Many people wonder how would their dog react should a break-in occur. I now know the answer. This picture says it all.
Today's word is "effraction," for "break-in". The following is a sentence by sentence account of a chilling run-in with an intruder on Thursday night–while alone in my home. After you read it, I would like to know your tips on securing your home–and yourself–as I am currently obsessed with the topic.
Thursday night Jean-Marc was with friends in Marseilles, watching the European semi-final soccer match (Marseilles vs. Salzbourg). Thirty-five minutes away (by car), here in La Ciotat, I settled in for the night, with my golden retriever on the floor beside my bed. Normally, Smokey is stationed downstairs, but when I'm alone we brake the rules.
I had closed my shutters around 8 p.m. before it was dark out. Lying in bed I was watching a crime show on Youtube when I heard a noise in the kitchen. I hit the pause button on my iPad and tuned in to the downstairs area. It must be our new dishwasher, I assured myself, returning to the scary program I was watching.
I continued to watch until I heard a distinct shuffle in the room below me (a former garage now enclosed, and currently used as a storage room–accessible from our driveway). After a few more "knocking around" sounds coming from down there, I determined it was my husband who had surely changed his plans and was unloading something from his car into the store room. It was around 9 p.m.
He was making such a ruckus that I told myself it had to be Jean-Marc–as no burglar would be that loud…
Next I heard loud scraping, as though he was moving steel furniture. What the?… The grating was getting closer and closer until, suddenly the noise shifted to the shutters beside my bed, on the 2nd floor!
Something was out there on the ledge. I wanted so badly to believe it was my husband….who had climbed up the side of the house? I recognized the familiar screeching of our un-oiled wooden shutters. It sounded as though somebody was swinging them back and forth outside the room beside mine!
The most chilling sound came next: not a pop, not a bang, not a crash of glass–it was the sound of forcing. Instantly I knew: somebody was breaking into the next room via that window. Within seconds, via blunt force, they would be inside our house!
The next moment happened in a matter of seconds–so quickly my dog did not even react! I flew out of bed and shot right to the tiny hall that joins the two upstairs bedroom rooms. I needed to let the burglar know this house was not empty. Someone was home! I flipped on the light to announce my presence. I still wanted to believe that it was my husband, but when I turned into the room and flipped on the second light I was absolutely horrified to see a dark figure hunching beside the window trying to force it open!
I could not believe my eyes. How could this be happening?
Remembering a friend of mine who surprised an intruder in her home in Marseilles, I did exactly as she did and charged right toward the intruder! A glaring window separating us, I could not see hair or skin–only the L-shaped form which took up the window's ledge and sidewall. My fist raised, my other hand holding my mobile phone, I shouted OH! OH!
I had heard my husband bark those words in parking lots, as a car was about to back into ours. OH! OH!–two forceful grunts that signal HEY! BACK OFF! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING!!
Those two grunts–and my fist which punched the air in front of me with each step forward–and the figure in the window startled and began to turn away. Whether it jumped or clamored back down, I do not know. But when I felt certain it was off the outside wall, I threw open the window and shouted:
AU SECOURS!
AU SECOURS!
AU SECOURS!
Looking around, all the neighbor's shutters were closed (unlike the one in the second bedroom where I was shouting from. The shutter I had left open, earlier….). And the silence. Not one person opened a window or a door.
I quickly shut and locked the window and began fumbling with my mobile phone. Only I couldn't manage to dial I was shaking so badly! Fumbling and fumbling my first attempt to call my husband failed. Instead, I got our old home number. I could not manage to disconnect the call in order to try another number.
Finally I re-diled and got my husband, in time to tell him what was happening. Meantime on the landline I had dialed the 3 digits–what I thought was the French equivalent of 911.( I was wrong in thinking it was "118"!)
That's it! It's "112"….
I was now on the phone with a dispatcher, who connected me to "17" (the number I should have dialed first: the police). But I panicked during long hold in which a recording said over and over, in French "you are at the municipal police. We will be with you shortly…. It went on forever, as I kneeled down low beside my bed. No lock on my bedroom door.
Though my legs were trembling so badly, I was not that afraid anymore. I knew the burglar had run off. Still, I was too scared to go downstairs and check to see if the police were there. The minutes passed as I listened for the buzzer at our front gate.
"I can't believe they are not here yet!" I said to Jean-Marc, who stayed with me on the line the entire time.
