Robbers get bad karma. Buddah says: Don't worry, MF's will get theirs.

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I may be a doctor.

Wow. Glad you're okay and that you woke up.

When I lived in Louisiana my upstairs neighbor's apartment was broken into in the wee hours and we both slept through that, plus the theft of her car from right outside! She drove a Volvo and the robber had been in the building for another reason recently and seen her hang her keys on a peg by the door. So he went in a second-floor window (with a screen on it) in the kitchen he'd seen her leave open for her cat so it could nap in the sun on the wide sill. He went in there, then took the keys and let himself out of the apt and took the car, which was later recovered abandoned in another part of the state. She'd never thought about locking a second-story window in a building that was already built up four feet up from ground level at the bottom, but he found a way up by hoisting himself onto a little roof that was over the back vestibule door -- he could reach over from there, so he must have been tall. Scary. But at least he was after her car and nothing else.

Just remember that people like that case places looking for opportunities, so don't give them any!! I left lights pretty often there because it was a border/crime neighborhood, though mostly petty stuff.

So glad you're okay.

This thread must be jinxed. I've tried posting a response twice and both times the site had traffic related php errors that lost my reponse. both times I have had a break-in, back in SF, it was after someone had cased the joint or because one of haousemates let someone sketchy into the apartment. One was an old apartment where the master tenant had a horticulture project going in the closet. When they broke inthey of course didn't just steal his plant but various of us housemate's tuff as well. Not to make you paranoid, Lee, but obviously someone buzzed your robber in to your building, if they don't actully live there themselves. I would take this opportunity, if you haven't already, to introduce yourself to everyone on your floor and ask around to see if there have been other attempted break-ins in the same bilding. i would also think about suggesting the building management install working security cameras in the lobby. A system with a couple of cameras is only a couple of hundred dollars these days and it would be reasonable for tenants to ask for one if break-ins have been aproblem.

I am super glad you are OK, Lee. I am not trying to make you paranoid just to consider that break-ins where the robber hasn't cased the joing or checked you out bringing in something they would want to the building are uncommon because it is very risky and often financially unrewarding to break into apartments randomly. There have been instances where even someone working for building maintenace is sometimes the "lookout" who cases apartments for a buddy who actually does the breaking in.

Thanks to all for the good wishes, and...

It's not possible to make me any more paranoid, Sean. I already am. And yes, I'm sure someone buzzed him in, if he doesn't already live there. When someone wants to get in, they have to dial your code which rings your phone. Very often, someone will call and claim that they forgot their key. I always hang up when I get these calls, and I mentioned it to the building management when I reported the burglary on Friday morning. The manager told me that it's always been a problem but she will definitely draft a message to all tenants about the foolishness of buzzing people in that you don't know -- or allowing them to piggyback when someone is going in or out.

I'm actually feeling a little more freaked out about it now than I was initially. I spent all day yesterday thinking, 'what if'? I set my apartment door alarm 98% of the time before I go to bed, but once in awhile, I've forgotten. What if I hadn't set it that night? What if my boyfriend wasn't there -- he isn't usually on Thursday nights. What if the burgar had ignored both the alarm and my boyfriend's voice and come in anyway? What if it wasn't random as the cops suggest and the guy was there for ME rather than my stuff?

I feel pretty secure inside the apartment now but I'm haunted by all these 'what ifs'. I've been burglarized before in New York, several times, in fact, but this is the first time I was home when it happened. I've lived alone for a long time and this has always, always been my biggest fear.

Don't mind me; I'm a little discombobulated. Worst news: I had a cigarette today, probably because subconsciously I remembered that I'll be spending the next few nights alone. 3 months with no nicotine and this creep has me smoking again. I wish I'd at least have gotten a glimpse of the guy. I'd like to find him right now and beat the crap out of him for terrorizing me this way.

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- We must be the change we wish to see in the world -
Mahatma Gandhi

To echo the sentiment - I am glad you are OK - that is the most important thing, but I know how these kind of things can be psychologically torturing. It might help to take a self defense class - just to help you feel better. I don't want to pry to much, but I was wondering. Did this happen in an apartment building? or a triplex/converted twin? How did the guy get the door open? Did he force his way in, or tried to pick the lock/ use a credit card? And where did this happen? I realize this can happen anywhere. I live in CC and it happens there and I grew up on the Main Line and it happens there- albiet less frequently. Anyway you might want to consider keeping Mace handy if you don't already. I hope you feel better. And try not to worry to much as much of this is random.

It's an apartment building. The guy appeared to have used a screwdriver on the door. It's an older building and is pretty well maintained, but since the building is older, the locks and fittings were not as secure in the door as they should have been so it wasn't that hard to jimmy. Now, of course, you'd have to use dynamite to get this door open. :-)

Thanks for the good thoughts.

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- We must be the change we wish to see in the world -
Mahatma Gandhi

Lee, I'm so sorry that you are going through all those "what if's".

Meanwhile one smoke shouldn't set you back. That's wonderful you quit, and went that long. Just chalk that up as a little set back, and not a relapse.

Hoping you feel a bit better with time. That is an awful feeling of being violated.

Thank you -- I appreciate your kindness. I threw the pack away. Hey, if I'm determined not to 'let the bad guys win', I can't let this bozo drive me back to nicotine addiction, now can I?

It's tough sometimes, though. :roll:

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- We must be the change we wish to see in the world -
Mahatma Gandhi

Are you certain that your cigarette binge wasn't caused by a fellow PB person? :twisted:

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“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” - Jane Jacobs

__________________
- We must be the change we wish to see in the world -
Mahatma Gandhi