View from the cop

By Gern

December 13, 2007 3:47 PM | Link to this

They also use the car’s GPS system and hit “Home.” they can roll up and open up.

By Lex Luthor

December 13, 2007 4:39 PM | Link to this

Put a motion detector in your garage.

By Cindy

December 14, 2007 9:15 AM | Link to this

If you have a motion detector in the garage, how do you get in?

By Cindy

December 14, 2007 9:23 AM | Link to this

Gern, that GPS info is kinda scarey…so let’s take it one step further…if the victims work identity, and door security badge happens to be in the car, I don’t see any sense in discriminating and leaving the workplace alone you do? Depending on the job, that could be an even bigger score than the homes valuables.

Something to think about anyway, ya know?

By ElBubba

December 14, 2007 10:30 AM | Link to this

A few years back in Colorado (Ft.Collins?) The military was testing some radio stuff and everyone’s garage doors started going up and down. Turns out the military technically “owns” those frequencies.

By Cindy

December 14, 2007 10:35 AM | Link to this

cool. like that commercial where the man is flipping the light switch…honey watch and see if you can tell what this light switch is for…ok i’m going to flip it now…are you watching honey???

and that lady next door is stuck with the garage door going up and down on her car.

By pogo

December 14, 2007 12:42 PM | Link to this

this gets back to what Lt.Steve has been telling us; if it’s valuable, don’t leave it in the car. garage door openers are keys to the castle, hm?

By ElBubba

December 14, 2007 4:03 PM | Link to this

OK Pogo, I’m back on subject, do you have anything else you’d like to add or would you like to keep repeating the information? hmm…

By ElBubba

December 15, 2007 12:01 AM | Link to this

Need advice.

I’m worried about this home invasion phenomenon. My parents are in their late sixties and they have dogs that would raise a ruckus. Is that enough? The dogs would really cause a problem, I’m just wondering if it is enough. thanks El Bubba

By Fred

December 15, 2007 12:51 AM | Link to this

Dear El Bubba,

Man is the top of the food chain. Dogs are domesticated pets. I pity the dog that wants to bite me. I have a neighbor with a vicscious dog. I tell him I don’t mind his dog biting me if his dog doesn’t mind me killing it.

How to kill a viscious dog: Remeber if a dog attacks you, you ARE going to get bitten. Step one, when the dog lunges at you shove your non dominate arm in the dog’s mouth (meaty pat, below the elbow but about the wrist). It is stupid, it will latch on and not let go. Step two, grab the dog around the throat with your dominate hand while falling with your full body weight on the dog’s chest crushing the ever loving life out of the dog.

If by chance it is NOT a large dog then ignore all the steps above and punt that Weinerdog across the room.

By ElBubba

December 15, 2007 12:59 AM | Link to this

Fred, I could pull a dog’s front legs apart, which is the best way to deal with them, but doubt my parents are up to that. When you pull front legs apart you have a dog in your face, but at that moment it is in so much pain it gives up and freaks out. That’s what my crazy SEAL friend told me, but not good info for parents ElBubba

By Cindy

December 15, 2007 1:33 AM | Link to this

oh my. I’ll have to ponder this as I sleep…

ya’ll are too funny.

By Fred

December 15, 2007 9:30 AM | Link to this

By Fred

December 15, 2007 9:39 AM | Link to this

wow, my comment above got auto snagged………

By Cindy

December 15, 2007 10:23 AM | Link to this

what was it? camoflauge it and post it again…

By Cindy

December 15, 2007 10:28 AM | Link to this

If by chance it is NOT a large dog then ignore all the steps above and punt that Weinerdog across the room.

I just keep picturing this and laughing.

Hey, everyone else…get off my back… he posted it… I just laughed.

By p

December 15, 2007 11:22 AM | Link to this

A coworker’s house just got robbed this week in Gwinnettt. Police said the crooks used a universal remote that will open over 80% of garage doors out there. They might have driven around until they found a door that opened.

