Pretty sure our house was just cased, now what?
May 4, 2015 10:05 AM Subscribe
My wife, currently disabled and at home, texted the following encounter that occurred a short whle ago:
"We just got cased. Youth, slight, my height, med brown skin, riding a blue beachcomber style bicycle with a large square basket, knocked on the door. Took me a minute to answer door. Kid was getting on bike when I opened the door. He asked me if I sold drills. I said sell what? He nervously looked at the side of the house next to the door and repeated drills. I said no and closed the door to go put on pants and further investigate the nervous glance, and of course the world was quiet when I went back out."
Any suggestions for what to do next in terms of securing the house? I was thinking of fake alarm system stickers or beware of dog, while we call around about alarm systems.
I went home immediately and rode around looking for a person matching that description. Then stopped by the local police precinct to let them know.
Is there an off the shelf alarm system you'd recommend? Some other visible signs of the house is secured?
"We just got cased. Youth, slight, my height, med brown skin, riding a blue beachcomber style bicycle with a large square basket, knocked on the door. Took me a minute to answer door. Kid was getting on bike when I opened the door. He asked me if I sold drills. I said sell what? He nervously looked at the side of the house next to the door and repeated drills. I said no and closed the door to go put on pants and further investigate the nervous glance, and of course the world was quiet when I went back out."
Any suggestions for what to do next in terms of securing the house? I was thinking of fake alarm system stickers or beware of dog, while we call around about alarm systems.
I went home immediately and rode around looking for a person matching that description. Then stopped by the local police precinct to let them know.
Is there an off the shelf alarm system you'd recommend? Some other visible signs of the house is secured?
If part of your current plan is to use signs for fake things (ie, dog, security system), my choices above those would be a large sign that states something along the lines of "Smile, you are on camera." You could get a cheap camera that could be seen from the inside of the house. YMMV as to whether you truly want to pay for a bunch of small cameras or not.
But I believe it might be better to scare someone in that way before they even get to the door, window, etc.
posted by Wolfster at 10:14 AM on May 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
But I believe it might be better to scare someone in that way before they even get to the door, window, etc.
posted by Wolfster at 10:14 AM on May 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: These portable hanging door alarms could get put into use even faster.
posted by jquinby at 10:16 AM on May 4, 2015
posted by jquinby at 10:16 AM on May 4, 2015
Also, you can repurpose cameras you already have to take surveillance video with ICam Pro & an inexpensive monthly subscription.
posted by jbenben at 10:17 AM on May 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by jbenben at 10:17 AM on May 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
This could also be a big mix-up. Maybe they were trying to find a house off of a Craigslist ad or something similar? Kids are not always the best at explaining themselves. It's good to be cautious, but I think there is also a good chance that you were not being cased.
posted by Nightman at 10:17 AM on May 4, 2015 [32 favorites]
posted by Nightman at 10:17 AM on May 4, 2015 [32 favorites]
Best answer: Secure locks on all windows and deadbolts on the doors will go a long way towards making it difficult to get in. Make sure you secure any basement windows as well.
posted by bondcliff at 10:20 AM on May 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by bondcliff at 10:20 AM on May 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm not sure I understand why this is obviously an attempt to case the house? It sounds as likely to be a stupid dare, or a mistake, or a prank, as anything else. Unless asking for drills is a known term for would-be burglars.
posted by a fiendish thingy at 10:25 AM on May 4, 2015 [12 favorites]
posted by a fiendish thingy at 10:25 AM on May 4, 2015 [12 favorites]
Yeah, that sounds like some kind of password for "is this the place where I buy the drugs?"
posted by Melismata at 10:25 AM on May 4, 2015 [73 favorites]
posted by Melismata at 10:25 AM on May 4, 2015 [73 favorites]
Best answer: iSmartAlarm.
And clear safety film on glass panes makes them much harder to break.
This is a good time to improve your home security measures, even if the incident was benign.
posted by wonton endangerment at 10:33 AM on May 4, 2015 [3 favorites]
And clear safety film on glass panes makes them much harder to break.
This is a good time to improve your home security measures, even if the incident was benign.
posted by wonton endangerment at 10:33 AM on May 4, 2015 [3 favorites]
I am with those who suspect that this incident was benign (if he *was* casing the house, it seems like he got scared off when he realized someone was home), but it wouldn't hurt to improve your home's security in general, probably. Don't leave first-floor windows open at night, stuff like that?
posted by mskyle at 10:34 AM on May 4, 2015
posted by mskyle at 10:34 AM on May 4, 2015
Well, it's possible that this was the world's worst casing attempt, though it would have failed in all respects, considering the kid didn't get to see anything of note, found that the house was occupied, and had a spectacularly nonsensical excuse for knocking in the first place. If you think that's the case, I'd go with fake security signs displayed prominently for cheapness and, frankly, the level of incompetence these would-be burglars (if they exist) have already exhibited.
