BELFAST, Maine — A series of burglaries and thefts in the downtown residential area on Wednesday and Thursday nights has police worried, given the nature of the acts.
Belfast Police Chief Mike McFadden said Sunday that perpetrators are entering the homes while residents are asleep inside. In at least one case, items were taken from the bedroom in which residents slept.
“The people that are breaking into these places are really brazen,” McFadden said, “and are sneaking around fairly stealthily,” without waking the residents, in most cases.
The Wednesday night burglaries were reported in the Ocean Street area near the Penobscot Bay shore.
Four more such burglaries were reported Friday. They are believed to have occurred Thursday night in the area McFadden described as closer to “the heart of the downtown.” He would not name the streets where the victims lived. In three of the four, the residents were home when the burglaries took place.
The burglars are gaining entrance through locked and unlocked doors and windows, he said.
McFadden urged residents to lock their doors and windows, leave outside lights on and keep a telephone in the bedroom to summon police if needed. He also urged residents not to confront or chase the perpetrators as one resident did. It is not known whether they are armed, he said.
“These things are still going on,” the chief said, and urged residents to be vigilant.
Neighbors to one of the victims heard their dogs bark on the night of one of the burglaries, McFadden said, which they said was unusual. The chief said if residents experience similar warnings or hears unusual sounds, they should call 911.
Anyone with information about the break-ins can call police at 338-2420.
Freaking scary…..
Put up some security cameras
Besides having some entertaining footage to watch on TV, what good do cameras do? If you’re asleep, nobody is watching them, and if the burglars do something as simple as wearing a hat and not looking directly at the camera, the grainy IR images won’t do much to identify them. Motion sensing lights and a noisy dog/alarm are much better protection, of course backed up by a handgun or shotgun kept close at hand. There’s just something about the hollow thunk of a 12 gauge shotgun shell being chambered…..
Actually you are totally wrong we have cameras in our house that have an alarm setup so that if somebody walks by them it sends an email. Even at night it’s clear to identify the person oh and by the way these security cameras that were purchased off eBay for less then $100.
Wrong about what? Actually I mentioned that alarms are useful, particularly very noisy alarms. Cameras alone won’t do anything to warn you unless you plan to stay up all night staring at the screen, and even after the fact, unless the burglar has used no disguise and stared right into the camera, they don’t tell you much that you don’t already know, “somebody” broke in and stole your stuff.
we have cameras at our house and businesses. Got them off Ebay for $99.99 best cameras around, better than rite aid. They were able to identify the person who stole my daughters bike within five minutes once they saw the picture
They really work great
Double tap !!
I bet their observing these places and staying away from homes with dogs. Get a dog and a shot gun. Even fake security cameras are a cheap deterant.
Share your bed with Smith & Wesson
As ” Scarface”said : “Meet my little friend”.
In addition to keeping your doors and windows locked with an outside light on,ARM YOURSELVES!
Amen, Brother!
Keep a gun ready for these thieves, time to step up and protect what’s yours. Be carefully though, a former police chief told me years
ago, if they get shot and are not inside then drag them inside or you are at fault.
If the law would allow us to shoot a few of them….the others might think twice before breaking into someone home. Those that a caught should do five years at MSP and not thirty days at the county jail, if any time at all.
The use of deadly force is justifiable if the person utilizing said deadly force is in fear of the imminent loss of their own life or that of another, and said person is using deadly force in the pursuit of the preservation of said life.
This is a determination which is made in the person using deadly force’s mind. It is not subjective, rather it’s justification is based upon reasonableness, which, arguably is….subjective.
The bottom line; You MUST be in fear of losing your life, or in fear of another person losing theirs, before deadly force is justified.
So, a person breaks into your house, with you and your children inside sleeping. It’s dark, you hear a noise near your child’s bedroom. You know of people killed in their homes by junkies looking to fund their next fix. You are afraid/angry, what could happen if your child wakes up?
Need I go on?
