I just heard someone scream "CALL THE COPS" and caught people fleeing [ongoing] - General

I'm getting too old for this shit, people keep using the firetruck turn around outside my house to case the neighborhood, and I keep calling the cops on them. This time I was too late, they committed the crime and ran several blocks to the get away car. I got their description down to their shoe brand, the year make model AND color of the car, as well as confirming the gender rough age and race of the driver. I wish I got plates, the cops just showed up at the victims house and there's screaming and crying going on that I can hear from about 250 meters away. I think I'm about to have a really long night.

Call the police and tell them over the phone that youd like to submit a tip. Good luck.

well, what did they do?

So it was a home invasion that went wrong and somebody got hurt in the process, whoever committed the crime ran about 2 blocks to the getaway car, and they were really slogging down my street (nobody runs on my street at midnight, obviously) nearly tripping over themeselves to keep going. That's when I got a good look at them, the driver, and the car. I even managed to get really shit cellphone video of them leaving to confirm the vehicle, so I'm bringing a copy to the PD right now after I finish typing this. The response time was lightning fast, several cop cars, a firetruck, and an ambulance all arrived within 5 minutes from me making the call, and that ambulance was in and out like a flash, so somebody was definitely taken to emergency care at the minimum. I guess I'm not really allowed to say, "there's no point in worrying, I live in a nice neighborhood" anymore.

things like that can happen anywhere

If you don't mind me asking, where do you live city/state wise?

I recommend purchasing some security cameras, hell even a Ring doorbell. You can go all out with the complex ones or they now make easy wireless consumer ones.

i mean thives can just put something over the cameras. also most burglars are not deterred just from seeing a camera, likely they'll think you have something of value or that you are paranoid

That's highly situational. It depends where he puts the camera, whether hidden or blatant. And some thieves are just plain stupid. A few days ago the local news around me put a man's face on the TV who robbed a bank asking for any tips because he walked into the bank with no hat, no glasses, no facial hair or any disguise. And that was for robbing a place everyone knows has cameras. Either way, cameras are a reactive measure - they don't stop crime, merely help afterward. A more proactive measure would be investing in very good deadbolt locks and planting thorny bushes under all windows.

there are many safety precautions to take, but if a group of thieves wants to get in its not gonna be all too difficult. A storage nearby with thick security doors and no windows, cameras as well as an alarm was burglarized a couple of weeks ago. Thorny bushes surely wont accomplish much considering a burglar will wear clothes

Your mentality of "well criminals are going to commit crimes anyway so there's no point in investing in security" is a bit misguided. Security systems aren't entirely designed to stop criminals. That's only part of the equation. The other part includes catching the criminals in the act and making it easier for authorities to identify and arrest the suspect. Also, thorny bushes can help by leaving cuts, potentially leaving evidence including blood. It's rare but it can help.

Oh no i'm all for safety and I feel very strongly about people who commit crimes like that, I would love to get them stopped at all costs and I do agree with you're saying. I'm just saying burglars aren't deterred as easily as some people seem to think. It's not like you bang up some thorny bushes and an alarm system and now suddenly theres a 0% chance a burglar will enter your house, that's what im trying to say. Every single safety precausion you take is a good one.

You said cameras wouldn't be preventive against a burglar, I agreed, and posted some measures that could help better - not absolutely. Nothing is fool proof. That's why I said "a more proactive measure would be planting thorny bushes below windows". What I did not say was "a definite protection would be..." Thorny bushes alone under windows won't mean much if the windows aren't locked either. I sincerely doubt anyone could make their homes 100% security proof, but working up toward 90% is a helluva lot better than staying at 0% because "if a thief really wants in, he'll get in".

I mean that whole bush thing i doubt it, if anything it keeps the burglar protected because they can hide behind them and not be seen. nothing is foolproof you're right. and no one said anything about a definite protection. not you, not me. And if you agree that nothing is foolproof then if a thief wants to get in he will get in, thats an argument made with your logic ;)

I used to say it in jest more than anything, now I just can't say it at all. There's no news reports on the incident and the police blotter hasn't been updated either, so beats the shit outta me as to where this whole situation is headed. I suppose the discussion to be had here is to always be prepared.

Unfortunately, I've been through the "I live in a nice neighborhood and bad things will never happen to me" after I personally experienced both a home invasion AND our cars got broken into, then our neighbor's house got broken into by a drug addict trying to feed their addiction, all of this happened in less than one year, it really shows that even in the best of neighborhoods, you can be a target. My sympathy to the people involved, I hope everyone is alright. I can say from experience that it'll take a while to be able to sleep comfortably again, and it's important to make sure that you set up a support network to help you get through this. Best of luck to you, if you want any advice on how I got through it, you can always PM me.

I don't need anything because the justification for my previous paranoia is reassuring enough as it is, all I know is getting the exterior camera system set up is now the top priority. I'm going to get 2 cams focused on the same spot on the street, but one zoomed in to try and get plates specifically. As far as home defense goes, Burt Gummer has been my life long role model and spirit animal, so I don't think I have much to worry about other than the Precambrian Caederus Americana.

Same shit started going down in my neighborhood. Hood kids from south side Chicago will steal cars down there, drive them up here, cause crimes/steal shit here and just ditch the car if they get caught. It's annoying as hell having that sort of crime pop up out of nowhere since it's not even the actual residents committing it.