PDOUBLEOP

While we were away this weekend, someone broke into my house. They cleaned out the kid's birthday money. Mostly what they took was dvds and PS2 games. They went through all of our house looking for stuff. They also stole my radar detector out of my car. From what they did, I think it was teenagers but I don't really know. I called the police and filed a report but they'll probably not find anything. They left fingerprints everywhere. Would you turn this in to insurance? My deductible is $500. I know they took at least that much. I'm just afraid that my insurance will go up.

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Blackthorn

Major suckage! You should at least call your insurance agent and discuss it. It would also be helpful if you had a full list of what you think was taken knowing that you might not have it all identified down to the nickel just yet. Get the agent's input on whether or not to file a claim. Sounds like it would be worth it....hope they catch the little gutless f-ers.

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Cynthetiq

since you filed a police report, even if you don't file a claim your rates will go up because the statistics in your neighborhood have altered and are a higher risk.

While it's not going to go up as high, it's still going to go up.

sorry about your stuff.

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PDOUBLEOP

We live in a quiet little neighborhood in the country. I never expected this.

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ratbastid

That's one thing that makes me happy about living in a city, real close to my neighbors. There's almost no way something like that could happen at my house without somebody noticing. I always feel way MORE exposed out in the country.

PDOUBLEOP

Wouldn't you just feel like a piece of shit while you're taking money out of a 7yr old's piggy bank?

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maleficent

Been there, twice, once living in the city, once living in the country.

Change your locks. As soon as you can.

What I was told, both times, in different locations, that the thieves know you'll be replacing stuff, so they could come back.

Hopefully the fingerprints will get them somewhere...

I'm sorry it happened to you, it's not a comfortable feeling at all. But, (this is not meant to be as callous as it sounds) it's only stuff, stuff can be replaced, be thankful that you weren't home and that no one was hurt.

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wonderwench

Condolences. Having one's house robbed is a violation.

This is one of the reasons we have an alarm system. I can't bear the thought of some stranger pawing through my belongings.

PDOUBLEOP

They even took a bottle of lube out of our "special drawer". The insurance co. said to replace the stolen items and then turn in the receipts and they'll reimburse me. How do they expect me to shell out all of that? Right now I'm figuring it in the $2200-$2500 range. How expensive are alarm systems?

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maleficent

An ADT system is about a grand.

the signage for them, is about 5 bucks -- does the same thing theoretically.

Years back, my parents house in Connecticut was robbed, there was a pretty high powered alarm on the house, that was turned on. Did no good whatsoever -- from the time the alarm goes off, the alarm company will call the house, if they get no answer -- then they summon the cops... Theives have a good 5 - 7 minutes in the house with time for a getaway. Professional thieves, that's all the time they need. (Cops were at my parents house, by their records 6 1/2 minutes after the alarm company called -- the thieves were long gone)

If it was teenagers, the signage will be enough to deter them. (IMHO, anyhow)

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tropple

If I lived in the country, I'd use lethal traps and put the remains in a lime pit.

Law is what a legislator makes.
Justice is what you make.

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wonderwench

The most useful aspect of an alarm system (besides the sign and stickers) is a very loud alarm. Setting the volume to an excruciating level scares away many an intruder. This can be set up with a few motion sensors.

todd

That sucks. Sounds like they stole a lot.

I got broken into about 5 years ago. They stole all kinds of really old jewellery and coins, and my hand gun. Not to mention made a mess pulling every drawer out and throwing everything out of them. Now we have an ADT alarm system, and motion detector activated flood lights at all outside doors.

I think somebody tried to break into my basement the other night. In the middle of the night I saw one of the flood lights kick on, then I heard voices. In the morningm the screen to my basement door is open and there was some scratching next to the door handle like they were trying to break off the panel.

KMA-628

Personally, I would get a dog before I would get an alarm system.

This is along the lines of what I do for a living and alarm systems are just too easy to defeat (i.e. phone line & power--both of which are usually located outside).

I have had one occurence where someone tried to get into my house (while I was out). They broke the window but never made it past the dog.

The value of my dog has gone up exponentially since he is so attached to our kids. He will literally sleep at the top of the stairs, before the entrances to the kids rooms. You have to get through the dog to get to the kids, which won't happen (well, most likely won't happen).

Ask a cop and most of them will recommend a dog as a deterrent before a system. Plus it is much cheaper and more fun. Plus he senses when someone is coming near the house, something no alarm system can do (well, they can but it's more money).

/my $.04 cents.

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PDOUBLEOP

I have 2 dogs. Since we were away for the weekend, they were locked up in a pen in the back yard. They probably barked but that's all they could do. I can't stand to have animals in the house. I need to put in a hidden fence so they can roam the yard even when we're not home.

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KMA-628

I was raised the same way (cats were allowed in the house but not the dogs).

