Ohio Burglar Cuts Self during Forced Entry, Bleeds to Death at Crime Scene

Today I bring you an example of a harsh lesson in cause and effect. We have seen plenty of reports where homeowners defend themselves and their properties, often with fatal results for the intruders. I have also shared articles where burglars leave blood or fingerprints at the crime scene, creating a trail that may eventually lead to their conviction and incarceration. But in this story from Columbus, Ohio the intruder left blood at the scene and sealed his own fate – in the most dramatic fashion.

A burglar bled to death after cutting his arm while breaking into an apartment, The Columbus Dispatch reported Tuesday. The man was found dead on the living-room floor of a student apartment Monday after severing an artery when he took out a ground-floor window, Sgt. Steven Little of the Columbus police homicide squad said.

Understatement of the Year

The flat in Chittenden Avenue in the University District is described as an area blighted by burglaries. The Ohio State University students living there were out of town over the Labor Day weekend. Two of them returned to the apartment just before 2 p.m. Monday and discovered the body. The apartment was covered in blood. "By all accounts, it looks like a burglary," Little told the newspaper. "He just sat down on the floor and bled to death. The burglar had a bad weekend."

I’ll say it was a bad weekend.

Facts from the Crime Scene

Items had been moved around the apartment and a bloodstained sink and paper towels showed the house-breaker had even taken time out to try to stop his bleeding, Little said. The three-story building was sealed off with crime-scene tape Monday and thronged by detectives, other officers and a police dog. Police had not yet identified the man, who is believed to be in his 30s or 40s.

A Rough Neighborhood

Some students who live nearby said that they were shocked by what happened but were not surprised by a burglary. "We've had our car stolen," said Aislinn Fenton, a student.  "We lock everything but you can't prevent everything from happening."

Students are prime targets for burglars: they tend to be more trusting, less concerned with security in general, and are usually outfitted with up-to-date technology, like the latest smart phones, tablets, and laptops, and even large-screen TV’s. We know these items are high on the list of what burglars steal, since they are easily turned into cash. And students don’t usually have alarm systems – although that is changing, as technology improves.

Today There are More - and Better - Choices

Alarm companies now offer more advanced technology (like mobile apps and safer cellular monitoring, so no phone line is required) that really work for the student lifestyle. In addition, the best providers (and FrontPoint is one of them) have developed alarm technology that can easily be moved from one residence to another, so you can take your protection with you: perfect for students. It’s also great for homeowners who find themselves moving, and is frankly revolutionizing the way people view their home security.

The best deterrent to burglary is still a monitored home alarm system – whether you are protecting your home and family, or your student pad. Either way, it makes sense to choose the system that is safer, smarter, simpler, and more affordable – plus virtually impossible to defeat. As the leader in wireless home security, FrontPoint specializes in these systems: that’s why we’re the #1 ranked alarm company in the US. We don’t wish anyone the experience of coming home to what these students encountered – and with a FrontPoint system, the odds of preventing it are definitely on your side.