Once in the garage, the thieves easily broke in the interior door and took over $10k worth of stuff. There are no easy fixes - lock you garages with a padlock, you’re just going to have to open them manually. I know most of you will be too lazy though.

By D

December 15, 2007 11:47 AM | Link to this

Replace the cheap interior door to the house from the garage with a solid exterior door with a deadbolt, get an alarm with cell backup, and use both every time you leave the house. Motion detectors in the garage can be programmed to have a long delay, but people forget and cause themselves false alarms because you can’t hear the keypad beeping while you are in the garage. Another option is cell phone remote control of the alarm, you call the house and turn the alarm off before you pull in the garage. Remember to use the alarm every time you leave the house. Have a locksmith beef up the locks and striker plates on every door to the house and pin the basement windows.

By a reader

December 15, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this

About those universal remote garage door openers…A few years ago, a couple of neighbors had tools, etc. missing from their garages. Could not understand it as the garage doors were not left open. Turned out that kids were getting into unlocked cars & cars with open windows, parked in the driveway. They were getting the code from the garage door opener that was left in the open car, and copying the code to a universal remote. Later, when everyone was out, they would use the universal remote to open the garage door. They got caught before they started going into houses…a n’hood kid and his buddy.

By Tiny Tim

December 15, 2007 4:27 PM | Link to this

A criminal stole a can opener that I foolishly left in my car. While I was at work later, he came back for the Beefaroni. I didn’t see it coming. I felt so stupid.

By ElBubba

December 15, 2007 10:35 PM | Link to this

Kids are pretty darn smart. I don’t trust any of them because I remeber myself and friends

About those home invasions. I think a big dog would certanly buy time, to get a gun. Dogs outside might prevent one altogether.

The world is not a safe place. Any guy that would kick a weiner dog would certainly steel your beefaroni.

By Cindy

December 15, 2007 10:42 PM | Link to this

(http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2007/12/12/theftring1212.html?cxntlid=inform)

A few days after the crime spree began, Alex Platt, James Sung, Joseph Ferguson and Joseph Blank —- each 17 —- and 18-year-old twin brothers Christopher and Matthew Davey all confessed to breaking into the cars, police said.

Three of the teens —- Platt, Sung and Ferguson —- were involved with Northview’s football program.

Principal Peter Zervakos said it was too soon to determine whether they should be suspended from the team.

That’s right Mr. Principal. One of the boy’s own moma turned him in…they all confessed…”But let’s not over-react here! Boys will be boys…it’s not like they killed anyone…they only burglarized 150 cars…and the car-owners were really the ones at fault, I mean they did leave their car doors unlocked!…why…it’s practically a victimless crime (150 times). We shouldn’t decide in a haste…let’s not try to set a precedent and punish them for their p**-poor choices. What kind of message would THAT send?”

Grrrrr.

Fred, where’s my sign? ;)

By Cindy

December 15, 2007 11:07 PM | Link to this

Any guy that would kick a weiner dog would certainly steel your beefaroni.

LOL!!! I wish ya’ll got on the other site I frequent.

By Doug

December 16, 2007 2:05 PM | Link to this

Just head your interview on Bob Edwards Weekend. Very good. Kudo to you and what you do.

By a reader

December 16, 2007 2:12 PM | Link to this

Why should the school punish the kids? It has nothing to do with the school…what these boys did happened outside of school and off school property. Punish them for their poor choices, yes. Perhaps suspend a probationary driver’s license so they cannot venture far from home, perform community service, etc. Have them do something. Do not make them idle, that only increases opportunity for more bad decision-making.

By ElBubba

December 16, 2007 3:16 PM | Link to this

Any coach worth his salt wouldn’t have these boys on his team. It’s a lesson learned for the boys and any would be thieves that really want to play. Consequences for actions.

By a reader

December 16, 2007 7:33 PM | Link to this

Why is it now the coach’s or school’s responsibility to discipline students for offenses outside of school? It is a legal matter. The girl at S. Forsyth HS did not get into too much trouble for passing around her mother’s Rx drugs…and, that is, by far, a more dangerous situation, and it occurred at school.

