Is anyone out there tonight? When I got home tonight there was an intruder in my house. I saw that things were missing, but I didn't realize anyone was still here. He was upstairs and when I called the police he jumped out the window and dropped to the ground and ran away. I live all alone out in the middle of nowhere. It took the deputy almost an hour to get to my house. He left a little while ago (the deputy) and I'm all alone again. It's quiet now, but I'm scared. I think the intruder was probably my evil half-brother and I'm SOOO afraid of him! What if he comes back? I'm too afraid to go to sleep and I can't call anyone. It's almost 3 in the morning!

I hate to sound so pathetic, but I feel so alone right now! Please, is there someone in the world who's awake out there to talk to me? Pleas?

Bless your heart!! Stupid question but i have to ask, you double check the doors and windows, make sure their locked??

Thanks for answering me! I hate to say it, but I don't even HAVE locks. This house is probably over 150 years old and it wasn't designed for them. I have latches on the back doors, and I've locked the door to the upstairs so if someone gets in through the window they can't get down here, but I can't even figure out how to put a lock on the front door. Believe me, I've been trying!

Is this guy someone that WOULD break back in on you knowing you're there? Do you think he has tendency to hurt you?

Awwww I'm so sorry! Stay strong and make sure you have your ears peeled and pray! Do you have an animal like a dog or anything?

Or a gun, or a baseball bat will work nicely if needed.

if you have a cordless phone or a cell phone, keep it with you. If the intruder comes back you can try to lock yourself in somewhere and call the cops again. good luck, and stay safe.

Honestly, I think he's more likely to run as far as he can. I do worry that he'll come back when I'm not here and finish cleaning me out and most of all I'll worry that he'll hurt my animals to get back at me for calling the police. He lived with me for about a year after our mother died (we're both adults, for the record; I'm almost forty-two and he's fifty-three). He was not physically abusive to me (though he was to others and has been charged with aggravated assault at least twice), but he's abusive in other ways and he's always stolen anything I had that he wanted or thought he could sell. The reason I never threw him out was because I was afraid he'd come back and hurt my cats when I was at work. He finally left about six years ago. I don't know exactly why except that he was apparently wanted by the police at that time. While he was living here we got raided by the state police once looking for a meth lab and shortly after he left several of his closest associates were arrested on drug charges.

For the record, we are NOT alike. I'm not involved with drugs at all.

Thanks for the replies, everybody! You're making me feel better just by being out there.

Get a large dog maybe? or 2 or 3? My grandmother is like 85, she lives alone out in the country, but she has 3 BIG dogs and she keeps a shotgun handy Nobody messes with my grandma hehe.

No, I didn't get that impression you were on anything, but it certainly did that he was. His sole reason for breaking into your house I imagine. We see this crap all the time.
Messed up that he has so many issues you're afraid he'd hurt your animals, too. Just Pathetic.

I know you already know this, but after tonight what's the chances you may get some locks on those doors? I mean, it's your safety here.

Actually, I have three big dogs, including a rottweiler. Apparently they just showed him around. They did bark at the deputy, though.

Im sure this guy is gone by now especially if you called the cops sounds like you live in a secluded area an hour well should keep your phone close find something to defend yourself with might make you feel safer living out so far its best to keep something around for home defense 12 gauge is always a fav.

One night I awoke to three guys breaking into my backdoor. They had literally peeled the thing open and was coming in. I heard what was going on, got up and saw their shadows from the outside light attempting to crawl underneath that peeled area. My heart was in my throat. I was here all alone, and on 24 acres of woods by myself. No one could hear me scream. My instincts was to start banging on the wall as hard as I could. I did, and i guess this startled them, or they didn't realize anyone was here.
Well, I went to Atlanta that week and bought my first Rott. That was few years ago, now I got 3. One in front, one in the back, and One in here with me. Needless to say, I don't have that problem anymore.

Definitely going to try again to get some kind of lock on the front door. I can latch the other two from inside. It's just that it's such an old door, it's too thin to install the kind that you have to drill into it for (deadbolt, you know?) and the way it's set into the door frame makes it hard to put any other kind of lock. I hate being afraid again like this. I lived like this when he was here all the time and it's not a time of my life I want to go back to.

BAD DOGGIES!! isn't it nice when your friends leave ya hanging? Our dogs are the same way lol

bless your heart.. yea, One of mine is that way too. That's why he stays in here with me. Wimp, but he looks like he'd do some damage. When folks ask "is he mean" I always say "yea, he'll tear your head off." PFFFT. yea riiiiight..

I got a 40 cal. S&W I sleep with the thing. That's my resolution.

Gosh no it isn't, honey. His problems are not your own, nor should you have to paying for his ****. --

you could always do the old "wooden beam set in hooks" deal like they used to in the old days. Or maybe a chain lock, you know the ones that slide into a catch, the door only opens a few inches and the chain stops it.(for the life of me I can't remember what they're called )

I'm thinking of getting a couple of cheap web cams and putting them up where they're obvious just inside the door and putting a big sign on the door that says "SMILE! YOU'RE ON LIVE WEB CAM AT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT!" If he's like he was seven years ago, he's not smart enough to know it was a lie and he's paranoid enough to be frightened away. I hope.

Evil half brother sounds indeed pathethic and like a cheap horrormovie, but maybe you should turn the lights on and watch some tv, while the house is iluminated to the fullest.

i hope yoi are feeling better.. if i were you i'd look to be installing new external doors.. the solid kind, not the internal ones that are hollow.. the newer door come with great locking devises too.

slave.. those locks are called chain locks.. they are pretty useless and are easily broken.. especially if the doors and frames arent sturdy enough to have them bolted to them.

best of luck elf. im sure your dogs will be taking great care and watching out for you.. never underestimate your pets and the love and protection they have for their owners

Hi Tigger! Thanks for the advice.

chain locks LOL (slaps forehead)

True they aren't worth much, I was merely suggesting them as an alternative to nothing.

