[waypoint]

Let me start off by saying this weekend has been eventful to say the least, but I wanted to share with you what happened this weekend, in hopes that this message may help you be more aware alert of your surrounding, especially in the comfort of your own home. Considered this my Safety tip for the summer. You won't hear about this or see this on the nightly news.

This past Friday evening between 9:45pm and 10:45pm there was a home invasion and robbery in my subdivision of Willowpointe on the Northwest side of 290. How does this affect me? The incident took place at my neighbor's house right across the street from my home. Three adult family members were home at the time and were tied up at gun point while four masked individuals ransacked every room in the home. They laid the family members on their stomachs and tied them up. With the TV volume turned up to drown out any noise from inside, one guy watched the family, while three others when through everything in the home. They were believed to have accessed the backyard through an unlocked fence between to two homes, the area was particularly dark. They then entered through an unlocked window. After the thieves departed, one woman was able to get free and run for help. By the time the police were notified, it was too late. The thieves were gone with tons of valuables, carried out with the families own suitcases. The bright side to this was no one was killed, but the family loss alot. This family had just recently moved into this subdivision (not even a year), thinking this was a safe place to raise a family. Now they are having second thought of moving back to there previous home which is still for sale in another subdivision, in another subdivison. I have to say the police response of very quick. I believe they thought that is was a robbery in progress and were on the scener within 5 minutes of the call. We had at least 15 Harris County patrol cars, and K9 unit on the scene which cordoned off the entire street.

Where was I? My wife and I had just returned home from dinner at exactly 10pm and it wasn't until about 11pm when we got the knock on the door from someone screaming for help. Needless to say, the entire home was cordoned off with police tape and the event went well into the whee hours of the morning. When I was question by the police about if I saw anything unusual, I said come to think of it, yes, I live on a corner lot and vaguely remembered noticing a white late model 4 door sedan (possibly a chevy malibu) parked on the side of my home near my curb across from the house, but I hadn't thought anything of it at the time when we pulled up from dinner. It was dark and looked like no one was in it. Long story story, turns out this may have been the get away vehicle. Sitting here Monday morning, I thought maybe it would be a good idea to stress to everyone importance of staying safe and alert even in the comfort of your home dwelling. Some tips:

1. Keep a lookout for strange vehicles and individuals who don't belong in your neighborhood, specially if they don't belong on your street.

2. Know your local police numbers and not just 911. Use the local police number to report any suspicious activity.

3. Lock your doors, windows, and close your garage if you are not going to be using it. Most of all, ensure that your fences are closed or locked.

4. Consider lighting your yard at night, specially the darker areas (corners between homes). At the very least, use your porch lights to light around your home.

5. Maintain your yard and shrubs. Theives look for densely overgrown bushes to hide behind to access windows or wait for homeowners.

6. Report all solicitors roaming your neighborhood. There should be no one knocking on your doors during the daytime and definitely no one knocking on your door after dark to sell anything.

If felt completed to let everyone know about what actually happened in my neighborhood this weekend. This could have happened to anyone, that's what is most disturbing. Hopefully, if this message at least causes you to take pause and check around your home tonight, than I will feel better for sending this safety reminder.

 

[BACKLASHED]

Thanks for sharing! That is definitely a reality check.

 

[wading_fool]

They are having alot of problems with this in San Antonio as well. Good pointers on your landscaping and lighting around homes, that is one of the tips we offer home owners when we do our walk thru's with them concerning security. Another one is on doors with glass don't have a deadbolt that has the handle to unlock it, install key locks on both sides on those style doors.

 

[txgunrunner]

do you think this family was targeted for a particular reason. not saying this was the case here but more often than not robbers hit a home in the style mentioned knowing people are inside to score on something big. thanks for the info.

 

[waypoint]

Yeah, I was thinking they may have been targeted. The thieves went through everything, looked behind every nook and cranny. Nothing was left unturned. Like they were looking for valuables(cash, jewelry, etc.). The also took, thing that weren't nailed down either(dvd players, tv, vcr, guns,). Anything that could be pawned. What got me was they broke the little girl's piggy bank and took all her money.

 

[Maverick]

Thanks for the wake up call. San Antonio has had a lot of home invasions lately. About 3 weeks ago...someone was surveying a house down the street, problem was...the homeowner did not order a survey. So everyone is trying to keep an eye out...as time passes you start getting careless again. So you have to watch for everything going on.

 

[ROBOWADER]

I live just up the road in Wincheshter Country. WOW!!!!!!

I think its time to get the guns a little more handy....

 

[KillaHookset]

In most cases when you call in about a suspicious activity what i have seen is that it takes an hour or more before you get an officer to even drive by.
Good advise about protecting your home, keep the gates windows, and doors locked, and light up the dark areas around your home.

 

[krominger]

Thats why I love my two large female dobermans.

 

[Fishnut]

Waypoint

Do they think it has any connection with the invasion in Winchester a month or so ago? We had the same thing happen about 5 house's down from us in Winchester but I thought they followed the guy home. Sounds like the same M.O. of being tied up and going through the house.

This worries me because my wife was home alone Friday night. I feel relatively safe having 3 Big Dogs but my wife would want to protect them before she thought about herself.

Getting to close to home lately.

FN

 

[SSMike]

Make sure to tell your ol' ladies that info as well. My wife called me one evening when I was out of town....talking 'bout wanting to buy a new vacuum. She told me it was $1200 bucks and that quickly answered her question. The point is a man and a woman knocked on our door trying to sell vacuums. She freaking let them into our house to show her how it works. Freaking stupid. They could have done whatever they wanted in there or just checked it out to see what we had. Anytime someone knocks on my door I tell them to get lost...girl scout or door to door guy gets the same response. Don't even crack the door.

 

[waypoint]

Fishnut,

What was the situation with the incident in Winchester Country a month or so ago? I'd be very interested to know. I'll check with oure contract patrol.

I thought this was isolated, but now you've peak my concern.

 

[waypoint]

I guy last month was knocking on the doors trying to sell something and was upset that no one was buying whatever he was pushing. He reached my brother in law's home in Willowbridge. My brother in law told him "let me give you some valuable advice. If you're gonna be in sales, the first thing you'll have to learn is how to take rejection" and immediately slammed the door. The guy was just stunned. I know this was a funny anedote, but the home invasion thing is serious. Be aware and protect yourself.