"I'm now 20 minutes away…in Cassis. I'll be there soon," my husband assured me.
Twenty minutes? What if the intruder came back? Was he still lurking around the yard? I could not bear 20 more minutes! My voice now shook along with my legs "Please don't hang up!"
Next, I was startled by the buzzer. Surely it was the police. But what if it wasn't?
Just like the woman who had charged toward the window 20 minutes before, I did not hesitate to hurry downstairs and open the front door. In the distance, I saw three shaded figures behind the front gate.
They said nothing.
I moved closer. "C'est le police?"
Post note: It was the police, arriving 20 minutes after the emergency call–almost at the same time my husband arrived from Marseilles! They did a tour around the property with their flashlight, took no fingerprints, and were gone. I was left feeling like an old lady who had heard noises in the basement.
I still can't shake this uneasiness or the memory of the figure in the window or the cracking sound of the frame about to burst. I keep thinking, What would the intruder have done, once inside?
Thank you for sharing your knowledge with home security and self-defense, in the comments below. Any reassurance is appreciated as well! As my neighbor said, "they won't be back." I hope she is right.
Amicalement,
Kristi
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Bravo Kristi!
My past experiences have taught me these things really work:
Take control immediately by shouting and yelling aggressively at intruders (if necessary). Turn on lights fast.
Call out a fake man’s name – make it seem like there are others in the house while phoning police
Two dogs – one younger with guaranteed good hearing and a vicious bark!
Security lights and alarms connected to police. Lots of lights that flash on immediately with movement. Camera to capture a visual of intruders. Security company will give you sound guidance as to what is best for your property.
Phone on direct dial to police.
Phone on direct dial to closest neighbour who you know will respond immediately and come to your aid.
Security frames (decorative but non-breakable) on all windows.
Dog warning signs.
Leave a radio/TV on in the house while you are out at the shops.
A large torch, baseball bat or hockey stick -anything solid to give them a surprise whack with!!! Bedside your bed.
But, definitely not guns….fighting violence with violence is not the answer EVER.
May your guardian angel stay with you always!
I am glad you are ok. My mother in law’s house was broken into in France, at the time it seemed to be going on with other people in the area. (She’s about an hour south of Orléans). She installed movement lights and alarms in the sheds (the lawn mower was stolen). When this happened they were not home and nothing was installed.
It seems to have helped.
Kristi, you were magnificent!! I can only imagine how shaken you must be, but you should also be very proud of yourself. I’ve had some vandalism to my house & yard. I installed cameras and no more problems. Your readers have given some good suggestions!! Take care!!
Oh Kristi, I am so sorry this happened! What a terrifying and upsetting experience. I too would be very shaken. I echo so many good suggestions above for security measures. Most of all my heart goes out to you. Sending prayers for peace of mind. xo
I agree. Definitely Not Guns.
Boat horns…very loud…outside lights..door and window alarms..and pepper spray.
That is what we have in Boquete,Panama, NOW, after being robbed right after we moved in our new home, here, in 2005. 2 Great Pyrenees,who barked at Everything…slept right thru…
Perhaps construction folks?
Perhaps drug spray thru our windows for us and dogs… suggested folks here.
13 years later , not another problem.
See above re being alone…in 1990 .. only 2 robberies or attempts in my 74 years.
Erin
well done! This is one reason why the gun control debate rages on in the USA. A shotgun with a blinding light on the barrel will probably never have to be fired…but if you don’t have the will to use it, forget the gun and Google “tactical light” I’m not sure where France is with respect to this these days… but the most opulently turned out gun shop I’ve ever visited was in Marseilles…circa 1990. Peace! (through superior firepower) -Ian
Kristi! I’m so sorry you had this terrible experience. I’m a great believer in alarm systems or, at the very least, lights with motion detectors and alarm company stickers on your windows. May it never happen again!
So sorry. Same happened to me… his leg was inside my window. He left when I screamed
however could not erase that memory!!
So .. my suggestions are small lock on bedroom door with charged phone next to you. Also
motion dectector light outside . And police friends
have suggested not to get a gun . Unsafe. One statement that is a good deterrent is “get the gun I called 911” if someone is actively breaking in.
My suggestion is not to get too carried away with safety
it is a very unusual occurrence.
