Fair warning folks, at least 2 neighborhoods in the Hagerstown/Funkstown/Boonsboro area have been hit by thieves lately, with several places hit in a single night. Being "out of the way" doesn't help. Targets of opportunity are unlocked cars, sheds, and garages. Lock it up...I know its a pain, but the alternative is more painful. At least don't make it easy on the bastards...

Damn Skippy!

Last Saturday at the funeral home, someone had their meds taken out of their car RIGHT IN THE PARKING LOT, with oodles of people milling around.

Opened the bottle, took the pills, replaced the bottle.

Ain't nothing sacred anymore?

I almost HOPE someone breaks into that old house I live in. Would be mighty interesting to see the expression on their faces when they meet my 4-legged burglar alarm. But I imagine the ensuing mess will be a bitch to clean up.

I am curious however, should my dog eat the ENTIRE theif, or do you think she should leave a little DNA behind so the perp can be identified?

Leave nothing jelsey, Just tell the police the perp barked up the wrong tree.

I imagine theres alot more thieving going on all over the place. I know that the Shannondale area over here in WV is hit all the time. Lately, it's been gas cans not locked up and ATVs. They found one that was stolen stripped and hardly reconizable. Before all this there was B&Es going on left and right. When the area is more rural it's easier to get away with alot more.

If I remember correctly, there were a string of car break-ins in the Boonsboro/South County area a few months back... Any one remember the days when we not only were we able to leave our car doors unlocked, buy our house doors as well?

I have a feeling this kind of stuff is gonna get worse before it gets better...

Well, we can do the easy stuff – lock your cars, sheds, garages, etc. A motion light. And tell your neighbors. Watch out for each other as best ya can. And hope Jels’ dog gets ‘em before they get you.

It's definately time to invest in locking gas caps if you do not have them already.

I got mine @ WalMart for around $13.

A few days later I get a call from my son, "Hey mom, that locking gas cap just fell apart in my hands, what should I do?"

Needless to say, I didn't get a free fill-up, courtesy of #1Son. The locking mechanism actually fell out of the plastic cap. Hubby stuck it back in, and there it remains.

READ THE DIRECTIONS! #1Son apparently twisted the key the WHOLE WAY AROUND and pulled out the lock. Directions printed right on the darn cap say "Turn key 1/4 turn to the left". Geez.

Anyone interested in stealing #1Son? Please?

Short story, was in my house recovering from knee surgery. Car came in the driveway, turned around, guy gets out and comes to the back door. Knocks. Im pretty doped up and do not want to get out of my recliner on crutches but do. Its a chore. I see him peering through the curtain (french door). By the time I get to a side window that was up he walks by and gets into his car, drives away. Didnt recognize him so didnt speak out. DID write down his plate # tho. Next day or two I read in the paper where a home about 2 miles away was robbed. Took guns. Called the Sheriffs and told them my story. On my plate # they put together a ring and solved several home breakins and recovered lots of goods. Couple arrests. They knock and if someone answers they need "directions" somewhere. I was lucky my TV was loud and he was not ready to kick in the door.

Very cool; nice job having the presence of mind to write down the tag number.

Mind if I ask what general area you live in? And about when this occurred?

Imagine if you had not had a TV on to spook ‘em and they had kicked in the door and found you inside. It coulda been real ugly. I was talking to a former state cop who said crooks will sometimes just knock, sometimes call you on the phone from your own back porch, then if no response, break in. Stuff like that makes me wanna consider stashing a gun or two around the house (outside the bedroom or the gun safe).

Just days before the thefts in our area there was a guy walking around the neighborhood “selling magazines”. A fast talker, no recognizable organization he was with. Maybe related, maybe not. Also earlier that same day a silver colored older Mercedes driving around and did not seem to “belong”. Who knows if it was related.

I agreee, you were lucky.

And SMART to get the plate #.

I prolly would have gone out, said "What the hell are you doing in my BACK yard", and gotten shot.

Then my dog would have eaten ME!

I wont say where or when except Im in Md. and the tag proved to belong to a woman in WV. and caught the investigators by total suprise. After they looked at her they found the jackpot.