Sad but true. You don't want to find out the hard way that not everyone is trustworthy!
SECURITY ALERT
Victor and Dwaine, I couldn't agree more. Many (MANY!) years ago I was married to a cop (child bride, ha ha!) and learned not to be so trusting. There will always be those looking to take advantage of us and are very creative in doing so. People have to make their own decisions, but must be aware that you NEVER KNOW when or where we may be victimized. Not everything comes right up to our windows and doors.
Thanks for the thread. It's good to remind everyone (especially me) ocassionally about being more careful on the web. I too often just think about my friends at DG and forget there are thousands of strangers. Eleanor
i am not sure how many thousands of people live in New Haven, but it seems unlikely anyone is going to find me just because my city is listed under my username.
My last name does not appear publicly here. My address is not in the exchange.
So an opportunistic person would be unlikely to find me, and someone who was looking for me specifically could find me way easier than being a member of DG.
Our area of town has the homes built very close together. During this time of year, too, we get the 'summer complaints'. So each one of us in the neighborhood kinda looks out for the other.
You all are going to think I'm some kind of security nut! But besides what I told you before, I also had an incident happen which became part of a larger thing.
When my kids were small and hubby was working, a man call edin the afternoon and asked for hubby by name. I told him that I could take a message and he left a name. Hubby didn't recognize it, and the man didn't call back again for about another 4 weeks or so. Same thing: he'd call and ask for hubby. This went on for a while and I asked where he knew DH from and he said, "Town" or something to that effect, but wouldn't call when he was home in the evening.
One day, I was on the phone with a friend and she got another call. She put me on hold while she answered and when she returned, told me it was a man asking for her husband and the name he gave her was the same as the man who'd been calling my home! To make a VERY long story short, the next time he called my house, I pressed him to find out why he was calling since my husband didn't remember him. He said, " You live at ---- ---- -----, right?" I realized the man had my address and asked him what he wanted. He said, "Don't worry, I won't hurt you!" Bang! I ran around the house, locked every door and called my husband. He told me to call the police and then call a locksmith. We installed deadbolts and the police took a report. They said if the guy called again, the could put a trap on the phone.
I will speed this up. My friend did have a trap on her phone and would engage the guy in conversation. One night when I was working, a detective called and asked if I wanted to swear out a complaint against this guy because they were going to arrest him and needed as many reports about his calls as they could get. I did, and they did. It turns out he was a coach(?) from the town soccer league who got a hold of a roster with my kid's name on it. My friend's daughter was also on the same team and that's why she was getting calls, too. He had our husband's names, our phone numbers and also our addresses. He would make the calls to women home in the afternoon (when men were working) from his job in the city. His wife was the head of the local PTA and he had 3 daughters who attended the same elementary school as my kids. He targeted quite a few women, and was getting bold with what he would say to some of them, from what my friend and the police told me. I was lucky. I saw his obituary a few weeks after his arrest.
You don't know who has access to what, and how it will be used.
Wow - must have been scary, Lynn.
It was pretty creepy. I'm glad so many people feel secure where they are - I did, too once upon a time! But as I said before, you don't know who has access to what, and how they will use the information. I'm sure there are people who know ways to get information that the average person would never dream of. I'd rather err on the side of caution. There are a lot of unscrupulous, nutty and dangerous people! I wish there wasn't!
They do and it really does not take a genius to quickly gather info.
That is very true Victor. I used to do collections for delinquent student loan payments and I was amazed at how much info I could find quite easily. That was in the early 80's!!! I can't imagine how easy it is now!
Speaking of obituaries, while making arrangements for a loved one's funeral a funeral director advised me not to post the announcement in the newspaper. Seems a previous client of his posted the announcement with too much info, including the times of the viewing. A 'crew' of thieves consequently cleaned out the deceased' home during viewing hours, which he had made public.
Ouch! Funny episode of the Odd Couple where Oscar says he is going to find an apartment the way everyone in NYC does - check the obituaries!
Lynn, that's totally creepy. Gives me chills. How did he die?
Lonely heart??
The guy committed suicide. Since he was making the calls from his work phone, they either demoted him or removed him from his position and required that he get help. I couldn't believe some of the stories from the police and my friend. I'm telling you, I was very lucky. And not all the moms from my son's team were being called. He was also calling moms from other teams as well. Sicko. I felt bad for his wife and kids.
I am kind of a chicken, and won't answer the door on Halloween if I am home alone. You never know. I ask DH to stay home that night. I'm nervous to answer the door at anytime when I'm home alone.
That is terrible, Lynn. When you have kids, all this stuff gets multiplied by 100. Especially with the internet. Just can't believe how much latitude parents give their kids online.
Good idea, Deb.
Yeah, I thought it was suicide. ((still shivering))
You heard of it, Harp?
Not saying this because I'm not concerned about safety. I will say this much, unless it was a child that is, if anyone was to try to enter my property, or even come onto my front porch and Paul and I weren't home, they would definitely meet about 85lbs of white fur, and large teeth...that is if they were stupid enough to enter the home in the first place.
If it was/were children, the 85lbs of white fur would lick them to death.
I never go on vacation, so there is that. The last time I went away-away, was to the Fall RU....honest.
I really thing I have to many nosey neighbors for anything to happen here without it being on the front page of the newspaper.
This all goes back to what Dwaine was trying to tell all of us - although my stories happened anywhere from present to 15 years ago, today's technology presents a whole new set of security problems that few of us can anticipate. It doesn't hurt to take precautions and only give information to those we know, or think we know. Even if you know someone (or in my last story think the info is in a safe place), there are others out there more than willing to take advantage for their own purposes.
Thank you Dwaine for bringing this up: and thank you Victor for reinforcing it!
- Lynn
Edit:
With all due respect to those with dogs and threatening people in their lives, anyone who has ulterior motives that do not require them to step a foot on your property, can and WILL take advantage of you. And often it will not be apparent until after the damage has been done. I have had more than my share and would still err on the side of caution whenever possible. the alternatives are just not worth it!
This message was edited Jun 30, 2008 6:47 PM
No problem. As I have said, I have been reminding people about this for quite a while now. Much is inadvertent. A mention of a street or nearby landmark. Some people post garden photos and the address can be made out. People say what time they put the kids on the bus, etc.
Amen!
And as you said - it's not just physical safety, but ID theft, etc.
No Vic. I just guessed that it was suicide since Lynn said she read his obit so soon after he was caught.
This has been a healthy discussion. I'm happy to be made a bit more aware from all the comments too.