I deviated from the rule when I was single and let my dog in and out of the house. It was shortly after that the my first break-in attempt happened. Every since then, the dog is allowed in and out of the house (even when we are gone).

I still wasn't 100% on the rule until I watched the dog around my kids. I didn't put two-and-two together (regarding him sleeping at the top of the stairs) until I watched him do his "rounds". He would get up and then go into each of the kids' bedrooms and repeat this process every couple of hours. I was seating there watching this and thought, holy sh*t!, the dog is checking on the kids and standing guard.

The dog (and he behaves perfectly in the house) is allowed wherever he wants to and I will never object.

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PDOUBLEOP

what kind of dog do you have?

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KMA-628

out of curiousity, how did they get into the house?

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KMA-628

He's a mutt (best kind IMO), about medium-size (40-45lbs).

I really couldn't tell you what si in his mix. Some of the coloring suggests dobie, but I am not sure. Might be a little shepard.

We like to use the term "Heinz 57"

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PDOUBLEOP

They got in the easy way. I left my garage door opener in my unlocked car. I usually don't leave it in there when we leave but I guess I forgot.

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KMA-628

Do you have kids? If so, how old?

There is a reason for this question other than the dog, I will explain after your reply.

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KMA-628

Was the house ransacked or in pretty good shape?

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PDOUBLEOP

Yes, I have a 7yr old, 9yr old and 10yr old and one on the way.

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PDOUBLEOP

They didn't do any damage other than breaking open a weakly locked box in the kids room. The key to the box was sitting on top of it.

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KMA-628

O.K., with those two answers, here is my best conclusion:

They have either been in your house before or are friends with someone who has been in your house.

Here is why I say this:

1) No ransacking. You can usually conclude that the person a) knew what to look for and b) knew where it was. Otherwise your house gets "tossed" while they look for stuff.

2) The dog. Let's assume that they barked. You could reasonably guess that the robbers knew you didn't leave the dog in the house and they might have known that the dogs were penned. Not a 100% conclusion, but a reasonable one as most robbers will avoid a house if they hear dogs barking (because they don't know if the dog is in the house, out back, penned, etc.)

3) Your kids. Judging by the ages of your kids I would guess that it is an older friend or older sibling of a "friend" of your kids. Kids talk, they don't know better. Long story short, I just get the impression that the robbers were too familiar with your house, your animals and your layout.

4) Fingerprints. By having so many suggests someone who is not "professional", i.e. kids, teens, etc.

Then you add to the equation how many home robberies are done by somebody who has previously been inside the house and thus my conclusion.

If I were you I would start "rumours". i.e. dogs aren't penned any more, you got an alarm system (an alarm system will deter kids, teens, ect), etc.

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KMA-628

And...

My opinion--let the dogs in the house.

I had the same rule that you have. I changed my mind and (as I look back) I couldn't be happier with my decision.

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KMA-628

Oh yeah, one more thing.

How old is the garage door opener? If it is not new (2-4 years old) check to see if your remote is "binary" (i.e. dipswitches).

If there are dipswitches in your remote. Make sure that you change them ASAP (you will have to change the dipswitches in the opener itself as well).

With the 'binary" garage doors, they can duplicate your remote by just getting a similar remote and matching dipswitch settings.

If it is newer it is probably "revolving code" so you don't need to really worry as the code is changed automatically everytime you use the door. Someone can still "grab" the code, but it takes a fairly expensive bit of electronics that kids probably wouldn't have.

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Rodney

This happens a lot in my county. A lot of people live here, but in rural areas where the houses are somewhat separate. Also, a lot of the homes aren't occupied full time. So it's not usual for there to be a rash of break-ins of unoccupied houses, followed eventually by a bust of high school students. And they usually take small, easy stuff: money, CDs, things they can use, even hit the refrigerator. That's how you know it's teens. I knew a women whose house was broken into, and she'd left both a purse and a laptop on the kitchen table. They took the purse, not the laptop -- a sure sign it's teens, they only want stuff they can use or sell easily or that their parents won't ask questions about.

They break in because it's easy. Sometimes, like in your case, because the house is isolated. But also because in rural areas people are loose on security. Even downtown where I live, some people leave their windows open and doors unlocked when they go out, so they get robbed. We always close our doors and lock our windows, and if we're going to be gone we put those cheap screw-down clamps on the frames of the sliding windows so that they can't be forced. We make it hard. So nobody's ever broken in here, even though they've hit all the neighbors.

When you're going on a trip, put a spare car in the driveway, pull the curtains, and put your lights and TV on a timer, easily purchased at Radio Shuck. Have somebody come by once a day to pick up the paper and mail. These are the sort of things that teens look at when they're cruising around at night, looking to do a break-in.

