In April the City of Arcadia sent out warnings about recent burglaries, specifically naming my area as one of those being hit. The article outlines what's going on and what the police are doing about it, plus it includes some general safety tips helpful for anyone:
Today, my helper spoke to a woman who'd come to the front door, holding a young baby and asking if we'd seen her orange cat. My helper heard her ask the next-door neighbor the same thing....yet she told my helper that he (my neighbor) had sent her pictures of her cat, which made no sense. She told both people that someone had seen her cat go into their backyards, and wanted to take a look. After we told her the cat wasn't here, she pointed vaguely and said she has signs up, and to call if we see her cat. Having lost a cat many years ago--through an open window whose screen got knocked off when two of my Great Danes had a little disagreement...in the living room--an orange cat, no less, I didn't want to disregard her story altogether, but it did sound extremely suspicious. My helper continued watching her, and she was getting in and out of a car, between walking house to house. We decided to call the non-emergency police number. I did. I gave them my name and address and the woman's description, and less than TWO minutes after we hung up a patrol car was in front of my house questioning her! I LOVE my police department. They've been nothing but amazing in all the years I've lived here. This time. I sure didn't feel that way many years ago when I lived here, and...um...well...engaged in some rather illegal activities (recreational drugs, skipping school).
Funny how time changes things!
Today, my helper spoke to a woman who'd come to the front door, holding a young baby and asking if we'd seen her orange cat. My helper heard her ask the next-door neighbor the same thing....yet she told my helper that he (my neighbor) had sent her pictures of her cat, which made no sense. She told both people that someone had seen her cat go into their backyards, and wanted to take a look. After we told her the cat wasn't here, she pointed vaguely and said she has signs up, and to call if we see her cat. Having lost a cat many years ago--through an open window whose screen got knocked off when two of my Great Danes had a little disagreement...in the living room--an orange cat, no less, I didn't want to disregard her story altogether, but it did sound extremely suspicious. My helper continued watching her, and she was getting in and out of a car, between walking house to house. We decided to call the non-emergency police number. I did. I gave them my name and address and the woman's description, and less than TWO minutes after we hung up a patrol car was in front of my house questioning her! I LOVE my police department. They've been nothing but amazing in all the years I've lived here. This time. I sure didn't feel that way many years ago when I lived here, and...um...well...engaged in some rather illegal activities (recreational drugs, skipping school).
Funny how time changes things!
If she had really been looking for her lost cat, she wouldn't have needed to leave--I know I wouldn't! If Joy Noelle had ever gone missing, even though she was both microchipped AND wore a GPS unit (Whistle) that allowed real-time tracking, the whole f...blanking police force couldn't get me to leave if someone really had seen her in a backyard. 