First – hugs and congratulations on your courage excellent instincts. Get a small dog 🐶. I have a ShihTzu who barks when people walk in front on my house. If they come up on the porch he sounds like five dogs. But there are many excellent ideas above. Interesting timing – after having work done on the house. Very sorry this happened to you.
Kristi, I’m so sorry about what happened to you! You were very brave to get up when you did and run at the intruder. Although I don’t have any advice to offer at this time, it looks like those who commented before me have shared a few good ideas. Sending you so much love!
Kristi, you were SO BRAVE! Charging toward the danger like a police officer and OH-OH-ing the would-be burglar away–I really admire your quick thinking and courage.
It is surprising that a burglar would try to break in without knowing whether someone was in the house or not. Burglars do not like to be surprised; they usually go for the easy target–a place they have good reason to believe is vacant. The fact that this guy didn’t do that leads me to believe he was on drugs.
I would talk to the police. Are there many break-ins in the area? Is it drug addicts who are doing it? What do they recommend you do (and what are THEY doing)?
Get to know your neighbors, who probably didn’t hear you through their closed shutters. Start a neighborhood crime watch group like people do in the States. Here, groups can have a police officer come talk to them for prevention ideas.
I was in one when I lived in Miami. The police officer said a dog was better than any burglar alarm because burglars are afraid of them. It can be a small dog, as long as it has a big bark. As I said before, burglars want an easy target. A yapping dog complicates things and might bite. Even a drug addict who isn’t thinking clearly wouldn’t want that.
Good luck, Kristi, and have confidence in your ability to handle such situations. You had the presence of mind to do just the right thing, and it worked.
I am so sorry that someone came so close to breaking into your house when you were home alone, but wow, do I admire how you responded! You were in a terrifying situation. You confronted and scared off that which was terrifying, and you did that very effectively. In the face of danger, you prevailed and kept yourself and Smokey safe. You did a great job, Kristi!
As a college freshman, I found myself in a similar situation when a man broke into my women’s dorm in the middle of the night. I encountered him in the deserted hallway outside my room. Even though he was much bigger than I and up to no good, he ended up running away when I pulled out from under my pillow, and brandished, a big, shiny monkey wrench (that my high school boyfriend had given me as a sentimental present). (That, apparently, was the last thing the intruder expected.) I was in shock right after that incident and so apparently calm that the police doubted the story I told them about an intruder…until they found the broken basement window through which he had entered the building. Because of this experience, I may well understand a lot of how you felt during and right after you confronted an intruder as he was breaking into your home, and how you feel now. In addition to the shock and then fear I felt after my incident, I soon also felt a new sense of what we would now call empowerment, because I had been able to take care of myself, without hurting anyone else, in a very challenging situation. Quite quickly, that empowerment overwhelmed whatever fear remained and became a permanent feature of my sense of myself, a particular kind of fundamental confidence that has served me well in the decades since then.
Regarding Smokey: I was always quite sure that Henry, our Golden Retriever, would respond to a burglar with a tail wag and a lick/kiss. Since Henry was very long, very tall and very strong, I was also quite sure that an intruder would flee as soon as s/he laid eyes on Henry (or heard his basso profundo bark). also Neither premise was ever tested. I agree with “joie in Carmel’s” comment: if an intruder had ever menaced Henry’s humans or his Long-Haired Dachshund brother Bob, or if any of us had evidenced fear of an intruder, Henry, our gentle giant, would have backed that person right into a corner, or chased him/her away, with barks and growls. And Bob would have been right with him. (They were very effective at chasing away our local coyotes!) That Smokey did not rouse when you jumped off your bed must have been because he was deep into sleep in his safe place. (See the story in the next paragraph.)
