I'm being stalked . . . please help find a pick proof lock!

[Romstar]

Oh, I've seen this pattern before.

Ex-boyfriends, ex-husbands, co-workers, a variety of other annoyances.

This is the sort of switch in behaviour I would expect to see if the perp had been confronted, or had previous dealings with the victim.

The point of this type of behaviour is psychological, and not specifically anything else. You are expected to know who is doing this, and you are supposed to believe and be fearful that there is nothing you can do about it because there is no "proof".

It is criminal, but it is meant to engender fear, and a host of other emotions. Commonly this type of "vandalism" is the result of some slight, perceived or real.

If the story is real, the perpetrator is most likely emotionally unbalanced or at the very least pissed off or disturbed.

In these cases I do recomend that you go to a much higher security lock, enhance all areas of your personal security and investigate the other advice that has been given so far.

Romstar

[Romstar]

Hidden cameras inside such devices as clock radios, books, lamps and even teddy bears are available at relatively low prices. Some of these even come equipted with motion activated recording.

As for key loggers, strip down your computer and reassemble it. I understand you are low tech, and I am not suggesting you tear open the inside. A very common key logger looks like an adapter that fits between the keyboard cable and the computer where the keyboard plugs in.

This type of key logger would require that a person gain access to your computer physically to make use of the information.

The other thing to do is to simply take your computer to a shop, or an extremely trusted friend and have the computer reformatted and all the software reinstalled. Be sure to backup any personal information, or other data that you may want to keep.

Your motion alarm should have a small adjustment wheel which would vary its sensativity. Try to get it so that it only responds to sustained movement.

Romstar

[alias]

I have reason to believe this individual has defeated a Masterlock on a moving truck...

Not to make light of the situation but even with most Masterlocks ease, that's some impressive picking!!

I mean keeping up with a moving truck is hard enough but picking at the same time?!?

[Quin]

Personally I think the cameras should be your first priority. People like the Police will take you far more seriously if you can visually show them someone is stalking you.

As for your computer you'd be far better off switching to Linux. The newest Distro's like Mandrake and Redhat are becoming very close to a windows feel and although the recent versions have had some security problems it is still the hardest operating system for someone to gain access too.

You can buy alarms now that when it’s activated it can phone you to give you a few options. Allow it to keep sounding the alarm, hang up and dial another number, Listen in to your house to hear if someone is about and lastly you can two-way talk to whoever is in there. These alarms are very cheap these days and being able to hear what’s going on can be very reassuring.

[toomush2drink]

Fear of the unknown is a tool which is being used against him to great effect. It has a habit of amplifying stuff which is happening and blowing it out of proportion to the stalkers advantage. Take a deep breath and control your fear, now thing rationally could some of these things only been coincident ? If things are bothering you that much hire a private detective and find out who it is, its a small price to pay for piece of mind.

[The Wanderer]

Have you ever considered getting a dog? I don't mean a Chihuahua or a Shitzu, but a real dog. A great big ass eating kind of dog. German or Belgian Shepherd or a Doberman Pinscher. They are a great deterrent. Even if they don't attack the stalker, the barking should scare them off. Eventually these little visits, will move up to the not worth it category for them.
When I had my dog (a 95 pound Doberman) I could have left the house with the inside door wide open, all day long, and no one would even try to come close to my place. He'd start barking and growling long before they even got close to the house.
So get yourself some decent locks. If the Locksmiths here say a Medeco is good enough then take there word for it. Cameras, Private Investigators and getting your security up to snuff on your computer are all good ideas also, but I'd still look into getting a dog. They make a great companion too!

[silent]

http://www.amazing1.com/camera.htm
http://www.amazing1.com/security3.htm#personal

The guy who owns that company is on tech-v alot, so its legit.

[Peaky]

Only some idea's but

When you move house does somone else move in to the street soon after,

Do you see out of area number plates on cars waiting on the road everytime you go out,

Does your job involve experimenting on animals,

Do you have an unexpected amount of service vehicles or men on your street ie telephone engineer,

If you get a dog poison will just be left and the dog will be killed,

Use a computer at work, a freinds or in an internet cafe to order cameras etc so the order cant be spyed on,

Can you sneak back to your appartment after you have visually left to catch this person red handed,

Many of these instances stop after the culprit is found as there is no fun in it anymore for them,

Buy a bug detector, in the UK they are only a few pounds and could tell you if the 'stalker' has fitted cameras, phone bugs etc in your place,

