Strange (Threatening?) Message left on our answering machine.

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ARperson

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Hey,

ARperson's hubby posting here. Yesterday we got home from running some errands and checked our answering machine. The second of three messages was a woman (I think), obviously trying to mask her voice, that said "Hi, I am going to get your child". It was very hard to understand and we had to listen to it several times to understand all of it.

We have a 1 year old, and live in a double across the street from an apartment complex that has gone from hard working blue collar type renters to basically trash renters. I am not sure if this is more of a real threat or just a prank.

I told ARperson to keep the security doors locked (need a key from both sides to get in), not to answer the door while home alone, and to keep alert and snug all day.

How many of you think this is really a serious threat, or just a prank. Have been hesitant to get the police involved yet, because I don't know if there is anything they can do yet.

We are usually really pretty alert anyway, but this has both on extra special alert.

This kind of brings me to another question, we have been thinking about moving into a house anyway, how many think a closed circuit camera system looking at both front and back doors/windows are useful. Would this addition just make the police think I was running a crack house or attract the wrong attention? (Perhaps watching too much TV)

When we get the house, we will also get a good dog. What other pre-cautions to you guys/gals have experience with or suggest.
 
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How many of you think this is really a serious threat, or just a prank. Have been hesitant to get the police involved yet, because I don't know if there is anything they can do yet.
Click to expand...
I have no idea if the threat is real, but the time to start a paper trail is NOW.

--Len.
 
FILE A POLICE REPORT-as in NOW & turn the tape over to them. Perhaps they can track down the caller.
Get a dog. Batten down as best you can. Get a firearm and learn how to use it if you haven't done so already-BOTH of you.
MOVE-since this seems to already be in your future.
THEN secure the new house as best you can: dog, gun, cameras, alarm system, good locks, etc. Never mind what it might look like to outsiders.
This is a case in which you CAN NOT AFFORD TO MAKE A MISTAKE!!!--even if this is some nut-job just harassing you.
 
Any and all threats toward or about a child MUST be taken seriously. Children cannot defend themselves, and so we as adults must. In a situation such as this, I would prefer to thought of as being paranoid, than negligent. If this were me, I would be all over it.

By the way, the telephone company FOR FACT, has the technology to tell you with 100% certainty the point of origin. As a HS principal, we sometimes had to make the needed contacts with the telephone company to determine from where a threatening call came. All calls, 100% of incoming and out-going numbers involved, are electronically documented. Don't let anyone tell you they are not. I assure you, they are...and in all states.

Doc2005
 
It doesn't really matter if WE think it's a threat. Do YOU think it's a threat?

Suggestions...
1) Check the physical security of your current residence.
2) Check the security of your behaviors (do you open the door for delivery persons and so forth?)
3) Take a few photos of your child right now so you have them.
4) Notify the police of the call so that you have started a paper trail.
5) Keep a copy of the message and also keep a notebook where you can document EVERYTHING such as the time/date of any calls or events and full descriptions of anything suspicious you may notice.
6) Run through a few "security breach" scenarios in your minds. It tends to reduce the "what do I do now" shock delay if (God forbid) anything were to actually happen.
 
This kind of brings me to another question, we have been thinking about moving into a house anyway, how many think a closed circuit camera system looking at both front and back doors/windows are useful.
Click to expand...
I installed my own. Invaluable. You'd be surprised who and what will drop by your place unannounced when noone is supposed to be home.
 
It has been my experience that a serious criminal does not telegraph his/her intentions. I'd guess you're being terrorized by someone you peed off or someone just has a sick sense of humor.
I'd take normal precautions and not let the sick SOB win by totally disrupting your life over this.

'Course, I'm not in your shoes. Best of luck.

Biker:)
 
That was too serious not to be taken as a real threat. All the previous posters have been right on. Enlist your neighbors, if you trust them. The company that I use for my home alarm offers a live security service (sort of quasi-law enforcement) with marked automobiles for patrol use. A loud dog often scares threats off. Then GET THE HELL AWAY FROM THERE as soon as possible. Life is too short to put up with that garbage!:fire::fire:
 
You need to report it to the police. The threatening call itself is a crime. Does your phone log the caller id of all calls? If not get one.

The other suggestions you've received are all valid but you need to call the police as there's already been a crime committed.
 
Phone Record

The "prankster" used a phone.

You know the approximate time and date (some answering machines stamp the recording).

The police have access to phone company records for this kind of thing.

If they run it back to a home phone or cell phone, then they can slap the prankster for you.

If this call traces back to a "prepaid" phone with no name/address account information, then I'd take it more seriously. Someone planning mayhem may indeed want to spice things up if he knows the phone can't be traced.

Meantime, security as you have outlined.

Cameras on a house nowadays are just routine security. You don't know who's knocking, and after receiving a threat, go ahead and let the "oh, you're over-reacting" crowd have a good laugh. They don't pay your insurance or mortgage, and they don't feed your family.

(My wife, who manages a somewhat political blog, started receiving death threats last year. A couple of them were termed "fatwa" declarations. Reluctantly, she's obtained a little lightweight insurance, and we go to the range as time allows. And she continues to turn the light on the cockroaches.)​
Take care of your own.

Look back in ten years and laugh.

Laughing NOW could lead to a different result.
 
A few things

As others have said, call the police. File a report. Incase push comes to shove, you want a record that some one is threatening your family.