Regarding home security: When our children were living with us, we had a custom-designed monitored home security/fire alarm system (with motion-activated sensors in key places in the house and glass-shattering sensors on every window, all controlled by us at any of three stations around the house, and all linked to a siren, and, through a monitoring service, to local fire/police departments. After the children left home, we rarely if ever turned on that system, because we had Henry. However, about 2:30 a.m. one night last February (after Henry had died), thieves used a radio-signal device to open one of our garage doors, entered the garage (which is part of our house), and gained access into, started and drove away one of our vehicles. My husband, Bob and I, asleep in another part of the house, heard nothing and did not discover the intrusion until we started out day a few hours later. We took immediate measures to secure our house and garage doors, as the thieves had taken my husband’s keys (which they could have used to gain access to the rest of the house) and one of our garage door openers. We are now researching, and seriously considering installing, a home security/fire alarm system that is not wired into our home’s electrical and landline telephone systems, as well as inside and outside security cameras linked to our cell phones and tablet, and motion-activated lights around the entire outside perimeter of the house. Other precautions we have long taken: letting our immediate neighbors know whenever we are away overnight, so they can keep an eye on our house; keeping a police (London Metropolitan) whistle and a heavy (MagLite) flashlight, powered by bright bulbs, by our bed; and never leaving any of our ladders outside. Fortunately, there are excellent police and fire stations near our home, and our city’s 911 system is staffed by highly-trained personnel who are required to answer emergency calls within no more than 3 rings and are not allowed to put those calls on hold before they have spoken with the caller. Although I know how to maintain and use certain firearms and enjoy target shooting, we do not own any firearms. In my experience in dangerous situations around the world, unless one has the firearms training and practice, as well as the attitude, of an Israeli commando, there are much better ways to try to protect oneself than with a firearm.
Annie Sweet
I have to say this left me chilled! I can’t imagine how terrifying this would be for you, but, oh boy, you were very brave! Lots of good ideas from people about lighting. Just one other little thought – I used to live out in the country with only one house nearby, and so no possibility of the police getting to me in time in the event of a break in. (Which we never had, I’m glad to say). We made sure that we had each other’s cell phone and ligne fixte numbers for just such an event. I think that it’s extremely unlikely that the guy or gal would return but I’m sure your unconscious won’t think so! So the more you can do to make yourself safe, the better you will feel. Don’t downplay how you have been shaken by this – even big strong men find themselves upset. Lots of love to you!
You were very brave, to show no fear. And then there is the pup. He probably would have knocked one of them over with a wagging tail. Golden’s are NOT watch dogs, or protective of anyone except babies and toddlers.
I had a frightening experience about twenty years ago, when just after turning out my bedside light and drifting off, I heard my sliding glass door rattle. It sometimes did that in windy weather, but it was a still night. I waited, and heard it again, so I switched on the outside light, and saw, like you, a shadowy form silhouetted against the curtain. I shouted “Qui est là!” and leaped out of bed like a wild harridan towards the door, and the figure took off. I chased it across the garden, and I heard my squeaky gate open and bang shut and footfalls race down the road into the dark. I live in a small village and there was absolutely no light, not even starlight that night.
I called a friend…in New York(!)…who told me to call the police. The call was answered in Cahors, an hour away, and I told them that my friend insisted that I call them but they didn’t need to come as the guy had run off. But they called me back and said they would send someone from Payrac…45 minutes away, and to lock myself up, including closing all the shutters.
While waiting, I started getting very cold and shivery. I had been to a concert that night, and because of the timing, was convinced that I was being stalked and that the prowler had waited for me to come home, put out my light and probably gone to sleep before entering my bedroom. I was sure that he was a rapist and that I had frightened him off.
The next day, I went to the mayor to report the incident, but he smiled and shrugged, “Mais Catherine, après tout, vous êtes une jolie femme…” I was furious and actually started thinking about selling up and moving!
Still shaken, I spent the following night with friends. At dinner, their son, about 25, convinced me that the prowler was just a thief, not a rapist, as my waking up would have triggered the attack rather than scared him off if he that was his intent. I realised he was right and calmed down. And to his belated credit, the mayor had the village street lights left on all night for the rest of that summer.
It was my only summer without a dog. Now I have a noisy troop in evidence and feel pretty sure that the dogs discourage insalubrious characters from coming anywhere near my house as they kick up such a racket when anyone arrives.
I wonder what other residents in your area do? It sounds as if the converted garage is a bit of a weak spot- how can it be secured? What did the burglar use to climb with? A ladder? Can it be secured also? Good lighting which comes on automatically helps, as does attention to fencing and shrubs. There are arguments for and against high fencing ( and you have to fit in with your neighbours) , but can your gates be secured? Does any shrubbery lend cover to would- be intruders? Hand- held alarms that make a lot of noise scare away burglars, and to get neighbours to assist, always call” fire” rather than “help” ( in French) as it brings most people running. “Beware of the dog” signs also help. You did so well, Kristi, and even though it is not likely to happen again, you now know that you are courageous under “épreuve”.