If it was me and i dont suggest you do this but personally if it was my problem i would hurt them when they next enter your house,

One suggestion is if you have an inner door wire the lock on that up to the mains voltage with a steel plate as a doormat for the return earth, if not an inner door i would put a bucket of water above the door on a hinge and put strips of plate down the hall way wired together intermitantly and wired to the mains, this i would have a remote control for (perhaps a garage door opener) to turn the power off when i got home,

I used to own a house i rented on a main road but was empty for a while when it was being refurbished and had kids putting their arms through the letter box to try and undo the night latch,

I tried loads of things like electronic locks on the letter box or letter baskets but they kept ramming a broom handle through untill the obstruction broke or fell off,

I tried waiting over night a few times but never caught them,

In the end i put 3 or 4 razor blades around the night latch with masking tape, i went in one day and there was a few drops of blood around the latch, letter box and floor and never got the problem again,

Yes it was wrong to do but it was to the point that i was prepared to take any punishment from the courts if it meant stopping the theiving gits and my theory of how would the kids explain they did it how they did it without dropping themselves in it worked too as i never got that knock on the door.

Take the advice of toomush as it was the first thing that came in my head when i read your first post, hire a private detective, tell him you will pay on the prodution of legitimate evidence as you know for sure that someone is doing this, either that or ask around and get someone you know isnt going to just sit on his ass at his office and say hes been watching your premises,

Report it to the police, that way even if they do nothing you have covered your ass if you was to come home to find somone in your property and harm them,

Even try setting traps, ie send a few emails out to freinds saying you have somthing you love very dearly at home for a few days for cleaning then its going back to the bank, this is bound to get the person interested.

Keep quiet about howmuch its affecting you whilst at work or any where else, only tell your best mate, if the person sees how much its affecting you they will continue doing it,

Im sorry to bring it up but are you 100% certain it is not your partner or someone your partner may be seeing that is being vindictive, a PI will soon tell you this.

Im sorry to every one for going on but i take my personal security very seriously and go to extreme lengths to protect my 'castle' it was a toss up whether i went for being a lockie or a PI it was only the work available at the time that made me choose to be a lockie.

[Peaky]

Sorry the razor blade thing should have read that i own the property and rent it out but had no tennents in and was refurbishing it at the time.
And no there was no fingers left only blood and not a lot so before you all wonder i didnt mame anyone for life!!

[fugi]

if you're truly concerned about your safety, a nice 12ga will only cost you $150. remington 870 or a norinco 98. loaded with 00 or 000 buckshot is good. purely defensive measures like locks and cameras will only get you so far.

[Peaky]

I take it there are guns?

I dont know much about guns, we are not allowed to have them in the UK unless for a reason, i have no legal use for a gun as i dont aggree with the tossers that go out shooting animals for fun, there wankers.

It was a suggestion i was going to say to the thread starter but it would mean catching the stalker first,

If/when i catch people damaging my property i enjoy beating hell out of them, a gun would only take this fun away.

I dont know the rules and regs in the usa regarding guns but here even if someone has broken into your property and you are face to face with them the courts in their wisdom would send you to prison if you shoot them.

[fugi]

here in texas is someone forces their way into your home (lock picking is forced entry) then they're playing by big boy rules, which entitles you to lethal force. them's the rules. other crimes like criminal mischief at night, arson, burglary, robbery, sexual assault, and all aforementioned crimes against a 3rd party, the criminal is also able to be legally put to death in order to stop the crime. we tend to value self preservation here a bit more. and care a bit less for the criminals when in the act of a crime. a security system and a shotgun is what'd I'd recommend for the situation.

[Peaky]

I like!!

[jason]

How difficult is it to emigrate to the US?

The Courts over here have their hands tied thanks to free legal aid and the compensation culture.

Just look at the "Tony Martin" case over here in the UK if those in the US don't believe me.

[Quin]

In the UK our Government has scrapped allowing home owners more power to protect themselves and their house.

Under our law it must be reasonable force. We had a case a few years ago where an elderly man, who had been repeatedly burgled, had had enough and went to bed with a shot gun beside him. He disturbed 2 thieves in his house and shot and killed one of them. He was jailed for life.

There have been other cases like where a thief entered someones home and tripped over a lamp wire breaking his leg. His was arrested then sued and WON against the owner for the damage caused to his leg. So if you have someone in your house make sure you turn the light on and display a health and safety notice to be sure they don't hurt themselves in your home.

It all mad!