Crime in Allen, TX

6th September 2008

I had a bad feeling about relocating to Allen, Texas when, on the night we flew in for our original house hunting trip, there was an arrest taking place in the parking lot of our hotel. In the 4 days we were in town, we saw 2 more arrests taking place. I really took this as a bad sign.

After moving here (no, my husband didn’t listen to my bad vibes), we continued to see arrests on a pretty regular basis. My husband claimed that seeing arrests meant the police were doing their job. However, I feel like they are just doing their job. If they were doing a GOOD job, there wouldn’t be a need for so many arrests. Don’t get me wrong, we live in a fairly upscale white-collar, college educated area. This is by no means a ghetto. I think that’s why I’m even more surprised at the amount of police activity I’ve been witness to. Perhaps it is because of the area that people get lulled in to a false sense of security and make crime easier for the criminals? I really don’t know.

Crime has been committed against us as well since moving here. The first time, my husband had driven our van to the airport (DFW) and left it parked while he was on a business trip. We hadn’t been here long and still had our Illinois license plates on it. When he came home, the front plate, along with the brackets and license plate holder, were completely gone. Even the bolts that hold it onto the bumper were gone. I was thankful they had at least left us the rear plate!

Yesterday, my husband came home from work and casually informed me that when he came out of the office and got into the van, the oversized glove box in the center console was open and stuff was hanging out of it. He could tell someone had rifled through everything. Fortunately for us, there was nothing of any value in the van. They left us with a broken lock on the driver’s door and got nothing in return. Thanks.

And my husband wonders why I haven’t been happy since we moved. I realize it’s little stuff, but it makes it NOT feel like home.

This entry was posted on Saturday, September 6th, 2008 at 9:54 pm and is filed under a little bit of everything. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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September 2008

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1 On September 6th, 2008, Karen said:

Oh no! That makes you feel so yucky to know someone went through your stuff.

Karen’s last blog post..The Days Fly By

posted on September 6th, 2008 at 10:06 pm

2 On September 6th, 2008, Bonnie Sayers said:

That is not a good feeling to have. How long have you been there, what state did you come from? I moved to LA from NJ in 85 and nothing really bad has happened. Three years ago house wa burglarized, think it was a guy from across the street thatdated thisgirl and this was what he would do and he disappeared thatday.

I served jury duty two years ago on a murder trial and all jurors had been victims of some crime and most never solved.

Good luck, I hope the feeling of safety comes soon.

Bonnie Sayers’s last blog post..Halloween Experiences for those on the Autism Spectrum

posted on September 6th, 2008 at 11:06 pm

3 On September 6th, 2008, Lidian said:

Oh, that’s not going to make you feel settled in to a new place! I am so sorry you are having to go through this…It is hard enough to settle in sometimes (it took me a really long time the last time we moved)

Lidian’s last blog post..A Breath Of Stale Air

posted on September 6th, 2008 at 11:18 pm

4 On September 6th, 2008, Kimmy said:

I think times are changing and sadly, we are going to see theft become worse. A few weeks ago, my van started making this awful exhaust noise. Yesterday, my husband finally got under there to see what he needs to do to shut it up. What he found shocked me. The exhaust pipe was cut half way. Someone was trying to steal my catalytic converter. So I looked it up online. This is happening across the country. There is titanium inside the converter worth about $150.00. I was so upset! I barely have enough at the end of the month now with two incomes! Now I have to wait for this guy to complete the job?? I want to sit in my window all night. GRRRR. Hugs to you too!

Kimmy’s last blog post..Being chased by something that is not real

posted on September 6th, 2008 at 11:21 pm

5 On September 7th, 2008, Jolene said:

Wow! That is a lot to see!
We lived right between Dallas and Fort Worth in Coppell for a little over year and I never saw anything happen while we were there. I was quite shocked by it too, I thought being in the middle of such a huge metroplex we would see a lot.

Jolene’s last blog post..Feature Friday #6

posted on September 7th, 2008 at 12:47 am

6 On September 7th, 2008, Renee said:

Don’t get me wrong, we live in a fairly upscale white-collar, college educated area. This is by no means a ghetto. I think that’s why I’m even more surprised at the amount of police activity I’ve been witness to. Perhaps it is because of the area that people get lulled in to a false sense of security and make crime easier for the criminals?

