for them now. No matter how much immediate danger they’re in, nothing good can come from this. Hopefully the girls are blissfully ignorant. I would assume it’s a nearby neighbor, move them out tomorrow, and lie to any neighbor that asks where they’re moving to.
Dog, better blinds, curtains too, glass alarms, cameras and motion activated lights, buddy bar on all doors. Don’t wait around
I’d recommend setting up WiFi-controlled lights so she can turn them on before entering the house alone. If she’s not comfortable with a gun, consider getting her bear spray and placing it in key locations like bedrooms and near doors. Apply 3M security window film to windows that could be easily accessed by someone breaking in. Make sure to install curtains on all windows and consider getting a Ring (or similar) security system that she can take with her when she moves.
Secure the windows with devices that make them harder to open at night or use a removable piece of wood for easy egress during a fire. You could also replace the door jamb screws with longer ones for added security; it’s an inexpensive fix that often helps people feel safer. It’s also crucial to run emergency drills with everyone in the house so they know what to do under stress. People, especially children, often forget verbal instructions during emergencies but tend to remember drills, even if they seemed silly at the time.
Identify the safest room in the house during a break-in, and consider adding extra security there, like a door stop or keeping a charged burner phone in case you forget yours. If your area offers women’s self-defense classes, it’s worth taking them—knowledge is power.
If she’s got any neighbors you should reach out
If this happened to one of my neighbors and they told me, I’d be waiting for my opportunity to catch them and I’m telling you there’s many other folks who’d be doing the same
Sit on the front porch in a place where the person can’t see you. You see somebody come close rack that shotgun. He won’t be back.
Not the worst idea but it is a definite escalation and pushes things towards a violent encounter. You’d better be damn ready to use that gun and accept all the consequences of doing so.
you watch tooooo much TV - and you need to avoid giving advice before you get someone killed …
Racking a shotgun as a deterrent is terrible advice. Legally, tactically, functionally, it’s unsound. You almost might as well suggest firing a warning shot (never fire warning shots! It’s needlessly dangerous for bystanders and illegal in almost every situation)