Scenario for You

[Mrs Owt]

Okay, here is the scenario. My family and I came home yesterday afternoon to find our front door open. Strange thing is, our outdoor dog was also in our garage after being left out. My husband swears he locked the front door, no sign of forced entry and the door was not only unlocked but actually left open.

What steps would you have taken at this point?

[Visage]

Slap your hubby then call the police??? :D

[Kwajman]

I've run into this myself for different reasons. If you seriously think someones in the house, you call the police. If not, carefully walk through the house inspectiing certain things that typically might be rifled through, jewelry boxes, drawers, etc... I'm sure you'll get 50 different answers for this one. PM me if you have other worries.

[teacher]

Get the dog and do a thorough check of the house.
If there are no other signs of anything having been tampered with (eg tv and video unplugged) I would try to shrug it off as just one of those things.
Next time though I would be more alert to check locks on the way out. I might consider a new lock posssibly seek some advice on home protection from local police.
Oh yeah why didn't the burglar alarm go off?

The majority of house theives do not pick locks however I discovered I could kick my door open without any visible damage if it was only the yale lock that was on.

[Mrs Owt]

Get the dog and do a thorough check of the house.
If there are no other signs of anything having been tampered with (eg tv and video unplugged) I would try to shrug it off as just one of those things.
Next time though I would be more alert to check locks on the way out. I might consider a new lock posssibly seek some advice on home protection from local police.
Oh yeah why didn't the burglar alarm go off?

The majority of house theives do not pick locks however I discovered I could kick my door open without any visible damage if it was only the yale lock that was on.
That is exactly what I did do. I put my dog on a leash and walked her through every room. Nothing was rifled through and nothing seemed disturbed. We don't have an alarm system as we are in the country and they don't do a heck of a lot of good out here.

I am still totally perplexed as how the dog got into the garage however. Someone must have been here as since I last checked my dog has not grown thumbs and can't open doors to let herself into the garage.:confused:

Gives me the creeps.:(

[Visage]

Mrs Owt, i feel i should let you know. Dogs dont need thumbs!!! My 18 month old retreever can open all the doors in our house (they have the round handle knob things that you have to twist) and she can undo all of the child locks on the fridge and freezer etc to get to food!! Those dogs, they know some tricks they do...

[Mrs Owt]

Mrs Owt, i feel i should let you know. Dogs dont need thumbs!!! My 18 month old retreever can open all the doors in our house (they have the round handle knob things that you have to twist) and she can undo all of the child locks on the fridge and freezer etc to get to food!! Those dogs, they know some tricks they do...
You know Te, I agree with you, dogs are darned clever. If it had been any other door in the house I would think the same. This particular door, by code, has to be a certain type to swing closed b/w the house and garage for fire reasons. It has a spring and has to be quite forcibly wrenched open to enter the garage. Even if the dog had entered FROM the garage I could see it being possible, not from the house into the garage.:(

[Visage]

Hmmm....

[neryo_tkd]

weird, yes, but nothing is missing right? no changes around the house? maybe your hubby just thought that he had closed the door, maybe he had left the door ajar not being aware of it. could that be a plausible explanation? it is creepy though and the mind can play tricks on you too. if you'll feel safer change the front door lock.

do keep us posted.

[Mrs Owt]

weird, yes, but nothing is missing right? no changes around the house? maybe your hubby just thought that he had closed the door, maybe he had left the door ajar not being aware of it. could that be a plausible explanation? it is creepy though and the mind can play tricks on you too. if you'll feel safer change the front door lock.

do keep us posted.
I would like to believe that but unfortunately the fact that the dog was PUT into the garage has me totally creeped out.

[Jang Bong]

I would like to believe that but unfortunately the fact that the dog was PUT into the garage has me totally creeped out.

Initially I don't like the sound of this - but don't get too creeped. Is there any possibility of someone you know calling round and thinking that your outside dog was in danger of wandering? They may think they were doing you a favour putting it away. I know you said you were country based, but it takes someone confident with dogs or who knows a particular dog to do this.

As far as the open door goes (and depending on your locking system) - it could have been 'almost' locked but not quite, so when the good samaritin was calling for you and tried the door it popped open. OK I'm speculating, but there can be logical explainations for most things.

After saying that - a new lock would not be a bad idea - just in case.

Our 'security' is Jennie - our 8-pound Yorkshire Terrier. She is unlikely ever to be 'put' somewhere be someone she doesn't know. She will stand her ground against anyone coming towards her 'property' unless we tell her that it is a friend.

Hope this turns out to be a needless worry. JB :)

[Mrs Owt]

Hope this turns out to be a needless worry. JB :)
Me too!

