Daughter victim of break-ins twice in 3 days

Parent Cafe
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<p>Yikes, conyat. I didn’t even think about SSN on paycheck–will have to ask her. I would hazard to guess that it is on there for IRS purposes. She filled out a form with her place of business to report the paycheck stolen and they will reissue–I would assume that the business would flag the stolen check numbers.</p>

<p>paying3, I don’t think there was anything like the ticket situation (which is funny). However I have the insurance papers with detailed description for one of the necklaces–my son has been on ebay already looking for it to show up there. These people were fairly smart and took nothing that would have serial numbers or identifying characteristics–even the ipod she had stolen was brand new and charging, nothing loaded–while her cousin’s was left there in the open (but it was loaded and we thought maybe more identifiable?)</p>

<p>She called a little earlier. Locksmith changed the dead bolts that are now not keyed the same as doorknobs and made the one on the back door one that you have to use a key both inside and out. She also bought a safe (though locksmith said a knowledgeable person can get in one in 3 min) to keep what remaining smaller valuables she has. She also came back with a bat and pepper spray. The final touch is she borrowed a pit bull from a girlfriend (says the dog is a sweetheart, but sounds ferocious) to stay with them for a while at least. </p>

<p>My son is encouraging her to look for other housing, she is resisting somewhat now and doesn’t want the hassle–thinks maybe the locks, etc will be enough. He retorted that her life was certainly worth a little hassle. Then my brother (who is somewhat of a tightwad) got involved and didn’t want the expense of a move–my son then challenged him to put a dollar value on his daughter’s life.</p>

<p>Everyone from Grandma (who has volunteered to obtain a gun permit and do guard duty) to parents and siblings has been offering their points. Think d’s cellphone battery has finally died!</p>

<p>Thanks for all of your thoughts and suggestions–anything else come to mind, please share. I’ve done my part in bugging d. and calling her with all your thoughts.</p>

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<p>Red flags here… was nothing of the cousin’s stolen?</p>

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<p>In college, I had a check stolen from me. My signature was forged on the back, since another item with my signature was available, and it was poorly imitated but good enough.
In a single transaction, the thief went to my bank, deposited a small amount into my account to allay the teller’s suspicion (that’s what the police told me it all meant), and then withdrew the rest for cash.
Since each transaction (in those days) was accompanied by a little foot button the teller pushed as she handed over money, there was a photo timed to that moment of the transaction.
Unbelievably, they dealt with this person although she was in a scarf up to her eyes, and skicap down to her eyebrows; the burka look.
This is a possibility for your d’s bank to understand and look out for in the coming week. In today’s climate they wouldn’t ever deal with someone so disguised, but perhaps the person will come to deposit a part of the paycheck into your D’s account, while seeking to cash the major portion of it.</p>

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<p>My experience with people I knew who have had their paychecks stolen is that normally the thief cashes it as some kinda shady grocery store, but that may be kind of a local thing.</p>

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<p>

That produced the most wonderful mental picture.</p>

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<p>mkm - Your S is wise. Hopefully his advice will be heeded.</p>

<p>Has she added a non-keyed security lock to the doors for when she’s home - ala a chain or a flip-latch type of lock? They’re very inexpensive, easy to install, and will provide at least some additional security for when she’s in the home.</p>

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<p>ucsd<em>ucla</em>dad, forgot to mention she did buy those things that look kinda like “the club” for cars to wedge under door handles.</p>

<p>The only thing we can figure out about why cousin’s stuff not stolen is the disparity in their belongings (other than ipod). Her cousin is only 19, just out of dorm with very few personal belongings there and no “real” jewelry at apartment. My d. (almost 23) had been living in a different city in a townhouse we owned for 3 years–she had really made it her “home” and since she had been working, accumulated more “things”. For instance all the furniture except cousin’s bedroom belongs to d. as all kitchenware, etc. Also this summer daughter works for tips mainly, hence all the cash on hand—cousin is in summer school with no job and had her few bills, debit card, etc with her.</p>

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<p>Questions: I ask because this may help others</p>

<p>were others units broken into, and when</p>

<p>what time of day</p>

<p>after the 1st breakin, was anything done at all (to NOT change the locks after that was a big mistake</p>

<p>did the police know of other breakins (which is a different thing then there being breakins which may not have been reported)</p>

<p>what is the condo association policy and security, if these are condos that are rented out, there are still those rules they have</p>

<p>what kind, if any, security is there, is there a main entrance, door, whatever, that has to be gotten through to get to the condo</p>

<p>is the condo on an upper or lower floor</p>

<p>have the other tenants all been notified, because it can be a tenants “friend” who can grab and go into that unit</p>

<p>did anyone see someone who didn’t belong, or who did, hanging around the time of the breakin</p>

<p>if the crook was ballsie enough to go back a second time, I can bet you it is someone living close by, unfortuneately</p>

<p>and I would also guess that if the lock was jmmied, it would be easy to telll, what did the lock smith say about that</p>