If you justifiably shoot someone in your home and they manage to make it outside, do not and you should not drag them back inside! Frankly doing so is stupid and will do nothing other than cloud the justification of your use of deadly force.
This is not Hollywood, people do not clutch themselves theatrically and fall down to die immediately after being shot, even mortally wounded people can manage to move quite some distance, it’s not at all unusual, or uncommon. The Police know this.
Also at night gives more justification for the use of deadly force in your home. That’s why you triple tap; two in the body and one in the head makes your opponent good and dead. Repeat as many times as necessary.
Besides locking windows and doors, Alarms on these two places would really be a good idea. I agree with them getting armed and ready. I would assume that anyone who broke into my home did it with the intent to harm My family and I . I would use deadly force . It is so sad that people need to lock their place up tighter than Fort Knox and sleep with one eye open to protect Their Family and home.
Dot. Click. Boom > problem solved…….
Tip: if your car’s keys are the type w/an alarm attached, keep them by your bedside at night. Setting the car alarm off should draw attention to the burglars and alert your neighbors.
Not a bad idea at all.
That is one of the BEST ideas ever!Thanks!!!!
Now that’s an easy low cost (in lives as well) solution. Thanks mainegal17! As always, brains should always be used before violence.
StillRelaxin, tell that to William Petit, of Cheshire Connecticut.
There is little connection between my comment above and what you’re now asking me to consider. I clearly stated that if someone is in your home and you have a gun use it wisely. Don’t shoot at shadows and if the shadows are moving away from you it’s probably best to let them keep moving or “encouraging” them to move along. Shooting holes throughout your house is unwise and I’d hope no matter what you may say here to defend your current position, you’d never quite feel 100% comfortable about shooting shadows in the back because they’re holding your iPad. If you’re SURE the shadows aren’t yours or your children’s and they’re coming towards you then by all means shoot away. Do we really have a disagreement here?
Brings to mine the recent tragedy in Connecticut where a stepfather mistakenly shot and killed his step son who was outside the home in some kind of costume It was fairly close to Halloween. He now has to live with that. He seems to have reacted too quickly and impulsively. People need to sometimes use their minds more and not just react from fear ,etc.
I believe the story said that the Stepson approached with a large knife in his hand and refused to stop when so ordered!
In such a circumstance you have less than a second to react and to live or die. . .
I had not seen the part about him not stopping when told to. If so, that does make for a different situation.
Never the less it was a real tragedy!
..
“McFadden urged residents to lock their doors and windows, leave outside lights on and keep a telephone in the bedroom to summon police if needed. ”
——————————————————————————————————————–
Yep, because when seconds count, the police are minutes away.
Or an hour away if you live in more rural communities and the sheriff or state police are on the other side of the county.
At least…
I have the best burglar alarm around and I’ll lend him out for free: one of those little white dustmop dogs that yap at the drop of a pin. Haven’t a worry in the world that I’d sleep thru someone entering my house, let alone my bedroom. Hey folks….bet the shelters are full of ’em!
As for everyone advocating blowing them away, fine, have at it. But you have to hear them to do it. I have firearms in my home. But I’m not such a good shot when I’m sleepshooting.
There’s nothing like the sound of the slide on a pump shotgun chambering a round..It freezes the perp in his tracks , he usually wets his pants because he knows he is about to die…Personal protection shotguns are now carried at Walmart..One is a Stevens pistle grip 12 gauge pump , 4+1 , 2 3/4 or 3 inch , 18 1/2 inch barrel with a black synthatic stock..Price 199.00..There is also a Savage just like that one without the pistle grip for 179.00…GREAT bedroom guns…Both are flying out the door as fast as we get them…Get yours today..Just make sure your ID is up to date with your current physical address…NO P. O. BOXES…Has to be a physical adress on it or you can use some other form of government issued document with your State ID such as vehical registration , tax bill , ect….About 20 minutes to do the 4473 and a quick call to NICS for the background check and your out the door with gun and ammo…See you at the Sporting Goods Counter!!