By ElBubba

December 16, 2007 8:26 PM | Link to this

Why is it the coach’s or school’s responsibility?

Because our teams are symbolic of the people they represent; school, town, neighborhood, whatever.

Because they are representatives, they are held to higher standards.

In the adult world, if your kid is good at football but he’s also fighting pit-bulldogs, he can’t represent us, that isn’t what we stand for. (Or 150 car burglaries)

…and I’m not discussing some girl that sold drugs, that has nothing to do with team sports.

By Cindy

December 16, 2007 9:57 PM | Link to this

Reader, Playing school sports is a status symbol…a priveledge…a position to be respected…a place earned, not given. They’re “supposed to be” and “used to be” trendsetters, role-models, the ones other students respected and looked up to. I realize this isn’t always the case anymore, so do you think the school should uphold the kids actions and keep them in positions that strongly represent the school?

SO, if the kids give up none of the things they currently hold dear, what do you think is a proper way to make restitution? Not only to their victims, but also to their community as a whole? I agree they shouldn’t be idle, but we’re not talking about a little skid in the road. They went buck wild.

If you steal 150 cars Friday night, Saturday wake up and regret it, Sunday at church confess what you’ve done, do you still get to keep the cars and your freedom? (Bobby, if you see this, I only used part of your example because it’s such a good one, but see I’m giving you the credit for it.)

Reader, no it’s not the place to discipline the kids or decide their punishment legally…not at all. It is however his place to not let them keep their positions on the team. Especially since it’s possible that some of the people affected have kids in the same district.

By a reader

December 16, 2007 11:33 PM | Link to this

We’re not talking about the adult world. We’re talking about teenagers. Kids. This age group is notorious for poor decision making skills. They are not adults…do not put them on a pedestal when they are incapable of meeting your expectations. The fact that you, an adult, think they should be held to a higher standard is your problem. They’re kids, not adult professional athletes.

Do I think they were wrong? Definitely. Did the parent do the right thing in turning the kids in? Absolutely. They were caught, admitted their wrong-doing, returned the stolen items and apologized. These boys will face legal consequences. These events had nothing to do with school activities and occurred off school premises. These boys blew their opportunity to be considered for special recognition awards, etc. Do give them another opportunity to prove they are worthy of being productive members of the community in which they reside and the school they attend.

By Cindy

December 17, 2007 8:11 AM | Link to this

Must be your kids.

Otherwise you’d be able to see the forest even though there are tree’s there.

Get real. Todays older teenagers are tomorrows adults.

By a reader

December 17, 2007 8:35 AM | Link to this

You’re wrong—-not my kid. There you go again, making haste judgments. And, I certainly hope that if my kid did something incredibly stupid, there would be some compassion, not spiteful and angry adults sitting in judgment looking to even the score. What’s the matter, you had a bad high school experience? Hopefully, your kids will never find themselves in a similar situation. You just never know what they’re going to do, not matter what you say.

With age comes wisdom (hopefully). It’s just too bad everyone isn’t smart enough to always make the right choice. Too bad everyone can’t live their lives backwards that way so many would not have made the bad choices that affected their lives later on.

Chalk it up to youth, inexperience and stupidity. None of us are the same people we were when we were 17. These kids did wrong. They’re owning up to it and have been cooperating with the authorities. They’re doing the right thing now, a bit late, but still the right thing. Get over yourself.

By Cindy

December 17, 2007 9:06 AM | Link to this

Your kid(s) will do something stupid. Mine too. Me too. You too. We all do stupid stuff. No question about that. And no i’m not angry or spiteful and I had a relatively nice high-school experience. Sadly to say, I’ve even stolen some stuff in my younger years. I’m gonna woman up here and even admit to you that I, as a 17 year old, went on a thieving spree one night…AND it was fun. So don’t for one second sit there and think that I don’t know what I’m saying here. I had a couple of hard and fast reality checks hit me square in the face, that brought me back down to earth and straightened my butt out. And believe it or not, when it was all going down, I didn’t think I was the victim and I didn’t think people were over-reacting. I did it, and I was accountable. No if’s and or buts. We’re not talking about 7 year olds stealing their playmates weeble wobbles.