As mentioned, though, it sounds more like the kid wanted to buy pot or whatever and went to/was sent to the wrong house. Even if a more sophisticated outfit is recruiting a kid to do their casing, it's still in their best interest not to overtly arouse suspicion with a wacky, backward alibi. Typically, they'll claim to be trying to sell something or carrying a gas can.
posted by cmoj at 10:37 AM on May 4, 2015 [12 favorites]
As mentioned, though, it sounds more like the kid wanted to buy pot or whatever and went to/was sent to the wrong house. Even if a more sophisticated outfit is recruiting a kid to do their casing, it's still in their best interest not to overtly arouse suspicion with a wacky, backward alibi. Typically, they'll claim to be trying to sell something or carrying a gas can.
posted by cmoj at 10:37 AM on May 4, 2015 [12 favorites]
This may shed some light on your young visitor's request for power tools. According to the Urban Dictionary 'drill' can be used as a slang term for Benadryl:
The slang term for consuming a large amount of benadryl (DPH) to get high.
"Hey man that was one fucked up drill last night. I don't remember a thing."
posted by Chairboy at 10:45 AM on May 4, 2015 [24 favorites]
The slang term for consuming a large amount of benadryl (DPH) to get high.
"Hey man that was one fucked up drill last night. I don't remember a thing."
posted by Chairboy at 10:45 AM on May 4, 2015 [24 favorites]
Agree that this sounds a lot more like he was trying to score at the wrong address.
Actually casing a place is a lot of work, and your general burglar is just not that likely to put in the time, when there are plenty of houses to try to break into. The usual move is to knock, make sure no one comes to the door, and then try to kick the door down or break a low window and look for loose cash or smallish electronics, generally starting with the bedroom. Come to think of it, even if he was casing the place, now he knows that someone's usually home, which is a pretty big deterrent.
But one easy thing to do is just make sure your doors are hard to kick down. If you are even mildly handy, you can make sure each deadbolt has a strike plate, goes all the way into the strike plate, and that strike plate is properly anchored to the doorjamb with screws that are at least an inch long.
If you're really worried about someone forcefully entering while she's there, hardware stores sell some pretty big and serious external deadbolts that you install at the bottom of the door, making it that much harder to kick in.
posted by aspersioncast at 10:47 AM on May 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
Actually casing a place is a lot of work, and your general burglar is just not that likely to put in the time, when there are plenty of houses to try to break into. The usual move is to knock, make sure no one comes to the door, and then try to kick the door down or break a low window and look for loose cash or smallish electronics, generally starting with the bedroom. Come to think of it, even if he was casing the place, now he knows that someone's usually home, which is a pretty big deterrent.
But one easy thing to do is just make sure your doors are hard to kick down. If you are even mildly handy, you can make sure each deadbolt has a strike plate, goes all the way into the strike plate, and that strike plate is properly anchored to the doorjamb with screws that are at least an inch long.
If you're really worried about someone forcefully entering while she's there, hardware stores sell some pretty big and serious external deadbolts that you install at the bottom of the door, making it that much harder to kick in.
posted by aspersioncast at 10:47 AM on May 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
Was the nervous glance perhaps him rechecking the address? Is your house number displayed next to your door? Maybe it was the right number but the wrong street & he was confused (if he was looking for drugs that seems likely)?
posted by peep at 11:02 AM on May 4, 2015
posted by peep at 11:02 AM on May 4, 2015
Response by poster: This may shed some light on your young visitor's request for power tools. According to the Urban Dictionary 'drill' can be used as a slang term for Benadryl:
Huh. That's a bizarre take, but possible I guess. My wife, however, feels that since the kid had a bike with a basket and seemed to be glancing at someone on the side of the house, he probably was casing.
Thank you for all the suggestions so far.
On preview:
Was the nervous glance perhaps him rechecking the address? Is your house number displayed next to your door?
No, he glanced in the opposite direction of the house number.
posted by sock, the puppet at 11:05 AM on May 4, 2015
Huh. That's a bizarre take, but possible I guess. My wife, however, feels that since the kid had a bike with a basket and seemed to be glancing at someone on the side of the house, he probably was casing.
Thank you for all the suggestions so far.
On preview:
Was the nervous glance perhaps him rechecking the address? Is your house number displayed next to your door?