I am not sure if you realize how classist this post came across. White collar people are responsible for the most theft in society it just doesn’t get reported that way. Though you may personally feel as though you are witnessing more crime, the crime rate nationally is actually on the decline.

Renee’s last blog post..Ssssh Male Privilege Is Meant To Be A Secret

posted on September 7th, 2008 at 2:40 am

7 On September 7th, 2008, *lynne* said:

living with a constantly heightened state of fear / anxiety is NOT good…

*lynne*’s last blog post..yummy, a list for breakfast!

posted on September 7th, 2008 at 3:07 am

8 On September 7th, 2008, Hilary said:

Howdy neighbor!

We moved from LA to the Dallas area and settled in Plano, which has proved a more relaxing place for us. I was a victim of several crimes on LA; one time I found myself staring down the wrong end of a sawed-off shotgun. Living anywhere near a major urban area will have its share of problems, but I feel secure living here in the suburbs.

I had my van broken into here, and the culprits were two bratty middle-school girls. While they were caught, charged and sentenced, I never received a drop of compensation from their parents/guardians.

You’re feeling violated, and justly so. It’s a sickening feeling and it makes us feel unbalanced and unsteady. Fortunately, the feeling passes and I hope you start feeling better soon!

Hilary’s last blog post..This makes it all worth the while!

posted on September 7th, 2008 at 6:42 am

9 On September 7th, 2008, lynne said:

Bonnie – We’ve lived her about a year and a half and we came from the suburbs of SW Chicago. Crime occurred there also, but it wasn’t something we saw on a regular basis. In fact, the police in the town we lived in had very little do to.

posted on September 7th, 2008 at 8:16 am

10 On September 7th, 2008, lynne said:

Lidian – Yes, I’ve been very slow to adjust to this move, maybe because I didn’t want to leave our last home! It is strange though, for whatever reason, I just don’t feel “at home” here and I’m not sure that I ever will.

posted on September 7th, 2008 at 8:17 am

11 On September 7th, 2008, lynne said:

Kimmy – That is absolutely awful! I’m glad your husband checked it out, but it’s horrible to think that someone did that to your personal property. There has been a lot on the Dallas area news in recent months about people stealing gas out of vehicles, especially SUV’s, while they sit in driveways. They have such large tanks that they are prime targets with gas prices being so high.
I know what you mean about the cost of repairs. I think I’m more angry about having to pay to get the lock fixed than about someone rifling through my glove box!

posted on September 7th, 2008 at 8:21 am

12 On September 7th, 2008, lynne said:

Renee – It may have come off as “classist”, but it is a true description of the demographics of where we live. I realize that crime occurs everywhere, across all races and classes, as well as all areas of this country. I’m simply stating that we have seen more police activity here in Allen, TX than we’ve seen any where else we’ve lived and we’ve lived all over this country. I’ve also been a victim of crime in other areas as has my husband, but, when you see it on a weekly basis, in the town where you live, it makes you feel uncomfortable.

posted on September 7th, 2008 at 8:27 am

13 On September 7th, 2008, lynne said:

lynne – First of all, is that really your name and how you spell it? Lynne is my name and I’ve NEVER found another that spelled it the same way!

Secondly, thanks for stopping by, hearing from my readers is helping me feel strengthened and less anxious. I’m actually in the mad phase now because I have to pay money to get the dang lock fixed on the van!

posted on September 7th, 2008 at 8:29 am

14 On September 7th, 2008, blueyes said:

I actually wonder why I stayed in the same place I’m at because of the same sort of stuff but somewhat worse considering there were gunshots on my front lawn but I have to say since they have finally arrested these kids, yes KIDS, we haven’t had any issues anymore.

posted on September 7th, 2008 at 8:37 am

15 On September 7th, 2008, lynne said:

Hilary – We lived in the LA area many years ago, now we live on the border of Plano and Allen (the East side). I remember, years ago, taking my sister to downtown L.A. to the market and she completely freaked out! She was so afraid that something bad was going to happen, we had to leave! I think though that if I’d seen the front end of a sawed off shotgun, I would’ve moved too! That had to have been so frightening.

16 On September 7th, 2008, lynne said:

blueyes – That does make it scary that kids would be shooting of guns in your yard! Where did they get their hands on guns? I’m glad they’ve been caught.

posted on September 7th, 2008 at 9:05 am