Calling Sherlock Holmes

[DallasSteve2]

For those of you that think this post has nothing to do with Latin women, I ask your indulgence.  I will post a followup later that explains how I think it relates.

It's about 1 AM and I can't sleep.  About 10 PM tonight my wife asked me to check and see if the patio door is locked.  We live in a second floor apartment.  There is a door to the patio and then one more outside the patio leading to a stairway.

I opened the patio door and suddenly there was movement and noise.  A man was on my balcony.  He bolted for the railing and flung himself over.  For about a second he hung by one hand.  He screamed something and then dropped to the ground.  By the time I got to the rail he had disappeared around the corner.

I called the Police and they came out and took a look, but there wasn't much they could do.  Nothing was missing that I could see.  He didn't attack me.  He didn't make an attempt to enter the window, although it was slightly open.

Burglar?  Bike thief?  Peeping Tom?  Rapist?  Other ideas?  I'd like to hear your ideas before I post what I think he was doing.

Steve

[cancunhound]

... in response to Calling Sherlock Holmes, posted by DallasSteve2 on Mar 24, 2003

If changing apt's isn't an option - at least secure those windows and patio door.  You can drill into the frame to install devices that permit securing it while leaving it slightly open.  The earlier comment about piping down the wifes' attire is a good one (yet impossible if she is a caleña).  I haven't been able to convince my caleña of that and it's been over 6 years now!

[Nico]

... in response to Calling Sherlock Holmes, posted by DallasSteve2 on Mar 24, 2003

Although,there is little or nothing you can do about the design structure of your apt. it sounds as though you basically have stairs leading from the groung straight to your bedroom. This is a bad set up for security purposes. Its fine to have a bedroom balcony but not a good idea to have the stairs from the ground up to the balcony and your bedroom.Hamlet who posts on this board is remodeling his yellow house and was considering  a stairway up to a balcony and the master bed room and I talked him out of it.

[DallasSteve2]

... in response to Calling Sherlock Holmes, posted by DallasSteve2 on Mar 24, 2003

[This message has been edited by DallasSteve2]

I think we have a peeping Tom.  There are several things about the facts that point me in that direction.  

1 - 10 PM seems a little early for a second story man, so to speak.  That is to say, if I was going to break into someone's home I would want them away.  Far away.  If not, I would want them asleep.  10 PM isn't very late.  We were still awake and the lights were on.

2 - He was alone.  If I was going into someone's home I would feel a little safer if I had a partner.

3 - He didn't try to tamper with the screen on the window which was open.

4 - It seems like quite a coincidence that I opened the door while he was on the balcony.  It is more likely that he had been out there for a while.  Why?  Probably trying to catch a glimpse of my wife.

I suspect that he lives in our apartments.  My wife goes outside quite a bit with her son to ride his bike in the park area in the middle of the apartments.  Guys are always looking her over and often try to talk to her.

She has the "Cali" look which stands out here in Dallas.  She likes to wear tight, sexy clothes.  The other day we went to DPS for a drivers license test and she wore a spandex miniskirt with stiletto heels.

I told her later to please not do that again.  I told her that is very inappropriate for a drivers license test.  The next time it was jeans and tennis shoes.  Tight jeans, but at least it wasn't a party dress and heels.

She doesn't want to tone down her style of clothes even though she knows it's very different here.  She has the typical young girl attitude: "You met me like this, you liked me to dress like this, don't expect me to change now."  I think maybe this can serve as a lesson to her why she needs to change a little.  Or maybe a lot.

And I'm probably going to look for a dog.

Steve

[surfscum]

... in response to My theory, posted by DallasSteve2 on Mar 24, 2003

It does sound like a Peeper. I house-sat once and had to deal with one. They are so creepy, no sound or physical evidence until your hear steps on the gravel driveway going AWAY from you....

[Michael B]

... in response to My theory, posted by DallasSteve2 on Mar 24, 2003

Get a Pyrenese Mountain Dog aka Great Pyrenese. They are sheep guarders (as oppossed to sheep herders) My X has one, 140lb nuetered female (a big male might go 160 or more). We got her as a puppy when we were still together. They are very gentle with people they know, but I'm sure this dog would kill anybody that bothered the X or my daughter or me. Oh, on the down side, they shed like crazy and require a lot of grooming.