Turn up the TV or music loud. That kinda helps for some people.

WOW, this is way off topic, but I just had deja vu about this thread for some reason

I'm too freaked to listen to music or watch anything (and, besides, all my DVDs are gone! ). I'm afraid I won't hear something outside.

And deja vu is always interesting. Do you have it often?

No, I don't usually have it often. Its always weird when it happens, and for some reason its always little things like parts of conversation, or like posting in this thread.

you still there Elf? you're making me nervous when you don't reply.

Sorry! I'm here! I couldn't think of anything to say.

(((Elfstone)))), OMG I'm so sorry this happened to you. Are you saying the person that did this was your brother?? Sorry if I've missed something or got the wrong end of the stick.

Reg -x-

Good hehe I'm glad your still with us

Thanks for worrying about me!

Hi Reg! Yes, I *think* it was probably my half-brother. I could be wrong, but it's just the sort of thing he's always done.

I think getting your security tightened is a good idea, though the fact he jumped out of the window and legged it, kind of shows he didn't intend to hurt you physically.

I bet it scared you out of your wits though.

Oh my goodness, you must have been so frightened...I agree with having a new door put on, and possibly getting some kind of an alarm system put in. I know they can be expensive, but it may be worth looking into...

I'm with goalie on this one.....

An alarm will do the trick, maybe you can buy it and pay it back in instalments.....Did you report your half-brother to the police ??

What if you took an AVO against him ?? Would it make matters worse maybe ??

Aw, i'm sorry. What an awful thing to happen. Scary and invasive.

Definitely get locks. They don't cost much relative to the emotional pain of having an intruder.

I can see that you're a kitty person but... there are lots of dogs that get along great with kitties! Having a dog means you don't have to worry about being surprised by intruders. If anyone's in the house who doesn't belong there, the dog will bark it's head off. When your friends come over you tell the dog they're OK and the dog will accept them (even come to like them), provided it's not a neurotic animal.

Hi guys! Thanks to everyone who's been helping me get through the night more or less sane. I had to go offline and call out another deputy because my dogs all went nuts and started chasing down through the field towards the road. She (the deputy) checked out that area but didn't find anything. And now one of the dogs is going nuts again and I don't want to call in another alarm. Hell, I almost hope he is still hiding in the woods somewhere. The dispatcher told me there's a really heavy rainstorm headed this way.

No problem Elf take care, and stay safe.


PS. hopefully your dogs will keep anyone away

Sorry to hear what's happened to you. Maybe it's time to get new doors and locks? Or a burglar alarm?

lol do they even sell those anymore

Hey Elf, I'm serious about you looking into an alarm system, and as (((MUM))) said you may be able to make payments...The system protects every entry in your home, including windows, with an alarm going right to the security company if anything goes wrong in your house. If your life is going to continue being upside down it definitely won't hurt to look into it...

Elf, I'm sorry this is happening to you, especially if it's someone who knows you, and your house... and apparently your dogs because it gives him an advantage. Although I see the overall wisdom of an alarm, given that you live so secluded the shotgun, even if only filed with salt crystals may be a better option for you, since you may have to deal with anyone attempting a break-in for a while before police shows up.

Thanks for all the advice, everyone.

The problem with alarms is that my house is very old and in poor condition. I've been trying for some time to get into a position to afford some other living arrangements (even if it's a small house trailer, which I generally hate and they seem to attract tornadoes!) It's not going to happen in the immediate future, though, I'm afraid. With gas prices so high, just driving to work and back is eating up every extra penny I can make, it seems.

The problem with a gun, of course, is that he (whoever, whether I'm right about it being my brother or not) showed up while I was gone. I'd have been unlikely to carry a gun around in the car with me, so if I'd had one I still wouldn't have had it -- the intruder would.

It's full daylight now and the dogs have settled down (knock wood!). I'm going to try to unwind a little. In another hour or so I figure I'll start calling all the places around here that buy second-hand DVDs and CDs and computer equipment and ask them to keep an eye out for someone trying to sell my things.

I really didn't think I needed locks, since I have dogs and since I have very little that is worth stealing. I guess now I have even less.

Thanks again, everyone, for the moral support! I really was a basket case, sitting out here alone in the night imagining what could happen. Just having other human beings to connect with was a lifesaver!

I am sorry this happen to you. I agree with those who said to get an alarm, I have a friend who is disabled and she has one. She loves it, she says it is like having someone there to help if you need it. Guns are not always a good thing, if the intruder finds the gun before you it can make things worse, also you have to be prepared to use it with out hesitation. I would also think about getting an injunction on your half-bother so if he comes near you he can be arrested.
Take care
DW

The problem with a gun of course, is that you claimed your half brother would be unlikely to do any physical harm to you. Which makes a gun useless, since they are used in self defense. What astounds me is that you have been living in a 150 year old house by yourself with no locks for quite some time, presumably in the middle of nowhere. 

Sorry to hear about the intrusion, I'd suggest you invest in wrought iron protection and install them on your windows. A gun is also a great idea, a shotgun is a big cliche in home defense but that's because it's the best there is for home defense ... they're pretty cheap at around $200. Also a dog is a great idea, better yet, get 2 or 3, they're awesome company and will protect you regardless of anything [I'm talking about a guard dog like a Rottweiler, German Shepherd, Doberman, etc.], and finally you could invest in iron doors.

Hope you're ok and it'll stay that way.