I am a realist but I’m also bad about letting the mom/female nurturer portion of me soften and cloud my judgement, and I often need a reality check. That’s why it’s really surprising me how you’re minimizing this.

Straighten the boys out now while there’s still time. No let’s don’t burn them on the cross and if there faith is strong enough they won’t burn, but if they do burn, they’re witches. But you can’t punish them from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m. and let them be regular during school hours. When they’ve repaid society, they can regain what they gave away while robbing and stealing for a thrill and quick cold hard cash.

Don’t minimize or enable people like that. It’s hard enough to do the right thing without people petting and saying it’s ok sweetie, you made a mistake.

By a reader

December 17, 2007 9:29 AM | Link to this

I’m not minimizing anything. I just don’t think the school should become involved in something that happened off premises. The school is not raising our children, we are. If they break the law, they will face legal consequences, and worse yet, consequences at home. I’m not soft, I simply disagree with your opinion that the school has any business in this situation. End of discussion for me. Have a good day.

By Cindy

December 17, 2007 9:55 AM | Link to this

You’re insisting that I said the boys should be punished by the school for the crimes. Not so, but the punishment of removing them from the team is the school’s business and responsibility.

The school is not raising our children…you’re right…we’re on the same page with this.

Thanks, you have a good day too.

By Tiny Tim

December 17, 2007 10:08 AM | Link to this

At a spring break hotel room open party in Daytona Beach, Florida, in 1971, I met the woman of my dreams. I had seen her early in a bikini on the beach, and knew I had hit the jackpot. We sat on a bed surrounded by beer hats, sandals, and close talkers. The conversation was definitely foreshadowing a long night of passion and wonder, and all I had to do was say less and less and just listen and nod in agreement, and I couldn’t possibly blow it.

She suddenly broke the spell. “I have to go.” “Why?” I was shocked, caught off my gourd, and could see my evening ending in a beer hat. “My friends are taking a walk and they need me with them.” “Cant I go?” She looked around for her foxy friend, “Hold on, let me ask…CINDY, CAN HE COME WITH US?” Cindy was holding a beer, she gave me a close once-over and nodded. Great. We went on a walk. There was hand holding, arm-arounds, the conversation involved others and it was witty and light and breezy and……suddenly Cindy was trying to open car doors as we walked along the center of the street. This went on for a while and suddenly she opened one door, grabbed the keys in the ignition, opened the trunk, and screeched in victory holding a television set. I looked at my dream date, WTF? “Cindy does this all the time. We’re lookouts, sort of.” I did some quick mental calculations about how good the sex could be with a known felon, and I continued to hold hands and walk behind Cindy who managed to glean quite a haul before we all went back to the hotel room. Then there was more sitting on the bed, surrounded by small talkers and more beer hats. Then pot went around the room, which my dream girl partook of, but finally I was all alone with her. I watched the last couple leave the room. They closed the door. Perfect. I turned to my deserved encounter, ready to ravage and plunder, and…..she was fast asleep. No joke. Completely out. I shook her arm. Nothing. I called her name aloud. zzzzz. I jumped up and down on the bed, but nothing could stir the princess from her deep drug-induced slumber. I left, and within fifteen minutes had on a full beer hat. I was foiled by a trolling stoner with sticky fingers. Sex, drugs, rock and roll will never f’n die. Sure.

I still think about that babe. You should have seen her on the beach. Brian Wilson material. The best sex I ever had was the sex I never had.

By Fred

December 17, 2007 2:30 PM | Link to this

Did someone mention Beefaroni? Hot dang. THAT would stop me if I were home invading. The only danger you would be in is if you got between me, the can of beefaroni, and the microwave……….

So what’s the other website Cindy? I’ve been booted from most respectable racing sites………….

By Fred

December 17, 2007 2:36 PM | Link to this

Tiny Tim: Good stuff lol.