You can also put emergency numbers on speed-dial, as well as at the beginning of your phone address book, starting with “a” so that if you are nervous, the numbers are quick at hand. e.g.apolice, afire.ajeanmarc
After reading other comments, I have to say that am so pleased to be living in a relatively gun free country! There is very little if any violent crime in my part of France, which is why I live here. Sometimes in hot weather I just take my sleeping bag and doss down next to the Dordogne with my canine buddies.
Do not be scared. Be Proud! You went right at him and he ran! You know what you are made of! You are armed with courage!
What a terrifying experience! Such a violation of your personal space. I’m glad the would-be burglar was scared away before doing anyone harm.
I am sooo sorry to hear what has happened, glad you and Smokey are OK!
Sadly there are lots of burglaries around…some of them not very good…I know none of them are good…but will spare you the details…sadly the police also report that burglars now use tasers on dogs…😧
Glad to say our house is very difficult to get into, especially as I found out, last summer, when some noisy party went on forever, a neighbour and I went to the mairie, then to the police station, being told by a uniformed police woman, that there are 2 police men in one car…serving 7 villages…seriously…no use at all…she never wrote down a word anywhere, not an email etc nothing…sometimes web wonder what we are paying our taxes towards? They pretty much do absolutely nothing around here…even the French say exactly the same! 😡 PS! Have you thought of installing an alarm? We have, even if we are difficult to access…and it works, as we have managed to set if of…boy was it noisy or as it noisy…it will wake up all of Ciotat! Take care x
Holy shit Kristi good reactions, but probably best to learn to love football:) and motion lights for sure
How scary! You acted in a brave manner in the face of fear. Your sweet dog was no help at all — a little chuckle with that! But you are the one who made all the difference!
Motion-sensitive lights have helped piece of mind for Robert’s parents after they were victims of a break-in when they were home. A relative from Germany or Austria was sleeping in a room the burglar entered. Took the billfold from the bedside table next to the sleeping figure.
They felt terribly violated, yes, but set up better door locks, and the motion-sensitive lighting outdoors.
Wow! Your experience really touched a lot of people, all with good suggestions. I would go for the motion detecting lights, the cameras and the ‘Chien Mechant” sign.
Another to make you smile: years ago, my parents-in-law lived in a house by a lake in a quiet suburb of Tampa, Florida. Not once, but TWICE, a burglar broke into their house, stepped over their sleeping dog, and wiped out all their silverware, while they slept…the next time he boldly walked into their bedroom , and stole the jewelry box off the dresser, while they slept… the moral of the story, after the first attempted break-in, get some sort of alarm system AND a watchdog, though theirs was a Cairn terrier who barked at planes overhead, but never at people, hahahaha! Also, never leave your jewelry out so someone can easily grab it !! I’m sure Smokey would have risen to the occasion had your intruder actually gotten in. So proud of you for your reaction, I’m sure I would have hidden in a corner…
Oh, Kristi, I’m so happy you are safe. Bravo for being so assertive in the face of this terrifying event. I have no doubt you and Jean-Marc will figure out the best way to ensure the safety f your family and your home. Sending serene thoughts. Bisous & Abrazos
Guns? In the US the intruder would have the gun. Lucky not so in France. I only have barking dachshunds for an alarm in rural Taos. I am already concerned for when my husband goes to Marseille to see the Stones in June. It’s me & the dogs. Your intruder incident is frightening. Perhaps getting a second dog who will be less welcoming for the intruder is an option. Hope things have calmed down now. Breathe.
Thank you, Maureen. I agree with you.
I like your ideas!
Agree 100% I have 2 wire dachshunds & the slightest noise gets them barking & running out the dog door.
Oh my goodness, Kristi. I guess experience is the best resource for a writer. You had me frozen the whole way through this post! I was almost hyperventilating at the end!
My concern is why this guy chose your house. I wonder if he cased the neighborhood and noticed your car. Then thought no one was home because the car was gone. If you could somehow hide your car from view (or even use the garage again) that clue would be gone. All our neighbors have garages but not everyone uses them. It is very easy to know who is home and who is not by the the cars in the driveway. Not so with those who use the garage.
Great suggestions from your readers.
The motion lights are an affordable quick fix. We have them in back of our house and they work really well.
Hope you can work out a solution. You don’t need to be unsettled in your own home…
Battery operated motion lights can go anywhere. We have some in our woods, mounted on trees!