No, he glanced in the opposite direction of the house number.
posted by sock, the puppet at 11:05 AM on May 4, 2015
For a real quick, inexpensive stopgap while securing things, a battery-powered motion-activated sensor (or two, or three) that alerts you via beep or bell sound to someone moving near access points outside, if it works with your layout. I'm talking about the sort of thing that makes a sound when you enter a small shop, so if the shopkeeper is in the back, they know someone has entered the store.
We put a couple of these up after someone somehow got inside our pretty secure front gate (though maybe it was just left ajar, grrrrr former upstairs neighbor!), and when turned on they make a loud enough noise so we can tell if there's movement coming up our back steps, going down into our courtyard, or by our front door. Other access points are either too visible or too inaccessible to be very useful for evildoers. We had to position them in a way that they would be unlikely to be set off by cats or similar, and of course it's a pain when you need to move around in those areas yourself (remembering to turn them off and on), but it gave me some peace of mind that I would know if there was activity at those key areas when my husband was out of town. I also have a very shrill whistle to blow if there's a problem (never tested). /city neighborhood, so neighbors close by enough that the whistle thing would be quite startling and bring folks out.
(two of our sensors tuck into protected spaces, but one has to be in the weather; my husband made a housing for it, and we ensconced the whole thing on a pole that sticks into a planter. Still going strong a couple of years later.)
posted by taz at 11:13 AM on May 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
We put a couple of these up after someone somehow got inside our pretty secure front gate (though maybe it was just left ajar, grrrrr former upstairs neighbor!), and when turned on they make a loud enough noise so we can tell if there's movement coming up our back steps, going down into our courtyard, or by our front door. Other access points are either too visible or too inaccessible to be very useful for evildoers. We had to position them in a way that they would be unlikely to be set off by cats or similar, and of course it's a pain when you need to move around in those areas yourself (remembering to turn them off and on), but it gave me some peace of mind that I would know if there was activity at those key areas when my husband was out of town. I also have a very shrill whistle to blow if there's a problem (never tested). /city neighborhood, so neighbors close by enough that the whistle thing would be quite startling and bring folks out.
(two of our sensors tuck into protected spaces, but one has to be in the weather; my husband made a housing for it, and we ensconced the whole thing on a pole that sticks into a planter. Still going strong a couple of years later.)
posted by taz at 11:13 AM on May 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
You've had some good suggestions, I'd look at upgrading window & door locks. Honestly though your wife being home at the moment and answering the door is probably the best security you can have. Most would be thieves prefer empty houses. If he was getting on his bike after knocking on the door, like others I suspect he got a wrong address.
If you don't already have it one of those spyhole door things for her to look out of before answering the door, or at least a storm or security door on the front door might not be a bad idea. As a female home alone a lot during the day that really adds to my sense of security when opening the front door to strangers. At a neighbourhood watch meeting the 2 things I took away about daytime thefts was, they like empty houses & they like houses with poor viability from the street. So trim back bushes etc to make sure as much of your house is as visible as possible as well.
posted by wwax at 11:19 AM on May 4, 2015 [3 favorites]
If you don't already have it one of those spyhole door things for her to look out of before answering the door, or at least a storm or security door on the front door might not be a bad idea. As a female home alone a lot during the day that really adds to my sense of security when opening the front door to strangers. At a neighbourhood watch meeting the 2 things I took away about daytime thefts was, they like empty houses & they like houses with poor viability from the street. So trim back bushes etc to make sure as much of your house is as visible as possible as well.
posted by wwax at 11:19 AM on May 4, 2015 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: Also, our house has a lot of windows. Is there any particular thing we can do to visibly secure those windows so that anyone looking at them from the outside will see they're secured in some way?
posted by sock, the puppet at 11:24 AM on May 4, 2015
posted by sock, the puppet at 11:24 AM on May 4, 2015
We have these alarms on our exterior doors since ToddlerJungle is a little escape artist and they are fantastically loud on the 'alarm' setting. We use the chime setting during the day so that we're alerted if she opens a door and at night I flip the switch to 'alarm' so it goes off continually if a door is opened. At 2/$10 it was great solution to our problem and would definitely alert you and neighbors to a break in. I got mine from amazon but they also sell the same model at WalMart and Lowes if you wanted to pick something up today.
posted by julie_of_the_jungle at 11:32 AM on May 4, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by julie_of_the_jungle at 11:32 AM on May 4, 2015 [3 favorites]
It couldn't hurt to place a nice big dog water bowl and maybe a rawhide chew on the porch.
posted by bunji at 11:45 AM on May 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by bunji at 11:45 AM on May 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
This old ask: Nothing Worth Stealing may be of interest.