Do the Wal Mart shotguns kick alot?
Yep, I laughed out loud on this one… “Walmart gun”…. Still giggling…
just as brazen as they were with rite aid robberies. hope you get them. years ago when i thought it was safe to leave my backdoor unlocked. i had a brand new computer in the back hall. day before my dad had a major stroke. my neighbor across the street who i thought he and girlfriend were my friends. he took it upon himself to steal mycomputer. got it back two years ago only because she broke off with him and was mad at him. i am sure she was in on it. i lock my doors now . dont like to because of medical issues incase EMS has to come in. with the economy and the druggies you are going to get these home robberies home invasions
Guess I’m secure. 3 dogs, 2- .22’s, 2- 45’s, 2- 30/30’s & 1- shotgun. Try to sneak in & rob me if you dare. (Wish I could borrow my best friend’s cannon.)
I started locking up at night when Bath Salts became a problem!
Had to hear from all the would-be heros, of course — “gonna take my 45-70 and blast them to kingdom come!” Almost seems like some folks fantasize about it…. Rather step around all that if possible, no desire at all to end up in court 12 times over what is or isn’t my ‘right’, so I’ll lock the windows and doors. This isn’t 1952 and dope fiends are everywhere, unlocked anything is part of a past generation, like it or not. Lets see now, a five minute walk-around at bedtime vs. days of questions from cops, DAs and lawyers, hmm? Boy, that’s a tough one. LOL
Fair, reasoned, and articulate… Thank you for doing what the rest of us failed to do, point out the not so obvious……….obvious.
Yes it makes sense. I lock all my doors which have deadbolts and all my windows are locked. Yet, if someone is brazen enough to break a window or door frame to get into my house, I have a feeling their intent isn’t just to have a chat and I will protect myself and my family accordingly.
Have outside lights that stay on all night.
Lock all outside doors.
Have an alarm system that sounds off if an outside door is forced or a window is broken,
Have a plan so all family members know what to do in the event of an entry,
Have a reliable LOADED gun with frangible ammunition (to prevent wall penetration) readily available by your bed.
Be well trained in the use of the firearm.
Do not hesitate to use deadly force if someone has forced entry into your occupied home! Anyone who will enter an occupied home will probably not hesitate to harm the home occupants! When you act you will, in fact, be protecting the lives of your family not protecting belongings!
Of course, if your conscience will not allow you to protect your own life or that of your family members, you can always submit to whatever the intruder has in mind for you!
That, most certainly, would not be my choice! The rule is two rounds to the center of mass and a final one to the head! Then call 911 with the message “burglary in progress, shots fired, one (or more) down!”
There is always the danger that some ambitious prosecutor will place charges against you for using deadly force to protect yourself, but there is also one philosophy that says; “it would be better to be judged by 12 (a jury) than be carried by six (pallbearers!)”
“… and a final one to the head” will probably not be viewed very sympathetically by the authorities. A carefully administered coup de grace doesn’t really fit with the whole heat-of-the-moment, imminent-fear-for-one’s-life thing. It’s less self-defense and more forgetting you’re not in a movie.
I had a State Police Officer tell me to if you need to shoot , fire untill it is empty..Only one story , yours , and no scumbag trying to sue you…If the perp breaks in you have no need to retreat and you don’t have to wait till your attacked , shot at or stabbed before you open fire..All you need is to FEEL threatened..And again just one story YOURS….All it is gonna take is for one or 2 of these scumbags to be put down and you will see less of this stuff…As fast as guns are selling it will happen sooner rather than later….Bath salts and Obama are the best things for gun sales since Sam Colt…God created man…Sam Colt made them equal…
If your life is in danger, “the heat of the moment” will continue until the threat is removed. If two rounds to the “center of mass” do not remove the threat, (i.e. the threat is still upright) the one to the head will!
I will stick with my post. If I feel my life or that of a member of my family is in danger, I will continue to fire until the threat is removed or until the magazine is empty!
