No painting to share with you this blog. I’m working on a commissioned piece right now. This sign is one of my latest acquisitions. I’m putting it on my back gate entrance. I hate signage, but like my neighbors, I’ve put them up.My house set empty during my workweek for almost 4 years, while I was refurbishing it. I would drive down from L.A. on the weekends and Holidays. I fathom that’s why the scoundrels thought the house was ‘easy pickins’. I had an array of ‘attempted’ break-ins.
Shortly after I moved into my house, a man ran shoulder first, directly into my bedroom slider. I guess he assumed he’d come crashing through. The slider is a new double pane Anderson Window that’s virtually impossible to break. He fell backwards on my patio. I flipped on the patio lights and pushed the alarm as he scrambled to his feet. He took off and ran RIGHT INTO MY ICEY COLD POOL. You should have seen him trying to get out with all his bulky wet clothing.
Of course working in the television, you can’t move around my property at night without being the star of your own show. I was able to hand his beauty shot to the police. He was eventually arrested.
I finally put signs up warning of camera surveillance. That seemed to bring the problem to an abrupt stop, except for one incident three years ago that was priceless- at least for me. I actually got to try out some of my Hollywood savvy:
Apparently the police were in chase of 3 Mexican gang members. You got it. On foot, the creeps came right up my hill, broke down my back fence and hid themselves under my pool deck. One of my neighbors saw it happening. He showed the police where they had gone into my property.
I had no clue anything was going on. Mid afternoon, I was in my studio working. My neighbor called telling me to get out to the back of my property. The three men (teenagers) were spread eagle face down on the ground and being handcuffed. There were 4 police cars outside my fence. After reviewing the damage to my property, I asked the police if I could talk to them. They stood them up:
At first, I just walked in front of these bruisers and stared at them. (I’m sure at 5’5” 120lbs I was real intimidating!) I asked them to look at what they’d done to my property. I said, “I’m an old women, for God’s sakes! I worked all my life to have this house. Who’s going to pay for this?”
They just stared at me. I asked them what their next step would have been: Would they have come into my house and hurt me? Again, just stares. I asked them if all their gang buddies would be impressed that they tore up an old woman’s fence and frightened her. I then said, “ I bet you guys are the type that get off on hurting kids and taking advantage of the elderly, huh?”
That got their attention. They shook their heads and started apologizing. One actually looked tearful. I stared directly in his face and said, “You ever come near my house again and I will shoot you without warning the moment you step into my yard. Then I will drag your butt into my house and shoot you repeatedly until your dead. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
They all got wide-eyed, open-mouthed and looked towards the cops. A couple of the cops had to turn around to keep their laughter hidden. One cop said, “What? I didn’t hear her say anything.”
All the cops agreed they’d heard nothing and hauled them off . I haven’t had a problem since.
And, NO- I wouldn’t have a gun in my house. I’d undoubtedly shoot my foot off! But, you see, I worked on Sopranos; I borrowed that spiel from Tony. And yes, you can use it if the occasion arises.
If you know of any thieving scoundrel, break-in stories or tips on their undoing, I’d love to hear it.
Vikki
16 comments:
A commission. Very cool. And the sign is suitably threatening. You should have taped your episode with the bangers. That would have made great YouTube.
You are amazing. I am in awe.
Hi Lou,
It’s pretty easy when your surrounded by a half dozen cops. I was just so angry when I saw what they’d done. I’ve worked so hard on my house and property. To have these morons just tear into like it’s nothing was more than I could handle. I just had to say something while I had my opportunity.
Vikki
Glad to hear you are working on a commission, that's really great, but I wanna know what it is! Waaaa!
OK Billy Bad Ass, Mate Man (ex marine) is now officially impressed with you brass ones. Good thing you are world wise and ready for anything out there in the Wild, Wild West.
I love that speach, I may have to do an entire new work around it, I've been looking for an idea or image for a detailed work...it'll be complete with a tiny scowling woman and three shame faced gangsters and all the cops. You crack me up and scare me a little too. It's a delightful combination. :)
Hi Heather,
No, I’m just a bad actress. The police confiscated weapons from all 3 of those boys along with other paraphernalia. The idea that they had brought this into my yard-‘my safe place’- really frightened me. But I wasn’t about to show that. As a single parent for 20 years, my immediate response is to ‘protect’ and take an offensive position. I spoke to them on level they could understand if they even thought about returning to my home. I will not be easy prey.
