I guess what I want to know is why are the screws missing? Could someone be planning to come back?

:( Am I freaking out?

Michael

I cant get a dog, although I would love to. I work 60+ hours a week, and my free animal time is spent with my two small parrots. It wouldnt be fair to get another animal...although I did consider leaving a sign on the ornery parrot's cage...Take the bird! Please!

Thanks so much guys! I noticed the loose double bolt lock when I unlocked it to let the police in. Until this remodeling, I have had no troubles at all in the 3+yrs.that I have lived here, except for a drunk guy wandering in the back yard and trying to get into the patio doors. The alarm went off and I raced across the second floor to the top of the garage and got on the roof of the house! The police came and caught him and said that he was drunk and insisting my house was where he lived.

Anyway, All the locks are changed except for the stupid double key lock. I agree that it is such a fire hazard! I used to keep a key in it at all times. But the locks are changed on the front security door instead, which I now religiously lock (I didnt used to, because I was afraid I would forget to unlock it in the am for the mail lady to drop my mail in the slot). The alarm is now on and working.

This is an upscale neighborhood, but I back up to the alley.
When I first moved in I used the garage door to get in/out of the house. I didnt know that someone had left the front door wide open until some neighbors came by! For 2 weeks it was wide open! Apparently a realtor or someone had not closed it. So, until this remodeling, I have felt perfectly safe. I do feel safer now that the alarm is back up and running and that the locks are changed.

I think it is also an inside job. It was like they came in for the bike. I knew it to when I came home and saw the busted doors, that the bike would be gone.

To the other poster, if it was a friend they certainly would have yelled "Hey Cindy it's me, beth".. etc) You should have called the police as no one should be doing that as it sounds like they were trying to scare you.

I am a convinced that a good dog can do wonders. If you get an actual guarding dog, then be prepared for work. Guarding dogs can be a handful and require careful handling and training so they don't become a nuisance (threatening guests, threatening you every time you walk by their food bowl, etc.).

Small dogs are an amazing early warning system. The best are those that are good at alerting you to unusual sounds, but not yapping at everything.

Your parrots are demanding, so you are probably right about avoiding the responsibilities of dog ownership.

Wow! I want to know more about your bike! Was it titanium with all of the latest greatest components! I hope your thief appreciated it for what it was a not just as a bike.

You are probably very safe where you are. You had a lot of people coming through and someone saw the bike... it was likely a crime of convenience... not a chronic neighborhood problem. Further, it was a burglary.. not a robbery... so it's more of a monetary rather than a true safety problem.

If it makes you feel better, select a home security option.

I am considering a surveillance camera in the backyard. I think the contractor can set one up for me. Also, maybe another motion detector along the wall of the house.

The bike...it was a Titus Racer X - full XTR, new tubeless crossmax wheels. It was custom-welded to fit me by Titus. I used to race, and they offered me a pro contract and a good deal on the bike to race. Unfortunately (or fortunately), my career took precedence. I will replace it as I ride with a lot of people from work and I ride several days/nights a week.

You all are right...it wasnt a personal act but a criminal act. My $5500 Giant Team TCR was sitting next to the Racer X, but they didnt take it. I think because I had the wheel off to fix it and it was too cumbersone to deal with. I also think they targeted the mtn. bike. I knew it when I walked in the house and saw the door...I knew the bike was gone. I have searched craigslist, etc. for it. Oh well, someday someone will get a nice little racer X. I wonder if they even know it is ti.

I have the alarm system back up and running and I feel so much more secure now. My parrot Zeek copies the sound of the door beeping open. His species of parrot is known for their fire alarm calls, and I hope that he did his part in dissuading the burglar from taking more. The motion detector is working and the back gate is bolted. I am making the contractor and other workers come in the front door in front of all my nosy neighbors now and the back gate to the alley remains locked. Again thanks so much for your caring replies. :)

jenny

I also had my wedding ring stolen by my handyman (I think). I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the criminal has some connection to the workers who have been in your home. Maybe the contractor is suspecting the wrong guy.

Could you stand to borrow someone's dog for a while? Otherwise, get the camera up for sure. He may have thought you would be gone already by 0630 or might be able to sneak in somehow at that time.

Be careful with that gun! He would be happy to steal that too, you know.

I have motion sensor lights as well as low voltage lighting around my perimeter. I believe any kind of lighting will deter a criminal - to an extent. I too have alley access - some trespassers have thought that it is A-OK to walk through my sideyards to get to my back alley! Needless to say, I am in the process of fencing the sideyards.

Sounds like an inside job.

And speaking of that, we put up this sign at every job we have: "This Area Under Video Surveillance." We don't actually have any cameras there, but we've never had a break-in since we started using the sign.

DonnaR/CA