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Yesterday afternoon I was inside the house trying to stay cool when I heard a car with loud exhaust in the alley behind the house. It sounded like it stopped up the alley, then slowly proceeded to behind my house.

My vehicle has been broken into previously in the driveway, so I installed a security camera. I had the pulled the page up on my web cam just in time to see a kid out of his vehicle and trying the door on my car.

I quickly ran out the back door, but they had headed down the alley. I ran back into the house and grabbed the cell phone and headed out the front door to see if they came around and down the street. I could tell they had crossed over and were coming up the alley on the other side of the street.

I ran across the street and caught them just as they were reaching the end of the alley. I mentally got their license number and moved to the other side of the alley while getting a good look through the windshield at the two occupants.

They must have realized I was suspicious and turned back out and onto the main street and quickly exited the area.

I called the police and had them come out and take a report. Have heard nothing yet back on status.

And before anyone asks, I WAS carrying, and no I didn't draw down on the car and force them out and onto the ground. I had a license number, a description of the car and occupants, and that was all I needed to do.

As for the never again, I was barefoot and after I had ran across the concrete with no shoes, I now have 2nd degree burns on the balls of my feet. Large blister on each foot. So, no matter what you are doing, be careful with your bare feet in this scorching sun!

And, here is the video of the event in the driveway.

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=2THBZvPedQE[/youtube]

Glad it turned out benign for you Keith. By the way that was nice video quality...mind sharing make, model, and software used?

Thanks for the video. Amazing to see that just the simple action of locking your doors really can deter a thief.

Sounds like ya "did good" otherwise. Take care of those feet. Kick back and have the wife bring you a brew to soothe the burn.

The never again, in addition to shoes .. you might want to include cell phone

As to the event itself I guess that’s why I live on 10 Acres, and have a 340ft drive way... Gives the BG a sporting chance to get off the property before the dogs or I get to um

Good on you,,, for getting video and being a good witness/ observer.
Question though.. Did a crime occur? I'm not arguing the obvious intent of a crime.. But, is it a crime to touch someone car?

JNMAR wrote:Glad it turned out benign for you Keith. By the way that was nice video quality...mind sharing make, model, and software used?

Cam is just an Airlink AICN500W in a home-built weatherproof enclosure outside, and the software is from a company called Blue Iris

bronco78 wrote: Question though.. Did a crime occur? I'm not arguing the obvious intent of a crime.. But, is it a crime to touch someone car?

I was thinking the same thing. Probably not much the Cops could do in this case.

USA1 wrote:

bronco78 wrote: Question though.. Did a crime occur? I'm not arguing the obvious intent of a crime.. But, is it a crime to touch someone car?

I was thinking the same thing. Probably not much the Cops could do in this case.

I think it is debatable. He did try to force entry by pulling on the handle, but it might be a hard row to hoe in court that it was attempted burglary. It isn't criminal mischief either since there was no damage done (except to my feet). No matter they were up to no good. You should ALWAYS report things like this so they can build a case and look for patterns. If others in the neighborhood or surrounding area have anything missing, then they can correlate times and locations to potentially put two and two together.

Keith B wrote:No matter they were up to no good. You should ALWAYS report things like this so they can build a case and look for patterns. If others in the neighborhood or surrounding area have anything missing, then they can correlate times and locations to potentially put two and two together.

Agreed, observe, report, let the LEO's have good SA. You never know, perhaps you were the 7th of 10 cars they hit that day.. but the only one to report.. The LEO's stop um just to contact and put um on notice and ..hey..look obvious stolen good.

Good thing the doors were locked. Sorry about your feet. I saw a recent video of a guy cooking an egg on the sidewalk in Oklahoma....it's just that hot there and here.

Good job Mr. B

I will never understand why areas around Dallas have homes with alleys to begin with, it only seems to encourage crime because of the high fences and limited visibility. I have some friends in Rockwall that have personally been victims of thievery in the alleyways twice as well as several neighbors reporting similar incidents all in the last year.

Good foresight to not draw your weapon, if I was a neighbor new to the area and I saw someone creeping around with a pistol I'd most certainly call the cops with a gun at the ready.

I like how he excitedly exits his car but returns with heavy disappointment after trying the door.

Commander Cody wrote:Good job Mr. B

The quality of the video is pretty darn good. Much better than the usual stuff from a convenience store camera. He seems to very disappointed when the car door didn't open. I have a feeling that he's done this before and you'll be seeing this guy on the local news very soon.

The video quality is very good. Do you have some video taken at nighttime?

P.S. In case you don't know, Texas summers can get very hot. Next time, at least wear some sandals. Ouch!

karl wrote:I will never understand why areas around Dallas have homes with alleys to begin with, it only seems to encourage crime because of the high fences and limited visibility. I have some friends in Rockwall that have personally been victims of thievery in the alleyways twice as well as several neighbors reporting similar incidents all in the last year.

I passed up on a lot of houses I like because of the alleys...give me a driveway out front, please.

Funny...my two year old hops out of the car some days without shoes on trying to be funny. He then spends the next couple seconds saying "it hot" and running to the grass. Frightening thing is he hasn't figured out to stop after doing it multiple times.

Texas Size 11 wrote:Funny...my two year old hops out of the car some days without shoes on trying to be funny. He then spends the next couple seconds saying "it hot" and running to the grass. Frightening thing is he hasn't figured out to stop after doing it multiple times.

He will learn.

WildBill wrote:

Texas Size 11 wrote:Funny...my two year old hops out of the car some days without shoes on trying to be funny. He then spends the next couple seconds saying "it hot" and running to the grass. Frightening thing is he hasn't figured out to stop after doing it multiple times.

He will learn.

Yeah, it took me 50 years. Think I learned for good this time.