Having read several of the entries below, but not all of them, I would like to add that a small, yappy dog will hear an intruder long before the rest of the house. The yap, that never seems to end, does the job of assisting the intruder to change his/her mind. Cute little something, that is nervous and barks a lot, is a good, early warning system.
Lights are a great idea- when they suddenly detect motion and come on, the intruder thinks he’s been spotted and takes off- just in case! It’s the easiest thing you can do. And get a sign that says you’re protected by a security company, or get their protection… And program those emergency numbers into your phones!!
PS! I should have also said I once had an almost intruder like that- I was downstairs (ground level) watching TV during a pretty massive blizzard about 12 at night when I started hearing noises at various places around the house (outside). My dogs were barking like crazy, and every time I heard a noise I got up and investigated, but saw nothing. It kept on like that, and finally there was a noise that was NOT just the wind, not that far from where I was sitting. I shot up and then saw a face outside the window! I yelled so loud I scared that guy so much he fell off whatever he was standing on and took off running. I doubt I’ve ever yelled that loud. I called the emergency number and got a very sympathetic operator who made me stay on the line, for the entire 20 or so minutes it took for the police to arrive. (The snowstorm slowed them down, I guess) I had hoped they could follow his footsteps running down my yard and crossing the street, but it was snowing too hard, and I doubt if they cared. We have a security system, but it wasn’t on yet but now I turn it on when I’m sitting at home at night. My husband was upstairs sleeping and didn’t hear a thing until the police came to the door. The dogs were the best alerts, and now I believe them! It was SO scary!! I’m with you on that.
Dear Kristi,
I am so very sorry you had to experience this unwanted intrusion into your life. It has happened to me three times in my life: the first time when I was a sophomore in high school, and the other two times when I was in my 20s and 30s. I finally ended up taking a self-defense class for women, which helped me tremendously. Hopefully there is something like that available to you near where you live. It will help bring back your courage and allow you to not feel like such a victim. Doing it sooner than later will have a positive effect. Bon courage!
Dear Kristi-
I am so sorry that this happened to you. And I am SO glad you have your pup so you weren’t totally alone. My 11 year old blue heeler black lab mix is, like me, an older girl but she can sound SO fierce and I have ZERO doubt that she would protect me in a heartbeat as she’s always been VERY vigilant around my now adult daughter and me. She was very sick last spring and I feared we were about to lose her, which thankfully did not come to pass. But as much as I love her and it will hurt like all get out when the day comes, I have ZERO doubt that I will have another dog live with us as I sleep SO much better having one in the house. My neighborhood (where I have lived for nearly 26 years) has become increasingly targeted by burglars and from time to time I think maybe we should move but I also realize that there is sadly NO WHERE that is 100 percent safe so I try not to dwell on that idea as I think it is a false sense of security. And while I am a pacifist and have only ever shot a gun one time, hubby is decidedly NOT so we have that front covered.
Take good care-sending you good wishes from Colorado! And pat that dog for me-he is SO beautiful!!!
Cathy
Motion lights and security stickers on windows. There are also some pretty simple camera systems being advertised lately. They connect to your phone. This has happened to me twice. Once while I was at work and once while I was sleeping in the next room. Nothing makes you feel more violated. You will feel better and back to normal eventually, but I can attest to feeling very insecure for several months.
Hello. I’m sorry you went through that. I do not know if it is legal in France, but if so, pepper spray might be another idea. I keep 1 cannister by my bed upstairs, and one downstairs. Also 1 in my purse because at work, I am sometimes showing strangers homes. If not legal in France, I guess you could fill a small spray bottle with hot red pepper (cayenne) and water or vinegar? I’m sure there are recipes for a do-it-yourself pepper spray on line.
I hope you’re able to get over the shock soon.
Lisa
We have “Arlo Pro” an afordable camera that works directly with your wifi and you can access it through your phone, computer or laptop, It affordable and no fees attached to it. You can buy as many cameras as you want to install to the unit. (I think as long as you have less than 5 there is no fee) With it and motion lights outside…it really gives me comfort to be able to look on my phone and take a look outside. We ordered it from Amazon but, feel certain something like that is available in France.