[Visage]

Any problems, let us know! We'll be over to sort 'em out Pulp Fiction style!! :cool:

[Kwajman]

Any problems, let us know! We'll be over to sort 'em out Pulp Fiction style!! :cool:

You know this bunch, swinging sticks, flying feet and fists. Ground work and standup punching, we've got it covered? Anyone good with swords and knives?????? :eek:

[Mrs Owt]

You know this bunch, swinging sticks, flying feet and fists. Ground work and standup punching, we've got it covered? Anyone good with swords and knives?????? :eek:
I'm feeling much more secure now, thanks guys:cool: . I know I just have to put the cookie symbol up into the sky and you will all come to my rescue!:D I hear Kinjiro is pretty wicked with a pie server!;)

[InfinityEve]

have you checked you fences? maybe you dog got out and was put in the garage after wandering around the neighbourhood. im stumped about the front door tho. change locks.

[kenpoguy]

Im equally stumped. Although, let me add a few details here about lockpicking. I did some some training in locksmithing/picking because at one time I had intended to go on to study such a craft. Right now I can pick pretty much any front door, file cabinet door, and even garage doors. The three main types of household locks are called tumbler locks,wafer locks, and double wafer locks. And once you can pick one, you can pretty much pick the others with a little ease and skill. Now despite me knowing all this, I am no criminal so no-one get that idea ;) But my point is once someone figures out how to pick a lock, most other locks are easy, and places can be entered without any sign of forced entry by using standard lockpicking methods. Although it doesnt sound like your house was nessesarily broken into. And nothing was stolen? Perhaps it was the ghost of bruce lee :D

[Jang Bong]

Perhaps it was the ghost of bruce lee :D

Good goin' kenpoguy - :p - I deliberatly avoided the posibilities of poltergeist activity in case she was of a nervous disposition, and I've just read that she doesn't watch scarey movies.

Don't worry Mrs O - we kick ghostly butt as well... :D

[Mrs Owt]

Good goin' kenpoguy - :p - I deliberatly avoided the posibilities of poltergeist activity in case she was of a nervous disposition, and I've just read that she doesn't watch scarey movies.

Don't worry Mrs O - we kick ghostly butt as well... :DThanks guys! Add ghosts to the mix!:rolleyes: Just what I needed.

It is good to know I have my own team of "ghostbusters" on call if I need it. We still haven't figured out how this happened and the scenario of someone 'returning' my wandering dog isn't likely. We live in the country, all the dogs are loose and mine is one of the only ones that actually stays in our yard. In fact, she plays flippin' hostess to all the neighbourhood dogs and my yard usually has 2 or 3 dogs in it.

Still mulling this over, still a little creeped out by it.:(

[Kwajman]

Okay, heres what to do. When you get your papillon, send him in first. After he finds the burglar and yap yap yaps him into a corner, you can smack him with a weapon cause he'll be laughing so hard at the dog. :rolleyes:

[Mrs Owt]

Okay, heres what to do. When you get your papillon, send him in first. After he finds the burglar and yap yap yaps him into a corner, you can smack him with a weapon cause he'll be laughing so hard at the dog. :rolleyes:
You got a problem with my puppy, big man? Come over here and say that to my face!:woo:

**Mrs Owt wanders away muttering about dog haters and nasty big men who make fun of her puppy**

[Jang Bong]

In fact, she plays flippin' hostess to all the neighbourhood dogs and my yard usually has 2 or 3 dogs in it.


I'll take a wild guess - like owner, like pooch. :D (Check the access to the dog-cookie supply...)

It's inevertable that these two threads will get tangled up - and trust the Kwaj man to do it. :) but I wouldn't count on 'yapping' from your newcomer. Our Yorkie learned to bark at puppy class - from a dalmation. She doesn't yap she BARKS - and has been know to keep grown electricians out of our hotel room when they couldn't see the type of dog that was defending our territory. :eek: :eek: :D

[Kinjiro Tsukasa]

Check your door/doorknob/lock carefully, Mrs Owt. In the condominiums where I used to live, the doors would just pop open on their own every now and then. I don't know if it was the alignment of the doors, or the crummy doorknobs and locks. Happened to my door one day; luckily, my cats didn't get out.

{{Sharpens the pie server just in case, even though her current doors never open on their own}}

[kenpoguy]

I think the ghost of bruce lee and bill murray are working together :D

[Judderman]

Interesting. What to do? Enter house calling out as you do so. If in any doubt call the police.

Explination. Is it possible that a passing neighbour saw that your front door was open and the dog was out? Felt it safer to put dog in garage, but had a hard time with it so forgot to close the door?

Perhaps the two events are totally unrelated. Perhaps hubby is winding you up in retaliation for getting such an unlikely guard puppy. :D

[Mrs Owt]

Perhaps the two events are totally unrelated. Perhaps hubby is winding you up in retaliation for getting such an unlikely guard puppy. :D
Hey! You might be on to something here. My hubby is a sick and twisted individual so he may be playing some weirdo game with my head!;)

Just kidding honey!:love:

[JohnnyX]

Were all you Cookies in place?

It could have been somebody hired by the Big Cookie Manufacturers, out to steal samples.

:)

[Mrs Owt]

Were all you Cookies in place?

It could have been somebody hired by the Big Cookie Manufacturers, out to steal samples.

:)Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh h!!!!!!!!!!!

