If I've already shared this, forgive the double-share, but...the summer between 8th and 9th grade, two girls from my school both had their throats slahed during a robbery. No major ateries severed, and both lived and returned in the fall, where they endured much head-craning to see the scars. I didn;t especially like either of the girls, but I always felt bad for the curiousity they had to endure, and always being the "thoat cut girls."

Ugh. I can't even imagine.

I'm always paranoid about someone getting into my apartment. I lock the door every time I leave, even if I'm just taking out the trash. The big patio door worries me, but there's not a lot I can do.

Having been mugged inside my apt. after I left the door open to go get a 2nd load of groceries out of the car, I am vigilant about the door locking. And I like having only one door...with a secured entryway. And I now live in a VERY high traffic area. I feel pretty safe.

Patio door? I'd string bells all over that fucker, and I'm not joking. I like to leave my window cracked for the kitties, but I have lots of breakable shit scattered on the sills, and bells and clangy windchimes hanging from them. Anyone can get in; I really can't do much to stop that, if they're determined. But I'll fucking KNOW it.

OK, I've said a lot of nasty things about Utah, but I'm trying to think when the last time was that I locked the front door of my house. And I'd have to test the keys to figure out which one is for that lock.

I love my dogs. They are not big but they do put up a good bark when strangers come over so I know they'd put off all but the most determined or desperate criminals.

I like having only one door...with a secured entryway.

I would like that; that's one of the things I'm going to look for in my next apartment. I have a front door and a kitchen door and the 16 feet of glass at the patio, and I'm on the ground floor. I like the idea of stringing bells over it; I never open it anyway. But I worry more about someone coming in it while I'm away. I come in the kitchen door, because it's by the parking lot, and I'd never know if someone was in the apartment until too late. If I came in by the front door, if they'd not obviously broken the patio door I wouldn't know, and they could hide in the hall. It's just not a good setup. And, I can't have animals. There is a fake alarm sticker in the kitchen door, though; maybe that would deter someone.

Sliding glass door, Zen? You can put broomstick or dowel between the slidy part and the wall so it can't be opened. it can still be broken, of course, but you'd notice that right away.

Edited because I hadn't read carefully enough. Maybe not right away, but it wouldn't be a stealthy move.

One time while my brother was still living with me, he left for work and neglected to lock the door. Or even close it. I got home to find it gaping open. No one had entered, nothing missing. I like our neighbourhood.

GC, I'm so sorry about the cavaties! I had to get five the last time I went to the dentist (though those were mostly to replace old sealants), and it was no fun. Sorry, love.

Raq, I still can't believe that story. Thank goodness they are all right, but I can't even imagine how difficult that trauma will be to move on from.

Sliding glass door, Zen? You can put broomstick or dowel between the slidy part and the wall so it can't be opened. it can still be broken, of course, but you'd notice that right away.

Yep, this and Erin's idea about the bells/chimes are a good combo.

I love my dogs. They are not big but they do put up a good bark when strangers come over so I know they'd put off all but the most determined or desperate criminals.

Sigh. Miss my dogs so much.

So I left school the second I could today to come home. It was a good day--we had two professional Shakespearean actors in to work with the ninth-graders. They're a married couple IRL and played M and Lady M beautifully. Still. For some reason, I was utterly wiped out by the end of the day and couldn't wait to come home, change into my sweats, and flop on the couch. We shall not speak of the Grading that Shall Not Be Named.

I have an old shovel handle in the slider. It is a little short of the entire length, so I can leave it open for air, but not big enough for an adult to get in . My windows - which also are slide style have similar things - not dowels but little block with a bolt. Nothing will stop a detirmined person, but anything that will slow people down, force them to make noise, etc - is a good thing. I always lock the door, - which i sn't the case for everyone I know in my area.

I should do the dowel thing. I just figured it wasn't worth it because the glass could be broken. But it's true, that would take time and make noise.

I'm a weird combination of paranoia and hopeless fatalism.

Do the dowel thing- burglars and other criminals are just just like the rest of us - they look for the easy way