09/16/2024
Reposting this from an actual friend. She didn’t want to make it public for sharing due to privacy, but had no issues with me copying it and omitting her name as I really felt this was important to get out.
Just as with anything in life, it is important to always be prepared to take care of you and yours…..do not rely on anyone else to help you. Some will, and that is how it should be! Most won’t, so you need to be prepared to handle everything yourself. It is a sad fact that these days, we basically are our only resource…..health care, legal matters, safety…..properly educating yourself and being persistent is key. Even more sad is that I see this trend only getting worse in the coming months and possibly far beyond. As I have always said, I have dogs and guns and know how to use them both.
Note: She lives on the east side of Madison, between Milwaukee Street and Cottage Grove Road just east of Hwy 51. Her original post did include pictures and video and her main video gave me chills cuz what was the person even wearing? Looked like something straight outta The Purge! Creepy AF!
PS: I love Dog😍
__________
The night of the trespasser - the purpose of this post is so I never forget, and others can be aware.
9/14/24 - 12:09am
Dog wakes me up barking aggressively/defensively. This rarely occurs and I trust her. I grab my handgun, put my glasses on and look at my surveillance cameras on my phone. I see the below video of an unidentified man on my property making his way into my backyard happening in real time. I call 911.
09/14/24 - 12:12am
911 dispatch takes my information and statement. I clearly state I have video surveillance evidence of an unidentified person on my property, and I am afraid for my life. Dispatch says no officer is available to respond.
Read that again. Madison Police Department says no officers are available to respond to my call saying I am afraid for my life and that I witnessed/have evidence of an unidentified person on my property and who I suspect is still on my property.
I stand alone in my dark house, armed with my handgun, Dog between me and the door, and my phone in my hand. 911 is not on the way.
So instead, I take action and call my surrounding neighbors and a close local friend. They are at my house fully dressed, with flashlights, and also armed, no questions asked, within 5 minutes. We discovered my side fence was kicked in, and some items were disturbed in my yard. The suspect must have hopped my back fence to get through to the adjacent wooded commercial property. I do not have footage of the suspect coming back to the side or front of my house. We sweep the property and deem it clear.
09/14/24 - 1:01am
Madison Police Department responds to my call, searches my outdoor property. Takes my statement and evidence. Says they responded to calls one street over and the suspect I have on camera matches what others also have, it’s the same person roaming the neighborhood. They leave to continue their search.
It took the Madison Police Department over an hour to have officers respond to my property to investigate my original distress call.
9/14/24 - 1:30am
Neighbor and close friend go home. We agree there is no action left to take and the threat has been reported and managed.
9/14/24 - 2:04am
I hear my back fence rattling, it is clear someone is out there - I interpret the sound to be that a person is climbing my fence. I grab my gun and walk up to my kitchen window and shout out into the night “I HEAR YOU! I HAVE A GUN! I AM CALLING 911!” Police arrived back within 10 minutes, neighbor comes over within 2 minutes and rechecks everything. I notified all neighbors around me and we all put our back lights on and shine flashlights. A unified community force. Nobody re-enters my yard that I have evidence of.
9/14/24 -3:30am
I sit here now writing this post so I never forget what happened.
————
As a single woman living alone in an urban area this scenario has always been my worst nightmare - I have prepared for it and thought about it. And I would be lying if I said I wasn’t, and am not, shaken and scared. Do not be complacent. Arm yourselves, educate yourselves, have a plan, and ask yourself what you would do in a vulnerable situation. Get to know your neighbors, exchange contact information, work together. My neighbors and local community are my greatest strength and protection. I am forever grateful to everyone who came to my aid tonight.
Ps: Dog is the real hero tonight. Without her I wouldn’t have ever known someone was trespassing on my property and who knows how that could have escalated.
