Identify this mystery item that was left on my balcony

[MickMcGeough]

Yesterday this item was left on my BBQ stand on my balcony. I have no idea who was here or why it was left, or even what it is.

Please post if you know what it is (or have an amusing guess).

[theonlywhiteout]

theres nothing here..

[RockOnRoberts]

That, my friend, would be a bunch of question marks.

[burn_this_city]

Its a telescopic baton.

http://www.tbotech.com/telescopicbaton.htm

[Nammer403]

i was thinking a baton too

[Stranger]

It's obviously a childs whacking day stick.

[burn_this_city]

Sounds like you've been associating with some unsavoury individuals.

[arsenal]

btc wins the internets

[Nage Waza]

How accessible is your balcony? Could it have been left there, or did it have to be thrown there?

That is an item often used for breaking glass and for self defense. If someone left that on your balcony, they were likely in the act of breaking in.

I would clearly mark your balcony with alarm stickers, motion sensing alarms and lock your front door with a dead bolt (the type with the key on the inside as well). If they are going to break in, make them climb the balcony to leave.

There is a good chance you were there when it took place and you scared off the crook.

[mykalberta]

Are you married or do you have a woman living with you?

Have you been hearing weird noises coming from the balcony at night?

[MRCboicgy]

Been dating Tonya Harding?

[Ducay]

Are you in an apartment or townhouse?

[albertGQ]

The last picture is a $10 bill

[MickMcGeough]

Uh, whoa.

I live in a townhouse-style condo with my fiance. My balcony is a walk up so anybody could just come up here. It was placed on my BBQ side stand, there's no way it could have been thrown. Whoever left it was definitely on my balcony.

Thanks for the quick replies everyone. My next question is: can anyone recommend a good, affordable security solution? I've never bought anything like this before. I've only got a front door and a sliding balcony door that someone could get in through, without scaling the side of a pretty tall building.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by MickMcGeough

Uh, whoa.

I live in a townhouse-style condo with my fiance. My balcony is a walk up so anybody could just come up here. It was placed on my BBQ side stand, there's no way it could have been thrown. Whoever left it was definitely on my balcony.

Thanks for the quick replies everyone. My next question is: can anyone recommend a good, affordable security solution? I've never bought anything like this before. I've only got a front door and a sliding balcony door that someone could get in through, without scaling the side of a pretty tall building.

A telescopic baton

[icecube]

Shave off a hockey stick to the proper size to wedge between the frame and the sliding balcony door. Like a ghetto version of the club, but only for sliding doors rather than a steering wheel.

That way you can only open it from your side and you have to remove the stick before doing so. Very cheap, 100 percent effective.

Cut your hockey stick a 1/4 inch shorter than the distance between the window and the jamb.

[ricosuave]

- motion detection lights in back yard / patio area?
- security bar used to keep patio doors from opening
- beware of dog signs (even if you dont have any)
- talk with neighbors, keep eye on each others areas
- baseball bat within easy reach
- security camera setup like flames_gimp used?

[TheyCallMeBruce]

It's a flashlight.

[killer_carlson]

from getting active in my community I can say that it is essential to report this to your local police station. Things like this go a long way into their resource allocation. THey have no other way to allocate resources other than on the basis of reported incidents. It will take you about 15-30 minutes and I would suggest you go in person.

I'd also alert your condo board as well - after speaking to the police - and ask them to notify residents to be vigilant about reporting odd behaviour.

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by icecube

Shave off a hockey stick to the proper size to wedge between the frame and the sliding balcony door. Like a ghetto version of the club, but only for sliding doors rather than a steering wheel.

That way you can only open it from your side and you have to remove the stick before doing so. Very cheap, 100 percent effective.

Cut your hockey stick a 1/4 inch shorter than the distance between the window and the jamb.

Except of course, that the perp in this case was prepared to break the glass