I agree with the folks saying this was probably not your house being cased. I will suggest that the fact that your wife is apparently home all the time is something that makes you less likely to be broken into. However, as someone who is also handicapped, I can understand the concern about her being home alone and "what if something happens?" There are ways to make it more obvious to people that you are a not an attractive target for a break in. The above Ask talks a good bit about that. Alarm system was not high on the list. Eyes on the street, obvious signs the house is occupied 24/7 and getting a dog seemed to be some of the biggest take-aways.
posted by Michele in California at 11:49 AM on May 4, 2015 [4 favorites]
I agree with the folks saying this was probably not your house being cased. I will suggest that the fact that your wife is apparently home all the time is something that makes you less likely to be broken into. However, as someone who is also handicapped, I can understand the concern about her being home alone and "what if something happens?" There are ways to make it more obvious to people that you are a not an attractive target for a break in. The above Ask talks a good bit about that. Alarm system was not high on the list. Eyes on the street, obvious signs the house is occupied 24/7 and getting a dog seemed to be some of the biggest take-aways.
posted by Michele in California at 11:49 AM on May 4, 2015 [4 favorites]
It couldn't hurt to place a nice big dog water bowl and maybe a rawhide chew on the porch.
Or even to go all the way and get a real dog (if you think you might want one / have other good reasons / are equipped to do that).
posted by cotton dress sock at 11:51 AM on May 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
Or even to go all the way and get a real dog (if you think you might want one / have other good reasons / are equipped to do that).
posted by cotton dress sock at 11:51 AM on May 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
After some friends of ours were pre-burgled (that's when they only take obvious stuff they can carry out the back way, so they know what to come back for later with a truck), we put cheap glass break sensors in very obvious places. They are very loud, and you will not want to live with them forever, but it is certainly a way to say "we registered your interest, and maybe you better move along."
We also picked up a couple of camera warning stickers, and about 6 of us went over there and spent the early evening pretending to do lots of work around the doors and windows with drills and screwdrivers, (we did actually replace one door lock that was going to be the next to go), so that anyone cruising by would see that it had been taken seriously.
posted by Lyn Never at 12:01 PM on May 4, 2015
We also picked up a couple of camera warning stickers, and about 6 of us went over there and spent the early evening pretending to do lots of work around the doors and windows with drills and screwdrivers, (we did actually replace one door lock that was going to be the next to go), so that anyone cruising by would see that it had been taken seriously.
posted by Lyn Never at 12:01 PM on May 4, 2015
Reddit has an active thread about this very subject. The current top answer, while hilarious, can be skipped in favor of the next few answers.
posted by gnomeloaf at 12:31 PM on May 4, 2015
posted by gnomeloaf at 12:31 PM on May 4, 2015
whether this was casing or not, your wife would probably love to have a camera on the front door so she can decide whether or not she wants to answer without having to make her way to the door.
posted by nadawi at 12:31 PM on May 4, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by nadawi at 12:31 PM on May 4, 2015 [4 favorites]
Maybe somebody in your neighborhood is selling drugs, maybe he was casing the joint. Either way, always a good idea to look after home security. Go outside. How would you get into your house if you locked yourself out. Where would you hide if you wanted to hide?
Make sure the locks and door frames are adequate, check windows and window frames, trim bushes near the house, secure ladders. Maybe see if the local police will increase patrols, and also if they will come do a security check.
posted by theora55 at 12:52 PM on May 4, 2015
Make sure the locks and door frames are adequate, check windows and window frames, trim bushes near the house, secure ladders. Maybe see if the local police will increase patrols, and also if they will come do a security check.
posted by theora55 at 12:52 PM on May 4, 2015
I think one of the best pieces of advice that was given in the question that Michele in California linked to is the "get to know your neighbors" thing. You can compare notes in case they've had similar experiences, and it will make them more likely to get in touch with you if they ever witness something untoward happening.
With that beings said, I agree with others that this seems more likely that this kid was looking to buy pot or something, but it's still a good opportunity to look into making your home more secure, if only for your piece of mind.
posted by litera scripta manet at 1:42 PM on May 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
With that beings said, I agree with others that this seems more likely that this kid was looking to buy pot or something, but it's still a good opportunity to look into making your home more secure, if only for your piece of mind.
posted by litera scripta manet at 1:42 PM on May 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
Shatterproof Window Film gets recommended from time to time. I'm not experienced enough to know how well it works.
posted by K.P. at 3:49 PM on May 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by K.P. at 3:49 PM on May 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
In my city a place just needs to look like there's someone in it to avoid (most) theft. If someone's home the crime carries more severe consequences. We leave a light on, talk radio too. We also have little window locks (a couple dollars a piece) that prevent the window from sliding open more than a couple inches (the last burglary I experienced involved a broken window to reach in and open the window). We also have bars on all our lower, rear facing windows. If there's a fire you can unlock them and swing them open.