By Cindy

December 17, 2007 3:31 PM | Link to this

Fred, before I give out that info, why have you been booted from the other sites? LOL…I wouldn’t want you to get booted and get me booted right along with ya. Guilt by association and all that jazz.

By Fred

December 17, 2007 5:10 PM | Link to this

Cindy: I’m rather blunt and don’t suffer fools. Haven’t you noticed? The weak willed and weak minded find that threathening. Anyone who is strong must be brought down or thrown out since they are not politically correct. Let me put it like this: Neal Boortz is more politically correct than I am.

By Cindy

December 17, 2007 5:22 PM | Link to this

well I don’t like Neal Boortz anyway :)

email me at cindun100@yahoo.com

By Love My Brazilian wife

December 17, 2007 8:07 PM | Link to this

Cindy, Fred and El Bubba…you guys are so funny and I agree with all that y’all have written. For a Brazil Nut, I’m pretty intelligent. My guilty pleasure is that I like being somewhat abrasive. Forgive me for I have sinned.

Cindy and the rest of the crew are spot on in your assesments of the situation. The thugs should be canned from all school activites and thrown to the dogs.

El Bubba, before you slay me….I like multiple elipses.

By love my Brazilian wife

December 17, 2007 8:13 PM | Link to this

El Bubba and Fred, I’m being very honest when I say this……I’m sorry for being disrespectful to the both of you. I really appreciate your input on these blogs.

Love my Brazilian Wife, better known as Russell

By Fred

December 17, 2007 8:28 PM | Link to this

You were disrespectful? Sorry, I never noticed. It’s all water off a ducks’ back dude. As I said before, just post and enjoy, if you don’t enjoy don’t post, (I thought the Brazil Nut thing was kinda funny though. You’ll have to work hard to come up with something so disgustingly clique-ish for my generic “Fred” name lol) . Not that you need MY permission……. (although we DID make that pinko, long haired, hippie dude, El Bubba fill out a back ground check with sworn affidavits before posting anymore, but he’s a different case……….)

By Cindy

December 18, 2007 8:23 AM | Link to this

What Fred forgot to mention was that even though El Bubba failed the background check and his affidavits were forged, we still welcomed him with open arms. We’re just one big happy family…including you Russell. Hey!…there’s no “I” in team!!! LOL.

Sure enough though, it was funny when El Bubba posted and said he’d been threatened and asked about a cyber police to make a report. LOL, good stuff.

P.S. Now, now…use your company manners…we don’t have to throw the thugs to the dogs. We can just “gently toss” them. Checks and balances…remember…we don’t want to be extreme…keep it between the lines…middle of the road. :)

By catlady

December 18, 2007 5:27 PM | Link to this

As a teacher, I can tell you that the attitude of “they are just children, they make mistakes and should not have consequences (except those I deem correct)” is rampant in the schools today. It starts as penny ante stuff and goes from there on up, with mama and daddy strutting and puffing about “just a child” until Little Bubba does something really heinous and then it is “Why didn’t someone do something about this? Oh, our poor family!” and the excuses you see about someone killing someone because they had a “bad childhood”. Folks, get a grip. If you take care of the small things, you probably won’t have to take care of the large things.

By Cindy

December 18, 2007 7:56 PM | Link to this

catlady, you make great points. I just have one thing to add to it…

you said If you take care of the small things, you probably won’t have to take care of the large things.

Even if you do have to take care of the large things later, you can rest well knowing you did what you could’ve and should’ve as a parent, but also everyone else realizes it too. There are bad apples…but we still have to persevere and do what we can.

Steve, sorry for hijacking your blog. But look how many posts were made as a result…well…alot of them were mine though.

Anyway…good job Steve! :)

By tc

December 26, 2007 10:41 AM | Link to this

A few years ago in Okahoma City I was a victim of ramdon garage door opening by burglars. The burglars would ride through mostly affluent neighborhoods continually hitting a garage door opener until one opened. They were successful with quite a few hits that year.