I was having a conversation with another member here , and then I read a Topic about coming home and the alarm alerting someone there may be a problem.
I am a civilian, I am not trained to do house clearings by myself. In fact it is my understanding the trained professionals in LEO and Military are not real keen on doing this.
I have arrived at the front door [residence or business] and 1) the locks are gone 2) door unlocked, 3) alarm is not as should be. 4) other fun stuff.
Me, I leave very cautiously and find a safe place to call the Police. Just as I would if I smelled gas upon entering a home/business. I'm not trained in that either, I do my best Eddie Eagle - don't touch and get an adult - now!
-I used to be in business where Pros did in fact bypass alarms , business or residental. In that "other life" I was subject to being kidnapped as I had access to what the Pros wanted.
-Yes Pros did "get to" buddy of mine. End of business day and his wife beat him home, he arrived to find wife with a shotgun barrel in her mouth...he went back to his business [escorted at gunpoint] and opened his safe.
Alarm bypassed / locks picked and she was met with a 12 bore muzzle.
-If your alarm company calls in the middle of the night about your business / while at work alarm company calls about your residence 1) Call them back to verify they did in fact call. Hopefully you have a password/ codeword/ panic word with Alarm company. 2) make sure the Police /Sheriff have been called - Do not, repeat, Do not get near, much less enter unless you have LEO on the scene.
Oldest trick in the book to lure someone and catch leaving to go see about an alarm - or catch them at scene.
-Apts, these are tricky.
Mgmt often gives spare Master Keys to Exterminators, other Maint folks.
Yes they are supposed to lock the door, don't always do so.
Two other often occurences 1) is a hot water goes out, and the apt below is entered to check for damage 2) while on vacation a hose from a washing machine goes out and floods. [always shut off water when going out of town, even if for two days for the washer]
Now most complexes have a schedule of when exterminator is to show, and most complexes have this dumb practice of leaving a note inside , on the counter "we entered your apt to ___".
Does a lot of good to find your door unlocked - note is inside - or is it?
Get the complex to put a hang tag on exterior of door, if need buy your own.
You get to Apt door, door unlocked, and no schedule of anything. STOP!
Leave and ask a trusted neighbor. If nothing was done to their apt, or anyone elses- and from safety call Res Mgr, Mgr, and if that produces nothing - Call Police.
It "could" be yours or neighbors hot water heater went out then again...
...them Master keys remember? Especially if you are female, and work 3p -11p, or 11p to 7a - Don't chance it. These keys get "lost" or "accidently" duplicated and ...well some sick folks out there take note of single females, elderly ladies.
-Extra Locks. Everyone should have a set of extra locks.
Locks break at the most wrong time, can't leave house to get one with it unlocked.
Set of keys get lost /stolen - call Police, make sure residence is safe and have them there as you replace the locks.
One may have really nice HD guns, remember one has to enter, and leave, also answer the door. Concerns should be "something is not right" - and call those trained to check out and make safe.
Regards,
Steve
I am a civilian, I am not trained to do house clearings by myself. In fact it is my understanding the trained professionals in LEO and Military are not real keen on doing this.
I have arrived at the front door [residence or business] and 1) the locks are gone 2) door unlocked, 3) alarm is not as should be. 4) other fun stuff.
Me, I leave very cautiously and find a safe place to call the Police. Just as I would if I smelled gas upon entering a home/business. I'm not trained in that either, I do my best Eddie Eagle - don't touch and get an adult - now!
-I used to be in business where Pros did in fact bypass alarms , business or residental. In that "other life" I was subject to being kidnapped as I had access to what the Pros wanted.
-Yes Pros did "get to" buddy of mine. End of business day and his wife beat him home, he arrived to find wife with a shotgun barrel in her mouth...he went back to his business [escorted at gunpoint] and opened his safe.
Alarm bypassed / locks picked and she was met with a 12 bore muzzle.
-If your alarm company calls in the middle of the night about your business / while at work alarm company calls about your residence 1) Call them back to verify they did in fact call. Hopefully you have a password/ codeword/ panic word with Alarm company. 2) make sure the Police /Sheriff have been called - Do not, repeat, Do not get near, much less enter unless you have LEO on the scene.
Oldest trick in the book to lure someone and catch leaving to go see about an alarm - or catch them at scene.
-Apts, these are tricky.
Mgmt often gives spare Master Keys to Exterminators, other Maint folks.
Yes they are supposed to lock the door, don't always do so.
Two other often occurences 1) is a hot water goes out, and the apt below is entered to check for damage 2) while on vacation a hose from a washing machine goes out and floods. [always shut off water when going out of town, even if for two days for the washer]
Now most complexes have a schedule of when exterminator is to show, and most complexes have this dumb practice of leaving a note inside , on the counter "we entered your apt to ___".
Does a lot of good to find your door unlocked - note is inside - or is it?
Get the complex to put a hang tag on exterior of door, if need buy your own.
You get to Apt door, door unlocked, and no schedule of anything. STOP!
Leave and ask a trusted neighbor. If nothing was done to their apt, or anyone elses- and from safety call Res Mgr, Mgr, and if that produces nothing - Call Police.
It "could" be yours or neighbors hot water heater went out then again...
...them Master keys remember? Especially if you are female, and work 3p -11p, or 11p to 7a - Don't chance it. These keys get "lost" or "accidently" duplicated and ...well some sick folks out there take note of single females, elderly ladies.
-Extra Locks. Everyone should have a set of extra locks.
Locks break at the most wrong time, can't leave house to get one with it unlocked.
Set of keys get lost /stolen - call Police, make sure residence is safe and have them there as you replace the locks.
One may have really nice HD guns, remember one has to enter, and leave, also answer the door. Concerns should be "something is not right" - and call those trained to check out and make safe.
Regards,
Steve
As for clearing the house i'll call the cops then park outside in the hall until they show up that way if they try to leave they are gonna have to deal with me having the drop on them.