Humans are tougher than most people realize. When shot they don’t just keel over like they do in the movies. There have been cases of humans continuing to function even after having been shot through the heart! If it is a “me or them” situation, I think most people would pick “them!” The 911 people will bring a free body bag for the others!
Yeah, The Godfather. LOL
A round to the head is not a “coup de grace”. A determined or druged attacker can continue the fight for as much as 10 seconds even after a mortal wound. A final bullet to the brain ends the fight instantly.
It seems for some reason the burglars are getting more sympathy than the innocent sound to sleep homeowner being violated!!! Not everyone is saying they are going to KILL the burglar, but that they will take action first before it is taken on them, whether its a shot in the leg, or use of any weapon. These criminals are not waiting until the resident isnt at home, reducing the risk of confrontation, they are coming right in the same bedroom these people are sleeping in for godsake, people are locking doors and windows and they are still getting in!!! Shoud we feel bad for the poor desperate addict or pennyless criminal who just so badly needed money he made a terrible “mistake”? or should we feel bad for the innocent homeowner who struggles and goes to work everyday so he can have the things he does just to be awoken and frightened in the middle of the night by a stranger who broke into his locked house and may or may not be armed robbing him of his possesions? Its odd to me how many people seem to blame the homeowner for not having motion lights, security systems, more locks on doors, etc. I mean I should barricade myself in my house with bars on the windows and sirens and flood lights in the yard and if I dont then its my fault if I get robbed and if I do Im supposed to say ” you poor criminal you wait right here for the cops” Its my job as a mom to protect my family at any cost and if someone is that desperate to break in at 2am while you’re home and obviously scared they must know the risk, yet they take it. Some of the drugs these criminals are taking are turning them into rabbid animals, extremely violent and I dont want to find out first hand what they can do. They maybe high or they may not be, who wants to tahe the risk?
Well said Desiree..
Very well said!
One should try to take all reasonable precautions to prevent intruder entry, but no ordinary US home can be made intrusion proof. In Germany where crime is lower than it is even in Maine – not to mention New York City, Washington, DC etc. – homes are built using masonry walls and windows often have heavy metal shades that are lowered mechanically to prevent any window entry. I am sure that many Sandy victims in the NYC, NJ area would now like that kind of protection or they would like to be able to have a firearm (essentially prohibited in NYC) to protect themselves!
We live in Maine (rural Maine at that.) We do so because crime used to be practically zero here. Unfortunately, that is no longer true as we are reminded (by the BDN) every day!
Don’t seem like anybody in particular is trying top blame the people got ripped-off, D, but from there there are measures that can be taken to avoid being the next target. Try not to take it to Drama Land from there, okay? These guys, according to the article, get in thru unlocked doors and windows, so lock ’em.
If you read all the artical sir it said that these people came in where doors and windows were locked!!!!! Id love to be out of so called “Drama Land” but unfourtunatly we live in a land full of Drama!!! I dont feel anything I said to be all that unreasonable or too dramatic. Several people posted that we are too “trigger happy” when it comes to a last second decision to protect ourselves, I believe one person even posted that people have a sick twisted way of just wanting to kill these burglars, THATS dramatic! Not all robbers are gonna be lead by the nose to sit on the curb and wait for the authorities, some of these criminals just dont care, I know of people that were tied up and nearly beaten to death in their own home for $50 That my good sir is also sadly” Drama”, you tell me is this drama land or reality, because for some its all to real!!!!!!!!!!!
Lighten up on the coffee, will ya?
I have several “Beware of the Dog” signs around (Proven as a deterrent). I have a 90 pound grouchy old dog that barks like crazy and WILL hurt some one if they come in (and he can hear them, poor old fella), and an unloaded Remmington 870 leaning against the bedframe. The ammo is hidden three feet away (no kids in this house). I taught my wife how to slide the action hard just to make the sound….that sound alone will make 99% of them jump through the windows to get out. I dont want to shoot anybody, but if someone comes in my rural home with the intent to harm and refuses to leave………
Only in Belfast this stuff happens…Thank you Belfast Police department and our county courts…!!
