Thieves will use any prop to commit a crime: bricks, pipes and even their own fists are potential aids. In Mike Averitt’s case, the thief who broke into his home hurled two potted plants, which previously surrounded his pool, to shatter his back sliding glass door.
“My alarm company called me and said my motion detector went off and someone was in the house as we spoke,” Averitt says, “so I headed home to see what happened.”
Averitt normally works from home but was out on sales calls that day only five miles away.
“I called my wife and she arrived at the house before me,” Averitt says. “I told her not to enter the house and leave.”
When Averitt arrived, he saw the shattered glass on the deck and speculated that the alarm scared off the thieves. Unfortunately, they did manage to take a couple of items.
“You can’t imagine how much glass is in an 8-foot door,” Averitt says. “But you don’t want to know what I said when I saw it.”
The thieves took Averitt’s 12-gauge shotgun that he normally uses during dove season. The gun had sentimental value because it used to belong to his father. The thieves also got away with his brand new Red Ryder BB gun that he would shoot in the backyard.
“It reminded me of the first one I had when I was a kid,” Averitt says. “I just use it to relax.”
He had been the victim of crime before when he lived off of Church Road.
“It was in the mid ’80s in December,” Averitt says. “They went all around the house and stole Christmas presents.”
Because of his previous run-in with thieves, Averitt installed a more complex security system for his home. While he is happy with his purchase, he is still sore at being a victim.
“It irritates me, and it makes me feel violated,” Averitt says. “It even made me feel paranoid for a few days. We even installed more alarm accessories around the house.”
The two potted plants did not survive the abuse. Averitt says he and his wife are rethinking the décor of the pool patio and not putting any heavy items there.
Lt. Gloria Perez who has 27 years experience with the Dallas Police says building a closer connection to his neighbors would have benefited the situation.
“I don’t know if he had a lock on the door or if the thief jumped the fence,” Perez says. “If he had nosy neighbors then they would have given him a call. I always keep in touch with all my neighbors, and they know to give me a call right away. Neighbors are the best people to help you and to help each other.” —Gabby Martinez