Basically, anyone can rob us if they want too. All this stuff just makes us less appealing. But nothing's 100% I don't think.
posted by eisforcool at 5:10 PM on May 4, 2015
Basically, anyone can rob us if they want too. All this stuff just makes us less appealing. But nothing's 100% I don't think.
posted by eisforcool at 5:10 PM on May 4, 2015
Why would any drug dealer sell benadryl when you can buy it over the counter in any drug store (in the US)? It's not even one of those things you have to sign for that some people use to make meth. And you don't have to be a certain age to buy it as far as I know.
I'd be spooked by this encounter, and I'd want at least a peephole so I could check out who's at the door before I open it. Or maybe one of those chains so I could open it just a little way.
posted by mareli at 6:42 PM on May 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'd be spooked by this encounter, and I'd want at least a peephole so I could check out who's at the door before I open it. Or maybe one of those chains so I could open it just a little way.
posted by mareli at 6:42 PM on May 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
Why would any drug dealer sell benadryl when you can buy it over the counter in any drug store (in the US)?
Because a teenager will get all kinds of stinkeye trying to buy like 4 boxes of Benadryl. Diphenhydramine can be abused.
posted by cmoj at 9:35 PM on May 4, 2015 [3 favorites]
Because a teenager will get all kinds of stinkeye trying to buy like 4 boxes of Benadryl. Diphenhydramine can be abused.
posted by cmoj at 9:35 PM on May 4, 2015 [3 favorites]
Even if your house was being cased, it was most likely being cased to see if it was empty at that time of day. It's not, which makes one of your neighbor's homes a much more inviting target to would be thieves.
posted by COD at 5:24 AM on May 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by COD at 5:24 AM on May 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm not sure I understand why this is obviously an attempt to case the house?
I agree with the folks saying this was probably not your house being cased. I will suggest that the fact that your wife is apparently home all the time is something that makes you less likely to be broken into.
We work from home most of the year. In the last three years we were broken into when my husband left to go to the grocery store for some coffee creamer (I was out on an appointment, and we believe this incident was probably a neighbor). We also had someone attempt a similar incident to what your wife encountered when I was home ("Uh, are you selling a car on craigslist?"). This is called a knock-knock robbery (or, attempted, in our case), in which a person knocks to see if anyone is home, then goes around back and breaks in.
So you absolutely did the right thing in contacting the police, number one. After the knock-knock robbery attempt, which was our second incident, we went ahead and installed cameras and signs that say the property is under surveillance. I think the signs have done the most good in our case, as we very rarely get solicitors knocking on our door anymore.
posted by vignettist at 8:49 AM on May 5, 2015 [2 favorites]
I agree with the folks saying this was probably not your house being cased. I will suggest that the fact that your wife is apparently home all the time is something that makes you less likely to be broken into.
We work from home most of the year. In the last three years we were broken into when my husband left to go to the grocery store for some coffee creamer (I was out on an appointment, and we believe this incident was probably a neighbor). We also had someone attempt a similar incident to what your wife encountered when I was home ("Uh, are you selling a car on craigslist?"). This is called a knock-knock robbery (or, attempted, in our case), in which a person knocks to see if anyone is home, then goes around back and breaks in.
So you absolutely did the right thing in contacting the police, number one. After the knock-knock robbery attempt, which was our second incident, we went ahead and installed cameras and signs that say the property is under surveillance. I think the signs have done the most good in our case, as we very rarely get solicitors knocking on our door anymore.
posted by vignettist at 8:49 AM on May 5, 2015 [2 favorites]
I'd like to retract my recommendation of any specific camera and/or monitoring system.
App updates for the system I mentioned above are not consistently constructive; right now I'm happier with a different set-up, but that will probably change as I continue to experiment.
posted by wonton endangerment at 12:13 PM on August 12, 2015
App updates for the system I mentioned above are not consistently constructive; right now I'm happier with a different set-up, but that will probably change as I continue to experiment.
posted by wonton endangerment at 12:13 PM on August 12, 2015
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posted by jbenben at 10:10 AM on May 4, 2015 [2 favorites]