PETRONA: Shots in the dark

20 April 2007

Shots in the dark

Someone or some people broke into the building where I work last night. Nothing (apparently) was taken, but I did not know what to make of the email bringing the news to us this morning:

Intruders managed to enter the xxxxxx building, on the 3rd floor level, at 1.00am this morning. A security guard sighted one of the intruders and telephoned the Police. The Police response was rapid, with several sniffer dogs and a helicopter involved in the search.

Should I be impressed at the rapid and comprehensive response, or should I consider it an over-reaction and a waste of taxpayers' money?

20 Apr 2007 15:02:27 | Miscellaneous

6 Comments

Helicopters? That sounds a bit extreme - but maybe they regard your location important or vulnerable. I guess I'd find it comforting. I think. I've noticed London seems much more edgy everytime I've come down there - ever since 7/7.

Posted by: Clare | 20 April 2007 at 16:17

I agree with Clare on this one and think it's a result of 7/7 and what has happened since (we've seen quite a few pre-emptive strikes from the police to avoid materialisation of another terrorist attack).
At the time, they had no idea as to motive for the break in, so I guess they were being cautious.
Having seen some stuff on TV, the helicopter was likely used to monitor the locations of the suspects with thermal imaging.
I think it's the "better safe than sorry" approach and yes, it costs, but it's the nature of the world we live in these days, alas. London is an obvious continued key target.

Posted by: crimeficreader | 20 April 2007 at 22:35

Well, at least these days they could not steal precious scientific results submitted to nature, as they are all on a web server somewhere in New York behind e-iron bars, these days. The most they would get from our place at 1 a.m. (no staff there at that time, so no groaning purses and wallets, or mobiles and BBs, to steal) would be the computer terminals, and would they really fetch that much on the open market these days? Not at the age of many of them!)

Posted by: Maxine | 20 April 2007 at 23:34

Well, did they catch said intruder?

Posted by: Susan Balée | 21 April 2007 at 02:05

No, they ran off -- and, as far as we can tell, they did not steal anything either.

Posted by: Maxine | 21 April 2007 at 11:51

You should be impressed at the rapid mobilization of public-relations initiatives in the form of the e-mail you received. Failure to keep the university community informed during the Virginia Tech shootings has been the biggest criticism of university officials' conduct.
===================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/

Posted by: Peter | 21 April 2007 at 23:25

The comments to this entry are closed.

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