[Brassa]

... in response to My theory, posted by DallasSteve2 on Mar 24, 2003

That makes sense the points you make. If you get a dog,Doa friend a favor and save one from the shelter. You will find a loyal protective friend that is happy to have a home and not the end of the line. These animals become extremely faithful and sense what you have done for them. I got the Pinscher from a shelter. People were afraid of him. Turns out he is the biggest baby there is,Until a hand gets raised in my direction!

[Red Clay]

... in response to Re: My theory, posted by Brassa on Mar 24, 2003

German Shepherd works for us. Had to put one to sleep about a month ago, immediately my wife was saying that we had to get another ASAP. She will not be without one now after getting used to the protection.

BTW, we tried the shelter route, a good idea, but most were so picky about you and your place that we decided they could keep their homeless dogs and we bought a puppy from a breeder. We even have the perfect big-dog setup, acreage, experience with 'em, no kids, blah, blah. One outfit expected me to furnish my SS# and DL#. Not gonna happen. Others had questions designed to psychoanalize us to make sure we were "fit". Too much political correctness involved with alot of those outfits.

[Pete E]

... in response to My theory, posted by DallasSteve2 on Mar 24, 2003

Steve,
Better tell your wife not to wear the sexy clothes to the drivers test.The written is OK but for the behind the wheel test most of the testing personel are women here and they get jealous.California is very tough anyway but I think that was part of my wifes flunking the drivers test 3 times.The last time she flunked there was a nice latina tester she was hoping to get.At the last miniute out walked this old battle ax,My wife said oh no.She was right,the broad was bad news,even threatened to file a report so she could not even take another test for a year.Next test,nice young girl,no problem.
Big duck in small pond,petty person with a little bit of power playing god.I've seem it in the office too.Good looking woman starts work,the guys all take notice,the old broads get jealous and try to sabatage her.

Pete

[cancunhound]

... in response to Re: My theory, posted by Pete E on Mar 24, 2003

Ditto that bit about the clothes.  There is a notorious woman examiner at the DPS in Dallas, Lake Higlands location.  She flunked my wife I believe out of Jealousy 1st go round.  It's that Cali thing - don't know why the girls can't tone it down a bit.  If I recall it's 3 times you're out in Texas also.

[DallasSteve2]

... in response to Re: My theory, posted by Pete E on Mar 24, 2003

Pete

What is the basis for banning someone from testing for a year?  Do they declare them a hazard to other drivers?  I'm sure "sexy skirt" can't be a reason.  I haven't heard of that threat here in Texas, but anything is possible.

Steve

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: Re: My theory, posted by DallasSteve2 on Mar 24, 2003

Steve,
Actually my wife would get nervious and put all her mistakes together for the examiner.She drove too fast on the test,going 35 in a 25 mph residential zone(it wasn't posted,just am automatic in residential zones if no sign),plus was in a left lane when the examiner said turn right here,she turned from the wrong lane.In addition my wife wasn't understanding what she was told so she told her "you talk to my husband." I think that pissed her off.She was a real b!tch.She said she can either go in right now and rescedule her written test(which you have to retake after 3 failed drive tests),or I can write her up so she can't take the test for a year.I said why would you do that?I forget the answer.
In California it takes about 4 weeks to reschedule the drive test.So it took my wife about 5 months after she started testing.The last time we went to a DMV location in an upscale area where we were told the people were nicer,which was true.My wife was saying oh thank you when the girl passed her.The girl was saying I was just doing my job.
We have lots of immigrants here plus California is very tough.Over 50% flunk the behind the wheel test.This one tester pulled down the sun visor and broke the bracket on my wifes car.My wife gave her a dirty look,so much for test # 2.

Pete

[mudd]

... in response to Calling Sherlock Holmes, posted by DallasSteve2 on Mar 24, 2003

i agree with Brassa, get a dog and a gun. my white lab can hear anybody comming up the driveway way before i can. she gets up, looks at the door and barks real low to let me know somebody is outside. she even picks them up before the motion lights go off. then she sticks her head through the blinds and looks out the window to see what it is.

[Kit]

... in response to Calling Sherlock Holmes, posted by DallasSteve2 on Mar 24, 2003

That is why people in Tex have 3-4 guns at hand at all times. No it is not only for target shooting. Next time you see something like that, give your .45 magnum a workout.

[DallasSteve2]

... in response to Re: Calling Sherlock Holmes, posted by Kit on Mar 24, 2003

I loaded my .38 for the first time in about 3 years last night.  I'm thinking about getting my concealed carry license.

Steve