Kristi,
I am late to read today’s blog and I see that you have already received many excellent tips. Yes for alarms, lights, motion sensors, window bars, powerful flashlights and wasp spray. There are 5000 lumen small flashlights on EBAY that are reasonably priced. Buy the one with lithium battery. Get the one that also has a strobe mode. Buy several and have everyone carry one in pocket or purse. For a spray, I would suggest a bear spray. I know about gun laws in France. Of course we in the USA have gun laws that vary by state. But we can have a gun in our home and business. In some states a concealed carry permit is easy to acquire. For France, you can have a shotgun for hunting. Use birdshot to scare or wound a threatening or armed intruder. Use 00 size to knock holes in walls and doors. Install steel doors with a steel frame and use Medeco security locks ($250.00). I believe in decorative solid iron bars on windows. No sliding glass doors or doors with glass windows. Have a steel screen door with ventilation holes in heavy gauge sheet metal. How about a sticker on windows? Like GLOCK or LEGION ETRANGER. And keep a boating air horn in every room. How about a companion for Smokey, like a Rhodesian ridgeback or rottweiler? I believe in the US Coast Guard motto SEMPER PARATUS. Always ready.
Jivago
Kristi, I reiterate, you have received many good suggestions; alarm, motion sensors, window bars, beware of dog signs, hand held siren. Also, there is no guarantee it won’t happen again so please be proactive in protecting yourself. And your family. If your daughter was home alone and you had passed the opportunity to protect your property, you would never forgive yourself. Good luck. Best wishes and we all will hope for you it was a one time happening.
Chère Kristi,
Quelle expérience effrayante, vous avez assez de bons conseils pour améliorer la sécurité autour
de votre maison. En espagnol nous avons un diction: “Mas vale revenir que lamenter”.
J’espère que vous n’ aurez plus jamais à vivre une autre situation comme celle que vous avez partagé avec nous.
Amicalement,
Marti Hinman
Kristi,
Désolé, j’ai fait une error dans mon commentaire.
La diction en espagnol est, Mas vale prevenir que lamentar”
Marti
Hi Kristie,
We live in the southwest of France and had an attempted break-in. We then got Verisure, one of the best alarm systems, as described by Sophia. They put a big sticker at our gate and smaller ones on the windows. We also added motion-detector lights and have not had a problem since. Thieves look for easier targets…
All the best,
Jean
Jivago replies to Jivago. Oops, missed something in proofreading. Forgot the last E. Should be LEGION ETRANGERE. Also, don’t trust electronic garage door openers. Mine malfunctions in extremely hot weather. Use the circular padlocks on the exterior and if the garage has an interior door to the house use a chain to secure the garage door from inside. SEMPER PARATUS!!!
I agree, keep a baseball bat beside you bed. And dogs are the best to alert to intruders. My dog woke the whole household as someone was trying to get in through our front door. Very scary.
You were very brave!!! So happy you are safe. My dog would have greeted them warmly I believe. Who knows.
Our house was robbed last winter while we were gone. We use motion sensor lights, built a tall wood privacy fence that can only be opened from inside, and being Americans, we are armed to the teeth. I applaud your bravery, but if the intruder had a gun, you would not be here. Hubby did multiple dry runs with me so I could find and load my gun and seek the safest room before I call 911. We live way out with no neighbors, so we do feel we need to be able to save ourselves as it might be 30 minutes before the police arrive. My dog is just now old enough she will bsrk, but you can’t count on that to stop them. We live in a prisoner release zone so there is a lot of crime.
One more note, put your police on speed dial on your phone. Our 911 will send a car even if you can’t speak, not sure about France, but ask?
So many excellent suggestions from your other followers I can only add my admiration on the way you handled an extremely frightening situation. Brave lady !
Brava, Kristi, for a heroic response from your core-self to the threat — startling the intruder into flight and doing your own ‘barking’: instincts you can count on forever more.
So many fine suggestions for supplementary protective moves here! I am impressed and intrigued by the range of experiences and suggested security modes of others. We’ve been blessed with only one scare, but that night my kids were alone with our young and noisy cocker spaniel. A neighbour’s happenstance lucky intervention prevented serious trouble: he held the intruder till police arrived. We learned that the distraught fellow believed his former girlfriend still lived at our address. After that, we boarded up the cellar windows and installed battery-operated motion-sensor lights. So far, so good … but I will reassess our situation now.
Smokey is such a sweetie, sleeps like a dog-log, and may now be losing his hearing or he would’ve at least arisen and explored to see what the fuss was all about! Above all, it is WONDEFUL that you reacted as powerfully and instinctively as you did. All shall be well as you generate new strength from knowing what you are capable of under duress.