May-07-2008
http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=6493133&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1
It could have been worse. Thankfully, this home invader decided to leave when the woman's children showed up. It's not clear what his motive was, nor do we have any idea what he would have done if he thought he was alone with the woman. Pretty scary for her.
Bloomington police say the man entered the home at West 68th Street and Pine Hill Road around 5:00 p.m. He grabbed the woman as she was standing at the kitchen sink. The woman’s children came into the kitchen, startling the intruder, who threw the woman to the ground and ran out of the house.
Since she was standing by the sink, apparently not on alert, and the invader is not reported as an acquaintance [who might have had a key], it seems likely that a door was unlocked.
Princewally and I are pretty tired of repeating this: Keep your doors locked!
We're really not trying to fear-monger; but is seems like such a simple step that many, many people don't take to provide a first layer of physical security when in the house.
Yes, it's a bit inconvenient. But safer and inconvenient seems like a reasonable tradeoff to me.
And, yes, there's the risk of locking yourself out. You can avoid this in one of a couple ways among others:
- keep a key on a carabiner latched to your belt or clothing at all times awake [and dressed :)]
- install a real estate grade combo lock box in an inconspicuous location outside with a spare key in it
