Somewhat paranoid thoughts

[Civet]

Lately I've been having somewhat paranoid thoughts about potential breakins to my apartment. I'm even hesitant to post too many details here for fear that someone could read them and know how/when to break in. I'm not really sure how to shake these fears. It seems like whenever I hear any kind of noise at night I start worrying that someone could be trying to get in the house or is already in the house and sometimes go into a bit of a panic. One night I ended up calling the police because I heard strange noises outside, then I saw a light flash off and on which seemed to be inside the house (there was no one in the house, so I suppose it must have been outside). We had a broken phone/cable box taken off of the side of our house, and we don't know how it disappeared or who would have taken it, which has been adding to my fears lately. Does anyone have any advice on how to calm myself down and let this go?

[renaeden]

I sometimes worry about it as well but I think your thoughts are somewhat valid if someone took the cable box which is attached to your house.

The most you could do is shut all doors and windows and lock everything that you can. Thieves and such generally don't bother if your place is hard to get into.

GA and I also have a couple of hockey sticks under the bed.

[Sophist]

That's really hard when a fear could be a bit reasonable to have. Although it doesn't sound good that it worries you to the point of causing continual distress.

Do you have an alarm system? If not, could you afford to get one? Maybe that would give you a little more peace of mind.

[Civet]

Yesterday our storm door just fell right off the house . It was left hanging on the hydraulics and I called our landlord, he came and removed it and said he'll have someone come by to put it back on "in the next few days." (Our landlords are such deadbeats : / ) .

While I know this doesn't really do much, it still is making me even more nervous than before. At least my roommate had noticed a bit ago that the door was close to coming off so I know it wasn't vandalism or anything. Just shoddy craftsmanship.

Renaeden- We're on a second floor apartment, so we do keep all of our doors locked but we tend to leave some windows open for airflow. The downstairs apartment is currently unoccupied, though, and being alone in the house at night is what is making me the most nervous I think.

Sophist- I couldn't really afford an entire wired alarm system but I think looking into an inexpensive one I could put on the doors and one window might be a good idea. I feel a little embarrassed by my paranoia over this stuff, though, as my roommate seems to think there is nothing to worry about.

[Sophist]

Any sign you can get that advertises you have an alarm system is often a deterent.

[adhocisadirtyword]

I will say this... most criminals don't like to climb stairs. And they definitely don't do second story windows.

You can also put dowels in the jambs of the windows (even with them open a little - somebody wouldn't be able to open them more), and install another deadbolt on the door. (And install one on your bedroom door too, if you want).

It is a somewhat valid fear, but don't let it get the best of you.

[Civet]

Sophist- Interesting idea.

Adhoc- I hope you're right about the stairs thing. As for the windows, I realize this haha. We have some odd architecture in our building, however, where a window meets our porch, and that is the only window I'd really be worried about. We've been keeping that one locked so hopefully that's enough. We have a ladder in the backyard that I chained down.

I can't put a deadbolt on the door unfortunately since my roommate tends to come home late and she wouldn't be able to get in if I locked it.

[adhocisadirtyword]

I meant another lock. One with a key. If you have two deadbolts, that would tend to deter anyone from trying to break in.

A lot of it is about convenience. The ability to break in quickly and easily without anyone hearing (difficult with a second lock). Stairs are also an impediment to this.

Stairs over complicate things... what if in the rush to get away, they fall?

I can see why you would be concerned about that one window though. If you put a wooden dowel in there preventing it from coming open, they wouldn't be able to lift it even if they did break it or pick the lock.

Another thing to consider is motion sensors with dog barking noises. But that might not be something you'd want if your roommate comes home late.

[Sophist]

Plus with stairs, it's harder to carry things. So if they're breaking in to burglarize you, a second floor apartment is less appealing than a first floor apartment. Same thing with your home/apartment LOOK like it's got an alarm system-- whether it's working or not.

[parts]

They make portable alarms for people who travel a lot for use in hotels they hang on the inside of the door knob

[Aspen]

They make portable alarms for people who travel a lot for use in hotels they hang on the inside of the door knob

Good idea, Parts.

Here is a link to some:

http://www.specialtyalarms.com/site/1313932/page/470320

[goddessoflubbock]

Sometimes a little paranoia is not a bad thing, especially when it motivates you to do something positive.

Those doorknob things are great - I had one when I lived alone and it worked really well (my neighbor came home drunk one night and tried to open the wrong door and it wailed!).

The second floor is a big deterrent - could you ask your landlord to possibly put one lamp on a timer in the bottom apartment to make it appear occupied?

Banks often build with steps outside if they are near easy roads to get away on, to prevent robberies. They do make one think twice.

[Belfast]

It's especially tough when one's fear/concern is reasonable & valid-yet the level of distress is impractical & interferes with other functions (handling other problems that are present, not just future possible/potential worries). So I "identify with" this sort of mental content, not being able to wholly dismiss/ignore such self-protective reaction patterns.

I live in 2nd-floor apt. & have been safe (so far !) Don't know how to explain my luck in not being a crime victim statistic.

Have sticker on my outside door (there's a window in door, with multiple panels) that reads "security device enclosed"-it's something an ex put there, which he got from his workplace. Sticker doesn't list a company (as if it were connected to real alarm system), just says the line in printed text on self-adhesive thingie, visible near doorknob.

[Civet]

Thank you for all of the help and suggestions everyone. I went out and got a $30 alarm "system" to put up on the doors and window today, hopefully I can get it set up properly. And hopefully my roommate does not mind.

[Civet]

My roommate seems irritated at the idea of an alarm system. When I told her I had gotten one she made a comment about it being another thing for her to have to "unlock" when she comes in, and she said she thinks I'm being a little paranoid and that if she were to break into a house she wouldn't use the front door, she'd use the back, so she doesn't think one in the front is necessary : / . She clearly doesn't want me to set one up in the front, and made the suggestion that I set up some bells or something so I'd hear when someone comes in, instead (there's no way I'd hear the bells, especially if I were asleep, as my room is in the back of the apartment). I already know I'm being sort of paranoid but I've tried telling her this is mainly just to help me not be so nervous at night and she just doesn't seem to get it, which is of course making me more upset now