I just got back in Bacolod City yesterday after a 3-week vacation in my hometown in Dumaguete City, a 4-hr drive away by private transportation if you are running at a speed of 80km/hr. Travelling by road can also be tiring since you are just sitting there, and your blood is not properly circulated. You get sleepy yet you can't really bring yourself to fall asleep because you're mind is cautious of the passing vehicles and sounds, ready to alert you incase of accidents. And when you finally get to your destination, all you want to do is rest and lie back. Well, contrary to that, I was on the move the moment I arrived. The house was a mess!! Clothes strewn everywhere, bags scattered on the floor, the cabinets and drawers all emptied of its contents. Boxes of every gadget we bought lay empty on the tables and floor. The house lock and doorknob visible of a forced entry. While in Dumaguete, we were informed that burglars had entered the house at night through the main door and bravely left the house early at around 6:00am. The neighbor who lives across from us noticed, while she was doing her laundry that night, that the lights inside the house were switched on. For awhile she thought that we must have returned from our trip but then she heard some noise coming from the inside, like things being ransacked and thrown away. Then she decided to text the neighbor who leaved right next to us, who happened to be her brother. They were both curious as to who were inside the house, thinking in the end that it was just probably us, tidying things. Little did they know, the next day, they saw someone trying to escape through the gates bringing a guitar with him. That's when they alerted the police and my boyfriend's dad. Anyway, the burglars managed to steal two cellpones that nolonger work, an xbox 360 that also malfunctioned 2 years ago, my boyfriend's gold bracelet and two watches of little value, and my guitar. They took my guitar!!!! and even had the decency to leave the song hits included in the guitar case. All our old wallets were emptied of its contents (no money in all of them to begin with) and all the gadget boxes were scattered everywhere. They must have thought that we hid some money somewhere and left all our tech gadgets. All I can say is, too bad for them they stole "nothing" in a sense. Except for my guitar. So just imagine how tiring it is to clean up the mess after a long drive. We had to change the locks and bolts in the house to a much more sturdy one. The robbers must have monitored and noticed that our house has been dark for the past days so they took action. Somehow, in a way, we were glad that we weren't there when it happend or someone could have gotten hurt, and that we didn't leave our valuable things behind (laptops, PS3, money). So in line with this, let me share with you ten helpful measures to keep yourself and others safe whether inside or outside your home. I know you're probably thinking "why didn't I think of that before it happened. " Well it goes to say, " Nasa huli and pagsisisi", or "regrets come in the end".
1) Before you sleep at night or leave the house, make sure (double check) that all your windows and doors are locked and that all curtain or blinds are closed. Pay special attention to ones that open onto a fire escape, and sliding doors ( put a rod in the track to block it).
2) Have an invetory of all your valauables like jewelry, important documents, gadgets, etc.
3) Keep large amount of cash in the bank or if you prefer do not store any cash inside your house at all.
4) When going away on a trip, inform a trusted neighbor or friend so they can check on your house for you. Even better if you can ask a relative to stay at your house for you while you're gone.
5) Invest in a burglar alarm: It is never to late to buy one for yourself. I went to the hardware store today and scouted for alarms. The price ranges from P300 to almost P2000. You don't have to get the fancy one. As long as they are proven effective and workable then get one right away.
6) Know your neighbor: Always be in the look out for those who often pass by the neighborhood, especially those who seems to be staring at your house every so often. Stare them down, to let them know that you are "watching" them too. Do not be too lenient in letting strangers or neighors get inside your house even if it's for a friendly gesture. Entertain curious neighbors while they are outside your house or gate and not in, especially if you don't know them yet.
7) Do not give away your personal information too easily: Be mindful of those who pretend to need your personal information like for an informal survey. First, ask the surveyor questions that would help you determine if they are conducting a bogus operation or not. This is how certain gangs extricate certain info - they call you at home, pretend to be someone who knows your family or friends, and ask for personal details.
8) Do not drop your guard down even while you are at home and don't make it easy for outsiders to observe your life. Get curtains or blinds, and keep them closed at night. A lot of peeping toms are actually always on the look out for a prospect. Rape, burglary, etc always start from there.
9) Get a watchdog: Truly a man's bestfriend. Burglars hate dealing with barking dogs thus they go someplace else where they don't have to confront them. A tip: smaller dogs like chihuahuas and mini pinchers are aggressive dogs thus they always bark annoyingly at any intruder or stranger.
10) Speed dials on your phone: When your adrenaline is on haywire, you get too nervous to even properly punched in the numbers to your local emergency police. The time it takes to press a button instead of several could spell the difference.
Here are some dead giveaways that you live alone or that the house is empty.
1) Mails piling up: Ask your neighbor as a favor to keep your mails for you until you return home. This way, the other neighbors or other people wouldn't think that no one is at home.
2) A house or apartment that is completely dark until you get home: If it is unavoidable that you'll be out the whole day, leave at least one lamp or light on (preferably the light where force entry can be possible like the kitchen, back door or the front porch). If you won't be home for days, leave a spare key to the main door to your trusted neighbor so they can turn on the light for you every night.
3) Your pattern when you are at home at night as seen through your window, or your time patterns when you leave and return home: Your assailants scan the neighborhood, peek into windows, and get to know your patterns. Don't make it easier for them to plan ahead by leaving curtains open or sticking to a rigid and predictable schedule.
It is never too late to start protecting yourself and others now. If you are at home, doesn't mean you are safe. Always be prepared and mindful of your environment, be cautious and be aware. But hey! I'm not suggesting you become too cautious that you get paranoid ok?