It doesn’t seem to matter where you live anymore and there are many ways to protect yourself and your family and stolen items are just stuff that can be replaced. Another safe deterrent for those who don’t wants weapons, they have these awesome alarms that require only small batteries and stick to windows and doors and sound a loud alarm if doors or windows open. I also leave my cell phone on bed head so I have access to phone if power or lines cut. I also have a dog who barks at any noise but again not everyone wants a dog. Common sense is the best deterrent so I am sure you all can think of something and all should share your ideas as it may help someone else. If all those fail the gun is always at hands reach and loaded.
Wow.Mainahs like their guns,dont they?Yee Haw!!!
Per-capita gun ownership in Maine and Vermont is (I believe) the highest in the USA and their rates of incarceration for violent crime is the lowest in the USA.
Most people would not trade that pairing with the circumstances that obtain in Washington, DC or New York City!
I think the problem here is that there is no safe way to determine the intent of the intruder without possibly exposing yourself to being shot by the intruder.(you dont know if they are armed or not) Also, given our wonderful court system, if you shoot and wound them, they may sue you for their injuries. That doesn’t really give you much choice if you are cornered in your own home. It is a terrible thing to take someones life, but I think it would be even worse to have a family member killed because you didnt act against the intruder. I gotta lean towards the shoot the intruder side, but I dont think that I would feel that good about it after.
Well said!
No reasonable person “wants” to take a human life and if forced to do so will never be the same again! However, if it becomes “you, your family or them” most of us will pick “them!” The others? Well it is probably just as well to get them out of the gene pool!
For many elderly people (the ones many burglars pick as their victims) a dog is more of a burden than they can handle.
However, one of my favorite articles in a newspaper was as follows:
“(Gloversville, NY) . . . A burglar broke into a local home while the family were all away. However, the burglar was immediately confronted by the family pet – a 60 pound German Shepherd named Kaiser. The police who responded followed the blood trail up the stairs to a second floor bedroom where the burglar had exited through the bedroom window without opening it!”
This is a true story – not made up!
Good one! Having worked in law enforcement prior to retiring, I noticed that it’s usually the elderly who are targeted. The problem is only getting worse…and the reason is the creeps feel that’s where they’ll find more drugs and/or items they can sell to support their habit.
Since many elderly people live in the country and police response time is understandably delayed due to distance, here are some more precautions you can take in the meantime:
1. Don’t assume that burglaries happen at night. Forced entry problems are common during broad daylight out in the countryside. Keep your doors locked day and night.
2. Get rid of any lawn decorations/whirlygigs, etc. that shout out “old people live here,”
especially the ones that say, “Two old crows live here.” These creeps scout out neighborhoods looking for information such as this.
3. Think twice about posting “Oxygen in Use” signs on your front entrance. DO alert your local fire dept., however. A sign like this says, “Vulnerable person inside” to burglars.
4. Always, always keep a “heads up” when you are doing outside yard work. Take notice of any vehicles you’ve not seen before, going up and down your street. Listen to your instincts and if you feel something isn’t right, get indoors and ask the police to do a check.
5. Do not EVER, day or night, open your door to someone who says there’s been a car accident and they need to call the police. Tell them you will make the call for them, but do not let them in.
Some very, very good advice!
I’m just thinking that the rats are coming out of the garbage all over this country. Aside from the frontier days, has there ever been a better time to own and know how to use firearms? Will the rats decrease, stay the same, or increase in numbers? Notice how many law enforcement officers are retiring? Does this explain the situation?
This person or persons is going to be in for a rude surprise. While they may have been succesful so far. One of these houses, some one will have a pistol nearby and pop the intruder with a bullet. Maine is real big on having a weapon. These people will get shot if they keep it up. It is not a matter of if, more of a matter of when.
Guess ya gotta sleep with one eye open and a loaded gun cause some people just aint got no shame