Crime in my own neighborhood

Nice townhome area in Alexandria, VA. Cost of living is high, I pay $2500 a month just to rent this townhome. Most of my neighbors work in the Pentagon or on the Hill. Somebody swept through our area and robbed every single car that was left unlocked. Mine was one of those cars. I did not have much of value in there and most of it was found about a half mile away on the side of the road. Oh well, lesson learned.

The fence door in my small backyard was opened a few days ago. The bottom of the door is stuck in the grass/dirt so in order to open the door, you have to lift the handle and also lift the door up at the same time. Bottom-line being, it is impossible for wind to just open it. Plus, the door is always closed (metal hinges and bolt). The door however, can be opened from the outside and I do not have an actual lock on it. So I closed the door again and wondered how it was opened. Nothing in the backyard except for the kids toys but it is also where you access my home through the glass door in the downstairs den area. Did someone try to enter my home through that door? Just woke up and went outside. The fuckin door is open again. Just enough for someone to slip out and not bother going through the trouble of closing it again.

Thinking about getting some surveillance for the home. I have two small kids in here. Possibly a motion light, camera, and a 12 gauge.

I was just outside on the deck. The kids outside were playing wiffle ball. One of them hit the ball over the fence and into my backyard. The pitcher ran over, opened my fence door, retrieved the ball and slipped out. He also left my door propped open a little bit. He went back to playing. It appeared as if this is something he has done several times (no hesitation, opened the door easily). He's probably about 7 years old.

That makes me feel a lot better. I have no issue with the kids- I did the same exact thing playing stickball in the street when I was a kid.

Rand: Thanks for the advice btw. I'm going to look into those lights at Home Depot or Loews.

Austin: I don't want to set up anything like that since I do not own this home. Nor do I want to be responsible for hurting the kids next door when they go into my yard to retrieve their baseball. I'm going to keep my car door locked, keep my home locked up and be situationally aware.

Was just sitting on the deck grilling a hamburger for my son. The kids were out there playing baseball. Hit probably 5 or 6 pitches into my yard. They seemed hesitant about coming in when they noticed I was looking. I told them that I had no problem with them coming into the yard to retrive their ball. They are playing the greatest game ever and having fun doing it. I can't even count how many times I hit tennis balls into my neighbors backyard while playing stick-ball in the street. I remember the girl who lived across the street came on the bus once and handed my a garbage bag full of tennis balls that we had crushed into the treeline behind their house. Fun times

As for the car, I blame myself for keeping it unlocked. Got to remember I am not living in Tennesee anymore.

If you join a neighborhood watch just make sure you don't get into a situation like that Zimmerman dude.

When you see someone suspicious don't encounter that person, just call the cops and backoff.

If that is you in your avatar, then your post makes perfect sense to me.

The average person has no idea how right you are. Not even close.