<p>and as someone said, was stuff taken from both roomates</p>

<p>If I were the victim, I would be putting something under each door to share what happened, and posting in common areas, if this thief was this prolific, he/she has probably hit other places, and if the units are not coonected by some sort of organization, ie tenant group or all the same landlord (who is very well playing this down), you may never know, and if more units were indeed hit, then the nieghbors will be more liekly to step up and care</p>

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<p>twice! no wonder your nerves are frayed. My S was also burgled on his fifth day in a major city…“workers” were in his apt with maintenance chores the two days prior…although nothing was actually fixed…and when he came back on second of their chores in his place day…the deadbolt was in but his apt was burgled…goodbye two newish laptops (he has a roommate) and all that supplied them…they were neatly carried out in their carrying cases…nothing else taken but an expensive pair of sunglasses. My opinion…they cased the apt and sent a confederate in to get exactly what they wanted and probably stashed the laptops in the maintenance truck.<br>
Oh, nice touch…the man sent to “change the locks” was on the maintenance crew both days and swears all the other workers were never out of his sight…not true as they were in two apartments “not” repairing broken things. These apts are known to house transient college students so they make easy marks…
Landlord claims we should report the loss to our own homeowners.
Son now uses the thing we bought at Lowes that holds a door shut when you are inside…windows were all covered in protective iron so at least no one gets in while they sleep. Now while they work, it seems going through his apt is fair game for just about anyone.<br>
He does have a wonderful job this summer. Maybe he will also learn to be less trusting and more vigilant on the streets…not a bad heads up skill to gain.</p>

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<p>Regarding the social security number on the paycheck: </p>

<p>These days that is NOT the norm. It’s usually x’s for the first 5 numbers, then the real numbers for the last four numbers. So on the paycheck itself it’s xxx-xx-1234.</p>

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<p>Tenant’s insurance is usually pretty cheap.</p>

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<p>conyat you’re right and when she rented this place I checked on it. I was told at that time by our homeowner’s that if I signed lease also, my homeowner’s would cover—so that’s what I did. Hopefully, what agent told me was correct–will find out tomorrow.</p>

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<p>Made me think of Janet Evanovich mystery novel heroine Stephanie Plum’s grandmother!</p>

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<p>^ellemnope, that sounds so familiar.</p>

<p>Was that the series of books that had numbers in their titles? I think one of them was called “Seven Up”, or something to that effect. :)</p>

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<p>ellemenope, you are so right—I love those books and yes, deceptacon they were numbered like “One for the Money”, “Hard Eight”, “Eleven on Top”. In one book the grandmother shoots the Thanksgiving turkey while showing off her gun.</p>

<p>Update, Insurance is not worth filing as there is a $1000 deductible for each occurrence --if I had known she was going to be robbed twice I would have had her wait and do it all on one police report! Anyway, all I could get is about $450 and would have a “black mark” (termed “incident”) on my insurance record. </p>

<p>Talked to the detective in charge of her cases today and he is sending out a security assessment officer to look at her place and make recommendations as to what should and could be done to make it more secure.</p>

<p>The bank told d. to change all (2) of her account numbers. I am going to have our banker do a check on her ssn and see if anything new has been applied for such as credit cards, loans, etc.</p>

<p>So far the pit bull is doing her job. I was talking to d. on phone as she was unlocking door and I know that even dog lover that I am, I would not try and enter----she sounded ferocious. </p>

<p>Guess for time being the move is on hold. Will wait and see what this policeman says. The detective said that unfortunately any of the areas where there are lots of students are pretty much the same crime statistic-wise. He was not blaming it on students–he said it was mostly that the population was so transient, people often don’t know who or what cars belong in their area. This makes these areas easier marks than an established neighborhood where there is the fear of being recognized as someone who doesn’t belong.</p>

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<p>Keep feeding that pit bull. Great temporary protection to get the perpetrators looking for a new mark. I adopted a mixed German Shepherd upon graduating college, and while it was a nuisance for renting apartments for the next decade, I lived in many sketchy neighborhoods in apartments alone, yet never got harmed personally. Dogs are great as deterrants.</p>

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<p>This happend to my girlfriend in NYC. She went to court and couldn’t get out of the lease. The landlord had proof he had changed the locks before she moved in and the building was secure by the city’s standards. So they deemed it was not his fault she was robbed and the landlord should not suffer a financial loss.</p>

<p>I’d ask for the receipt for the changed locks.</p>

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<p>My thought is where does your daughter put her purse/keys while at work? Perhaps someone there grabbed her keys and made a copy? They would know when she was working…and might find it easier to case the joint?</p>

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<p>Mkm, I"m sorry the insurance didn’t work out–and all the other hassle and anxiety. You’re right, the black mark isn’t worth it. (And I think you’re probably right about the apartment being an extension of your domicile since you signed the lease).</p>

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<p>I think the new Evanovich book has come out in hardback, with 13 in the title. I’ve read every one!</p>