If a legislature were purposed today to outlaw our ‘right to own weapons’, I would most definitely vote for it.
Vikki
Vikki I love the sign, love the story! I can't wait till Dina reads this. She should have a great tidbit or two to share on this subject.
We don't have guns in our house, exactly for the same reason you mention. But I would love to put in surveillance cameras. Failing that, just lots of signs indicating that we have them.
Having three dogs is a great deterrent though, for sure!
Thanks Martha,
To me, the meaning of my sign is = I finally get it!
I had lived in a gated security complex in L.A. When I first moved out to the county, I saw so many signs warning ‘Beware of Dog’, ‘Keep Out’, etc. I found it pretty offensive and vowed I’d never put them on my property.
I have Brinks Security, surveillance cameras, exterior motion lights. Even after all that expenditure- the very best deterrent is the signs. The objective is simply to stop it before it happens: “Don’t even think about it. - Don’t mess with me. -Move along.”
And your right. You’re pooches are the best alarm system that somethings up. Dogs also have a brain attached to deal with the dilemma.
Vikki
During law school, we discussed all sorts of fact situations leading to the crime circumstances being labelled as aggravating or mitigating. We explored the historic case of Dudley v. Stevens, where capsized shipmates had to make decisions regarding eating one another. We also examined variations of a mother purportedly having to steal to feed her kids.
After close to thirty years of legal experience, and after seeing all sorts of things that life throws at people, I can only respond with a two part sentence. Although the truth is rarely plain, and it's never simple; there is never a justification for theft in any form or fashion. Whatever sentence or penalty that befalls such a perpetrator, he or she deserves it. Done.
Well, not quite. Having observed the actions and lifestyle of the criminal element, there is no such thing as a "deterrent." It is the last thing on their minds when they are contemplating or committing a criminal act. They know and appreciate, unless they are criminally insane, the difference between right and wrong, and the consequences of their act. It's just a low priority at the time of the commission of the act.
Hello Esquire Logisitician,
Incredible comment and input, Reginald. I understand what your saying. BUT... what do we do about these petty thieves that lurk around neighborhood just looking to break in and take anything they can get their hands. That’s more of an arbitrary crime or mind-set, right?
For example,where it comes to my gang bangers, they hit my property because they were just trying to escape the police. Where as, the guy who tried to break down my slider selected my house like a predator. Those are the criminals that worry me.
Other than owning dogs, security systems, etc., doesn’t signage at least serve as a warning that this house may not be an easy mark?
Vikki
LOL, nice sign. I think I'm laughing because I am afraid. It works!
Also, congrats and good luck with your commission.
Hi Mike and Thanks.
Be afraid! Be very afraid!!!!!!!
Vikki
Vikki you are a brave woman I tell you that. Although kids they could have hurt you God only knows how much. Those gang kids sure are far away from innocent and kids even at a young age.
As for the sign I can't say I'm surprised at all. We grew up in Venezuela, south America and if you think you have problems with gang members wait until you live down there. All the houses including ours had enormous concrete walls around the perimeter of the garden, bars on doors and windows and even broken glass at the top of the fence in case someone wanted to try to jump it. Pretty scary.
Good luck and your commission! can't wait to see it!
Hi Manuela,
It’s always so nice to hear from you. And your right. The cops told me their apologies were all an act.
In my travels, I remember seeing the concrete enclosures like your describing with the broken glass and metal spike.We're beginning to see that design here in So. Calif.
I’ve noticed some people in my area actually have bobbed wire and the circular razor wire at the top of their fencing – And it’s around beautiful expensive homes. It’s just all so sad to me.
I wasn’t being brave, Manuela. With the all the police in my yard and all three handcuffed, I knew I was safe. I lived by myself for so long, I don’t get frightened anymore. I just get pissed off.
Vikki
Vikki!
I loved this post! Your moxie in using the spiel and getting its intended response was a hoot and I laughed and cheered out loud for you! Bless those cops for letting you have at it!
