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Home Invasion in Stamford, CT Where Intruder Used Garage Door Opener to Gain Access

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February 24, 2012

Home Invasion in Stamford, CT Where Intruder Used Garage Door Opener to Gain Access

Sandwiched between the wealthy towns of Greenwich and Darien, Stamford, Connecticut has its own posh neighborhoods, and is routinely listed as one of the safest cities in America, according to FBI statistics. But even though Stamford styles itself as “The City That Works,” there is still some crime – as this recent news article shows.

A man and woman said they were terrified Monday morning when they awoke to find a burglar standing in the bedroom of their Fifth Street home. The couple, who asked not to be identified, told The Advocate the woman chased the burglar out of the house while her husband grabbed his keys in preparation for a car chase. The couple's two young daughters were asleep at the time.

How the Burglar Gained Entry

Larry Bowman, 33, had broken into several cars in the area and used a garage door opener to enter the house, police said; he was arrested a short time later when a police bloodhound tracked him to nearby Morgan Street. Bowman is charged with first-degree burglary, and two counts each of third-degree burglary and risk of injury to a minor.

Now that’s a sneaky trick – the garage door opener. Time to add a wireless garage door sensor to your FrontPoint system?

More Details on the Crime

Stamford Police Capt. Brian McElligott said before Bowman arrived at the Fifth Street home near Vincent Court he burglarized at least two other cars on Hackett Circle and Fifth Street. The man said he woke up at 5 a.m. to find the burglar in his bedroom. "I woke up and I saw the guy," the man said. "I started yelling, `gun, gun.' I wanted to make him believe I had a gun. I yelled, "I'm going to shoot you.' "

Confronting a Burglar is Always Unwise

The homeowner said his wife chased the man into the driveway while he grabbed the car keys. The woman said the intruder ran west on Fifth Street. When the husband got outside, he made a quick drive around the block to see if he could find the burglar. Because he didn't have a phone with him, he returned home to call police. A short time later, police found Bowman on Morgan Avenue.

Police will tell you that this was unwise behavior, for both the wife and the husband. Confronting a burglar often ends badly.

Picking up the Pieces

McElligott said the man had a number of items in his pockets that police are working to return to their rightful owners. Bowman stole two watches and some jewelry in the bedroom before the couple woke up, the homeowner said. "Imagine somebody in your bedroom," said the man, who has lived in the house for 15 years. "It is the most terrifying. I have two small daughters. You want to grab the guy."

Make sure you are doing everything you can so your home is not a target. You can also follow FrontPoint’s Top Ten Home Security Tips – including installing a monitored alarm system. Your peace of mind is worth a lot, so there’s nothing more important than protecting your home and family. And that’s where FrontPoint comes in: the leader in wireless home security, and the #1 ranked home alarm company in the US. When you are ready for safer, smarter, simpler, more affordable, and virtually impossible to defeat, FrontPoint is your clear choice.

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Comments
Alan Draper
February 27, 2012
Yeah, that is one of the creepiest things, to awaken to someone in your bedroom, in the dark. Brings back a couple childhood scares where I'd be terrified because I was sure a burglar was creeping around my room, only to later realize after several minutes of fear (that felt like an eternity), that it was just some small thing the heater was blowing around, or something like that. Ahhh, the memories.... :-). It would be extremely unsettling to have it happen for real! I can't even imagine. Some are too cavalier to even have decent doors, hinges, and locks installed. And actually use them consistently! And when they do have an alarm (which is just as important for life safety issues like fire, and CO detectors IMO), many also don't arm those constintly. Now, me, being so perfect.... no, I occassionally forget, but it's now the exception because it has been a priority and I've made it a habit now. Sadly you almost have to these days. Could go off on a politcally themed rant here, but I'll spare you.
Peter M. Rogers
February 27, 2012
Alan - Thanks for sharing. I had a real experience, and not a good one one, when I was living in San Francisco in the late 70's. My first wife and I (we were not married at the time) lived in a studio on Nob Hill. One night I woke up to find a burglar in the room - he had come in through an unlocked window. Pretty close quarters in a studio, as you can imagine, for the three of us! I yelled, he ran out the door, and that that was that. But it left a lasting impression, that's for sure.
Alan Draper
February 27, 2012
Yeah, that is one of the creepiest things, to awaken to someone in your bedroom, in the dark. Brings back a couple childhood scares where I'd be terrified because I was sure a burglar was creeping around my room, only to later realize after several minutes of fear (that felt like an eternity), that it was just some small thing the heater was blowing around, or something like that. Ahhh, the memories.... :-). It would be extremely unsettling to have it happen for real! I can't even imagine. Some are too cavalier to even have decent doors, hinges, and locks installed. And actually use them consistently! And when they do have an alarm (which is just as important for life safety issues like fire, and CO detectors IMO), many also don't arm those constintly. Now, me, being so perfect.... no, I occassionally forget, but it's now the exception because it has been a priority and I've made it a habit now. Sadly you almost have to these days. Could go off on a politcally themed rant here, but I'll spare you.
Peter M. Rogers
February 27, 2012
Alan - Thanks for sharing. I had a real experience, and not a good one one, when I was living in San Francisco in the late 70's. My first wife and I (we were not married at the time) lived in a studio on Nob Hill. One night I woke up to find a burglar in the room - he had come in through an unlocked window. Pretty close quarters in a studio, as you can imagine, for the three of us! I yelled, he ran out the door, and that that was that. But it left a lasting impression, that's for sure.
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