Police Respond to Home Alarm – Burglar and Homeowner Both Call 911

In an odd twist on the normal home burglary sequence, police received two 911 calls from the same premise. It turns out that the burglar entered the home when it was empty, and while he was still there, the homeowner returned – with two dogs. Reading  this recent story from Portland, Oregon, I can imagine the local authorities must have been a bit perplexed!

Two 911 calls went out at the site of Portland burglary Monday night -- one from the homeowner and one from the burglar who was afraid the owner might be armed, The Oregonian reports. Timothy Chapek, 24, was already in the house in southwest Portland when the owner, accompanied by two German shepherds, arrived, according to police.

Why the Burglar Panicked

It’s bad enough when a burglar thinks he’s got your home place to himself, only to hear you opening the door. The arrival of two German shepherds just made it worse: however, it appears Mr. Chapek had even greater concerns on his mind.

Chapek, fearing the homeowner was armed, locked himself in the bathroom and called 911. The owner, upset about an intruder in his home, also called the emergency line to report the burglary. Officers who converged on the scene arrested Chapek on charges of first-degree criminal trespass.

Avoid Confrontations with Intruders

While this story had a happy ending for the homeowner, the roles could just as easily have been reversed – the burglar might have been armed. Firearms are one of the favorite items targeted for theft by residential intruders, and these stolen guns are often used in the next crime. The last thing you want to do is to surprise an armed individual, more than likely stealing to feed a drug habit, in your home.

What’s the Best Protection

Yup – you have probably guessed it already. The best thing you can do is keep the intruder out in the first place. For starters, follow these Top 10 Security Tips from FrontPoint, and make it more likely that the burglar will move on to the next house. And if your home is targeted, having a monitored alarm system with a loud siren will most likely scare the burglar away – which is what you want.

There’s a residential break-in every 14 seconds in the US – but you can improve your odds by having a monitored alarm system. In fact, statistics show that unprotected homes are three times more likely to be targeted. Make sure you insist on safer cellular monitoring – and that you work with the best. When it comes to quality, smart home security shoppers have been choosing FrontPoint - the #1 ranked home alarm company in the US. A FrontPoint system is safer, smarter, simpler, more affordable, and virtually impossible to defeat. Rather than experience a situation where you and the burglar are calling 911, invest in the peace of mind you deserve. That’s FrontPoint.