A four-year-old girl witnessed two young men break into her home to commit a robbery. You'd think this would cause some kind of post-traumatic stress disorder, or at least at a minimum, nightmares.
But it looks like instead, Abby Dean of Washington, WI, will have dreams of flying around with a cape and rescuing people. That's because her accurate description led to a confession by the thieves.
She was with her 17-year-old babysitter when it happened. The men told the girls to leave so that they could steal valuables. And they took off with computer devices and a small amount of cash.
The teenager told police that the burglars were black, and that one resembled the next-door neighbor. The cops took the neighbor away for questioning.
But Abby insisted that the crooks were white. Soon, the babysitter's story wasn't adding up very well. Eventually, the teen confessed that the robbers were her teen boyfriend and his buddy. The trio had plotted the crime. The stolen goods were returned. Abby stated, "They got it back because of me being the superhero."
How do you prevent a crime like this?
- You can't beat security cameras. A surveillance system can alert a homeowner with a text or phone call, plus set off additional lighting or loud noises-not to mention provide a visual of the intruder.
- Don't worry about cost. The system will add value to your house. Furthermore, your homeowner's insurance might give a discount if you have a solid security system.
- Some surveillance systems allow the homeowner to watch what's going on in real time; Dropcam is such a system.
- The mere sight of a camera is a proven deterrent to burglaries and home invasions.
But suppose someone breaks in while you're home and doesn't care that cameras are on him. This is video evidence that will be extremely valuable in court.
Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist to BestHomeSecurityCompanys.com discussingburglar proofing your home on Fox Boston. Disclosures.