I haven't checked my recipes!
*Mrs Owt knocks over chair as she rushes to the recipe vault*

[Judderman]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! !!!!!!!!!!

I haven't checked my recipes!
*Mrs Owt knocks over chair as she rushes to the recipe vault* :confused: There is clearly a part of the universe that has happily slipped me by....

[Kwajman]

You got a problem with my puppy, big man? Come over here and say that to my face!:woo:

**Mrs Owt wanders away muttering about dog haters and nasty big men who make fun of her puppy**

Um, who sent you the picture of pupster the dog that I now see in your avatar??? Hmmm who who who? :rolleyes:

[Mrs Owt]

Um, who sent you the picture of pupster the dog that I now see in your avatar??? Hmmm who who who? :rolleyes:Okay, that proves you don't hate the puppy. But you are still teasing me - does that mean it is me you don't like?:cry:

*Mrs Owt makes her little pouty face and sits down sadly in a corner*

[neryo_tkd]

Okay, that proves you don't hate the puppy. But you are still teasing me - does that mean it is me you don't like?:cry:

*Mrs Owt makes her little pouty face and sits down sadly in a corner*

he hates neither you nor the puppy. he is just jealous! :D :D :D he wants a puppy too, and he is green with envy now that you have not one but two dogs :D :D :D and of course all those cookies :D :D :D

[Mrs Owt]

he hates neither you nor the puppy. he is just jealous! :D :D :D he wants a puppy too, and he is green with envy now that you have not one but two dogs :D :D :D and of course all those cookies :D :D :DI like that explanation! I'll make him all the cookies he wants at GNARF next year. I'll even let him visit Lucky and Pippin if he is nice to me for the whole next year!;)

[neryo_tkd]

I like that explanation! I'll make him all the cookies he wants at GNARF next year. I'll even let him visit Lucky and Pippin if he is nice to me for the whole next year!;)


if he is nice? you have to be very careful because different people have different definitions of the word ''nice''. write down your conditions! :D :D :D

[Kwajman]

Cookies? Nice? I can be nice, sure, Mr. Nice, thats me. ......I'll be nice. *runs to get a glass for milk*

:D

[neryo_tkd]

Cookies? Nice? I can be nice, sure, Mr. Nice, thats me. ......I'll be nice. *runs to get a glass for milk*

:D


i guess it'll be just milk then because you definitely haven't earned your cookies yet :D :D :D

you see Mrs O! I told you to write down the conditions :D :D :D

[Mrs Owt]

i guess it'll be just milk then because you definitely haven't earned your cookies yet :D :D :D

you see Mrs O! I told you to write down the conditions :D :D :D
Nah! Kwaj won't do anything to jeopardize the cookie supply for next years GNARF, would you Kwaj? Then all the other MAP'ers would be mad at him too! I can't bake when I am sad - so I'm sure they all want a happy Mrs Owt. You know what they say "if momma ain't happy, ain't no one happy":D .

[neryo_tkd]

Nah! Kwaj won't do anything to jeopardize the cookie supply for next years GNARF, would you Kwaj? Then all the other MAP'ers would be mad at him too! I can't bake when I am sad - so I'm sure they all want a happy Mrs Owt. You know what they say "if momma ain't happy, ain't no one happy":D .


http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/jumping/jumping01.gif

[bcullen]

I don't mean to alarm you but (which means it probably will), I'm hoping this wasn't a practice run to see how hard it would be to break in. You might want to set up some cameras to find out who might be watching your place. An old VCR, a couple webcams and some creativity can produce some interesting results.

Try to vary your schedule as much as possible, take a different route to and from work or the store. Try to not be predictable. Be alert to the possibility that someone is watching you.


Install a halon system, tie it in to a burglar alarm, when the police find the suffocated intruder(s) say: Whoops! Sorry, I accidently crossed the wires. :Angel: :D


You know this bunch, swinging sticks, flying feet and fists. Ground work and standup punching, we've got it covered? Anyone good with swords and knives?????? :eek:

OH YEAH! I love sharp metal stuff :love:

[Mrs Owt]

I don't mean to alarm you but (which means it probably will), I'm hoping this wasn't a practice run to see how hard it would be to break in. You might want to set up some cameras to find out who might be watching your place. An old VCR, a couple webcams and some creativity can produce some interesting results.

Try to vary your schedule as much as possible, take a different route to and from work or the store. Try to not be predictable. Be alert to the possibility that someone is watching you.


Install a halon system, tie it in to a burglar alarm, when the police find the suffocated intruder(s) say: Whoops! Sorry, I accidently crossed the wires. :Angel: :D




OH YEAH! I love sharp metal stuff :love:The direction that this thread has taken may imply that I am not taking it seriously but believe me I am! I have taken some measures but really don't think it wise to discuss them publically.(I wish I had a shift-eyed smiley for this spot!). Needless to say, I hope this won't be a problem in the future. Thank you for your concern. As far as using it as practice a practice run, I had that suggested me by a few others (some in law enforcement) so I think you hit the nail on the head!