I've had my share of break-ins and close calls but never have been afraid. Afterwards, sometimes when reason overtook the one thousand year plus genetics of my Drury family line of warriors, I'd think, "Well. That was pretty damn dumb."
My mom was a bouncer where she also taught figure roller skating during World War II using charm with her students and a coca-cola bottle on the toughs. She carried on in the tradition of "Drogo" (the Dragon), a Drury knight from De Rouvray Normady who fought in the service of William the Conqueror during the Battle of Hastings.
I come by the amazon tendencies of fist and arm honestly. My female ancestors were known to take up sword when necessary. The family's motto "Sine non causa" - 'Not without cause', was rumored to have been temporarily changed after a particular skirmish to "Cruor antesignanus cave nostras materfamilius digladior" "Kill our knights (leaders), beware the swords of our women".
I have gone after robbers including chasing one down the street naked (me) with a .22, pulling a kitchen knife on a gang of punks who burst in our apartment as a Halloween prank and led the leader out by his ear (I had to reach up) as two fully trained, big ass soldiers sat there gob-struck, pulling a switch on a peeping tom with my entire apartment complex in tow for my ambush, drawing a .44 Bulldog Special on a serial rapist coming at me from behind a business as was his M.O. - I was NOT one of his statistics - and more.
I fully understand some folks aversion to firearms. I'm very familiar with guns having been around them all my life. I carried my revolver Sara Jane on my hip in a holster almost every day for six years when I lived in Utah at my ranch and have competed in shooting competitions in addition to making my own bullets and loading them. I've also unfortunately had to use it on terribly ruined animals and snakes.
I respect guns. I think that the gun laws in our country are way too liberal and far outstretch the intent of the Second Amendment. They were a tool meant to protect and feed by the high minded pensmen of the Constitution.
Armor piercing bullets, automatic weapons including Uzis are NOT a given right, as far as I'm concerned. I'm also way more conservative on where guns are sold and by whom, and the ease with their procurement.
Tougher penalties all around, weeding out the yahoos from legitimate carriers of firearms like soldiers, guards, police, transporters, ranchers, farmers and those who must hunt as part of their livelihood would be just fine by me.
But with current government, gang crime and cross border terror infiltration, I'm afraid the line has been long crossed.
The image of you standing in front of these toughs absolutely tickles me! I was about your size - 5'6" and 118# all of my adult life until I turned 40. There's nothing more satisfying that seeing a woman refuse to be a victim.
Good on you for your surveillance, chutzpah and backbone! Attitude is a good part of the battle to keep from being a victim. Your anger at protecting yours is very much like an Amazon. You're my hero! You sure you ain't got some Drury in you?
I was taught to never shoot what you wouldn't be willing to put in your mouth. I don't eat meat. But I sure would be first out the door with Sara if someone was trying to harm me or mine. I can't help it and don't apologize for it. It's hardwired in.
Dina
Hi Dina,
Martha told me you had your share of experiences. I can relate to your reactions.
I don’t know what it is, but instead of getting scared spit-less, I just get mad as hell. I’ve just worked so hard all my life for what I have. It is (as you say) just an innate response. I will not give in to morons who pilfer, attempt to hurt me, my kids or steal what is mine.
It’s only after the fact that I find my heart starts pounding and the shock sets in.
I also understand your comments on gun control and you put it very well. The laws need to be greatly modified to fit the 21st century.
A blatant example is what happened out here in L.A. about 10 years back. A gang was robbing a Bank of America. When the L.A.P.D. surrounded them, the bad guys let loose with AK47 rapid fire in full out gun battle. The L.A.P.D. couldn’t defend themselves and several officers and by-standers were killed.
Just a sad commentary on what’s happened in our society.
Vikki
OMG! I shouldn't have read this while at work! That was hilarious! I love it and I loved watching Sopranos, so I could just picture the scene and you making those comments. That's one for the books and one I'll remember! LOL.
Hi Aleta,
Words of wisdom: “When you’re little and puny, TALK TOUGH, (even though there’s nothing behind it.)”
All those guys would have had to say is’ Boo’ and I would have run back into my house.
Vikki
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