In the very recent past on Cross Spring:
* 2 homes have been broken into (through locked doors) while entire families, were home. Both of these happened in the early evening, last time of day you would expect someone to break in.
* 1 woman came home from work to find her back sliding glass door broken and two people jumping her back fence.
* 1 car had it's tires stolen while parked in their own driveway overnight.
* Today, a couple had their outdoor umbrella stolen off their deck, while they were inside with their 3 dogs, in the middle of the day.
These thieves are very brazen, entering homes in broad daylight with families at home. Yet they are very quick on the getaway, no one has seen their faces, and only the one saw even their backs. They know how to pick locks, because the first two home mentioned were entered through doors that were definitely locked and they are capable of jumping fences quickly, and quietly. The home with the umbrella, like all homes in this neighborhood, had a six foot fence with a gate that was locked.
I you have been, or know of anyone else who has been, a victim of this sort, please post it here. We'd like to get a clear idea of how much of this crime is happening throughout our neighborhood, and we'd like to start a neighborhood watch.
We need to catch and stop them.
If you see anyone that you don't recognize, or who looks suspicious, take notes, literally. A man was parked outside my house and when my neighbor stepped out on her porch and glared at him long enough, he finally rolled his window down and asked if she knew when "this guy" would be home. My neighbor, being quick witted, replied with, "I don't know what you're talking about, my aunt and uncle live there!" He rolled up the window and drove away. I might have escaped a break-in because of that. I certainly wasn't expecting anyone, nor did I hear from anyone who had been looking for me.
Be smart, take nothing for granted, and watch out for your neighbors.