Apt. Burglarized on St. Johns

jarvis · August 2012

Just a heads up: my good friend's apartment was broken into, ransacked and robbed on St. Johns btw Underhill and Wash last week.

They came in through the inner courtyard window which is two levels up from the ground. While they were in there, they broke a key off in the lock to prevent anyone from coming in the front door. They took jewelry, a camera, a TV and a lot of my friend's clothing as well as some other stuff (though they left 2 laptops). The burglars were a young black couple (male/female) and it happened around 4pm. They put everything into laundry bags and bed sheets (which they also stole) and walked right out the front door and down the street when they were done.

People in the building saw them leaving but assumed they were just friends or out-of-town guests who were on their way to do laundry. It was, clearly, a massive headache and violation for my friend and her roommate. To say the police response was lackluster would be extremely generous, but they did manage to get some prints from the scene. Be mindful of your windows -- theirs was very high off the ground but was open.. the screen was slashed and they got in pretty easily and undetected.

bkchickie · August 2012

Sorry for your friend.

Did the burglars also need to get into the locked courtyard, or was that unsecured? How were they able to climb up? Did they have a ladder?

jarvis · August 2012

The courtyard is closed to the street but accessible from the building and roofs (rooves?) around it. As for how they got up there.. not sure. She is guessing that the dude may have boosted the girl and then she walked around and let him in the front door.

paraderest · August 2012

LOCK YOUR WINDOWS!

hurricanekate · August 2012

I will say this only once. When I step out to get of my apt. for 10 MINS. to buy milk/coffee, I shut/lock everything. I am on ground floor and parlor floor with two other persons. We never take chances. And I live on the Parkway!

I am kind of tired and frustrated to hear of break-ins on this site. I have been living here for 10 years - regardless - anywhere in the world, if you live anywhere that could possibly tempt anyone to break in, it is your failing. Just think like a robber, they are twice as smart, sometimes, and will take more chances than the rest of us. Lock doors, close windows, leave valuables in apt. not cars parked on the street, bikes indoors, not chained outside. I could go on, but I am beginning to feel very less sympathetic to people who are feel they are exempt from any crime that may happen in their insular minds.

Enough said.

I don't want to sound insulting or angry...but this will continue if people aren't "vigilant" - yes, an old fashioned word, but a descriptive one.

jarvis · August 2012

I could go on, but I am beginning to feel very less sympathetic to people who are feel they are exempt from any crime that may happen in their insular minds.

Enough said.

I don't want to sound insulting or angry...

I'll just assume folks see the irony in this and move on.

It was posted as a heads-up to the community, if you're not interested, no worries. I hope it never happens to you. And for the record.. both my friend and I have been here *a lot* longer than 10 years, though it's hardly relevant to this topic.

bkchickie · August 2012

I see this post as a reminder to be vigilant. Just a second reminder: I always lock my windows, and that was no guarantee. When I had my break in, the person just broke the locked window he wanted to use. So, in addition to dealing with my missing stuff (covered by insurance) I had to deal with closing and securing a broken window sash in the winter. If someone wants to get it, that person will get in, but why make it easy?

Apt. Burglarized on St. Johns

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