As biker said, “a serious criminal does not telegraph his/her intentions”. I would think that this would be true most of the time, but you never know, there are some real wackjobs out there, and I would rather be safe than sorry.
 
^^^
What they said.

I have 2 daughters. I do not exaggerate when I say that those two girls are the ONLY reason I am alive today. I know how much a person's children are worth, because I know how much mine are worth.

I agree with Biker that it is most likely a terrorist threat, but do you really want to bet your child's life on that? I sure as hell would not!!

Good luck and get some answers, FAST!
 
Yes, call the cops. If they try to blow you off insist that a report is made.

As to the cameras, you can get fairly well priced "network" cameras these days. This is "my element" BTW. They only need a Cat5 unless you want motorized which are MUCH more expensive. Then you can get an IP addressable DVR so that it will record in case you need to see what happened earlier when you were away. With the IP addressable DVR you can pull up the camera feeds on any computer with a network connection. All you have to know is the IP address of the camera and the password. Very cool if you have access to the internet at work or while on vacation. I do not recommend wireless unless there is absolutely no way to get wire to it and there's always a way unless the house is solid concrete in which case I'd just have exposed camera wiring (inside, not outside).

If you get serious about this and are going to do it yourself (once you move really soon), shoot me a PM if you get bogged down in all of the choices. I've had to design camera systems for very meager budgets all the way up to systems that had cameras that were 1400 dollars each.

Good luck. Condition Orange for a few days for sure.
 
May not be a "serious criminal", whatever that is, but may be a EDP.

I get several EDP calls a year, blaming me for hunger, disease and all ills in the world (I figure they are from the Clinton Campaign:D). Got a lot after 9/11 saying that I blew up the WTC.:scrutiny::uhoh:

I would turn this over to GIMP detectives. They may be looking at other threats and your case is part of a pattern.

I'd go with what I have on Alcazar del Tejon--external lighting, steel doors (Polaris, they are insulated as well) and frames, and Medeco dead bolts. Cameras would be nice touch but I do not have them. I would try to blend them in to your house.

Good luck on your move. What side of the city?:)
 
Does your recorder, keep track of incoming numbers? Do you have a fax machine on the line, or cordless phone base station? Check them all one may have recorded the number. I had a similar thing happen. Someone called and threatened my my wife(nothing specific just trying to get a rise out of her). I was able to get the number from our fax machine, did a reverse search through the internet that gave me an address, name and Google map to the place that was about 5 miles away.

I went and knocked on the door, the guy answered so I asked him if that was his phone number and told him what happened. He responded by yelling to the back of his house for the teenage brother he had living with them. When he questioned the kid about it and we saw his response I new we had the right guy. I shook the guys hand and told him I knew he would do the right thing. I'm certain the kid got the **** kicked out of him that morning for causing some nasty looking guy to show up at the door with a bunch of information about them.

That was the end of it.
 
El Tejon...

I believe you know what I meant by a "serious criminal".

Biker
 
Okay,

ARperson called the police and filed a report.

We are both familiar with and know how to our defensive tools. (Though formal training is needed for both of us, something like Defensive Edge or Thunder Ranch)

Working through the offer process on the house. As soon as we are the house, we will have a brand new extra hairy and toothed playmate for our child. Will invest in good steel, and probably security doors as well with high quality (I will look for Medeco) dead bolts.

Hoping this was just a really bad joke (Like some doofus that faked a kidnapping here to in town thinking he was being funny) but preparing for hordes of baby eating zombie crazies.

El Tejon, Please explain to me what an EDP is.:eek: Thanks. Oh, southwest side of town.

I tended to agree with Biker about someone serious about it probably would not have said they planned to do it. But what kept me second guessing that is the seemingly rather large number of crazies are out there that do this kind of junk.

johndoe, you'll probably be getting a pm in a couple of days after I educate myself enough on the camera stuff not to sound like a total and complete moron.

Thanks everybody for the info.

Oh. Will check the fax machine to see if it had a record. We now have caller ID and phone that does record the numbers.
 
It may not be a real threat, but can you afford to take a chance? Call the police and file a complaint. Keep the tape. Stay alert, and armed. Get dogs!!!! Move the heck outta there - the neighborhood ain't going to improve.
 
hey, at least you got some warning!
the worst thing that can happen is to get caught off guard. At least now you get a chance to be on high alert.

Remember, an ounce or prevention is worth a pound of cure. If you think your neighborhood isn't safe, see if you can't move. It may cost more, but the piece of mind may be worth it. And, no matter where you live, it's my opinion that a firearm is the best way to defend your family.

Even if I lived in a bunker, I'd still have a shotgun within arms reach of the bed.
 
johndoe, you'll probably be getting a pm in a couple of days after I educate myself enough on the camera stuff not to sound like a total and complete moron.
Click to expand...

do it. Google network+camera first so you have a feel for what I'm talking about. I'll go as far to provide a list of parts with model #'s if you want me to. All I need is a budget. I'd do it on company time anyway since that is exactly my job (with other kinds of systems as well). Panasonic seems to be ruling that industry right now.

I'll do anything within reason to help a THR member with a possibly threatened child. :cool: Just glad I can help.
 
http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs3-hrs2.htm

This is advice for "harassing calls", which this certainly falls under. Particularly note the "Call Trap" and "Call Trace" info. Neither will help with the original call, but could be useful to set up now in case they call back.
And I'll...tenth? :) the suggestion to file a police report - you want a paper trail!

Hopefully it's just some kid who thinks prank calling is kewl. :scrutiny:
 
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