It is quite possible that the kids in question knew personally that you would be gone, and thus none of these precautions would work. But in the case of just random drive-bys, which I think happens more often at least around here, these precautions will cause the average teenage thiefs to shear off and look for less risky prey. Oh yeah, about alarms: don't bother with the damn alarm, just get the sticker, and put it on the front door. That'll do the job, even for the kids who know you're out of town.

fhqwhgads

Always lock everything. No matter if you're going to be away for a minute, or a week. Lock everything.

I have watched as people walk through a parking lot and start pulling on car door handles to see what they can find. (did you know that if a guy is focusing on a door handle, he rarely sees a cop getting ready to tackle him? That's a story for another day) If your door is locked, they will move on to the next car. If your doors are open, they'll get inside and take a look. Usually it's just change that is stolen, but if you leave valuables in your car, it's their lucky day.

You don't know how many theft reports I take because people have left doors unlocked, or keys in the ignition, or cars left running to warm up, or windows open while they are at work....

Please people, lock your doors!

(PDOUBLEOP - Sorry for your loss)

PDOUBLEOP

Everyone, thank you.

KMA-628, would you leave your dog inside if you were leaving for the weekend? We left friday night and weren't planning on coming home til monday. A dog inside would have left a heckuva mess.

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KMA-628

Yes I would and I do. The dog has the ability to go in and out.

We had a couple of problems in the beginning, but with training they were ironed out quickly. I can leave the dog for several days and come home to no problems. Plus, he isn't alone. He uses the free time to terrorize the cats (which I have no problem with and, the cats won't admit it, but I think they like it).

If we are gone more than a day, we have somebody come by the house a couple times each day (we have family less than 5 min. away) to feed, check water, etc.

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bernadette

wow. so sorry for your loss & violation of your home, PDOUBLEOP.

but this is an interesting thread.

we've had a lot of workers inside of our home this year, but i have been thankful that most of them have been scared shitless of our 2 dogs. i've never introduced my dogs to them, but instead have them locked in a bedroom or in the backyard when they're working here. the one dog is extremely leery of strangers & he probably would've nipped a few of them. he's scary looking like a wolf & growls & barks, so he scares people until he gets to know them, then he's a sweetheart.

when we go away, we do leave the dogs in the house:
1) they've always lived indoors & are spoiled pampered pooches
2) we always have a neighbor let them in & out a few times during the day
3) if we can, we have someone sleep at our house at night (sadly, that person just moved away, so i am trying to find another trustworthy person for this)


<b>and where do you buy the alarm signs? home depot? or do the alarm companies sell just their signs?</b>

oh another thing we do is to leave the television or stereo on. my neighbors turn it off at night & back on during the day, as they raise & lower our window blinds.
making good friends with a few of our neighbors has been the best thing ever.

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MSD

Some people have no conscience at all. Either that or it's a kid their age.

A spare car with an NRA bumper sticker on it. Even if you just tape the thing on without pulling off the backing, it can make people think twice. Also, get a pair of mens' work boots, at least size 15 if not bigger, get a bit of mud and dirt on them, and have your house-watcher put them out at night, sometimes spraying a bit of water on them so they look recently used.

Flyguy

What?!?! No, you pay your deductable and then THEY cut you a check. Buy all your stuff again and get reimbursed? That's bullshit.

saut

Terrible. A while ago a friend of mine's car was broken into. They stole the following: CD player, CDs, 50 cents or so in pennies, a butter knife, and THE DOME LIGHTS. Yes, the fucking dome lights. Some retard actually opened up the casing and stole the tiny lightbulbs housed within. We figure it was a crackhead.

fhqwhgads

They stole the dome light so they could spend more time in the car without the light giving them away. As soon as they get in the car, they pull the dome light so that they won't get any unneeded attention.

PDOUBLEOP

The idiots stole my radar detector but left the suction cup bracket on the windshield.

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Reese

KMA-628, On our alarm systems, power failure and cutting the phoneline only gets the police there quicker. It might take the police 5-6 minutes to get there, but in the mean time you have an alarm sounding that could double for the city's tornado siren. Let's just say it can and does wake the nieghbors.

I recommend some motion detection lights around your house. A good alarm system, and a loud dog.

It sucks to be voilated like that. It also sucks how the insurance company is treating your case. No way should you have to spend money out of your pocket to pay for the stuff that was stolen.

Also, If you are going to invest in an alarm system. Talk to your insurance agency first and see if they'll help you out and lower your payment. It could help.

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saut

Hmpf. Never thought of it like that. Good observation.

scrooloose

I was at a party once and my van got broken into, The person/s left a panty liner in there so as to make it look like it was a girl that did it, The people at the party sort of had an idea how it was and HE wasnt a girl but the police never found anything. I tried to claim it on my insurance but it was more of a hassle than it was worth because it was a vehical. You could thought because homeowners insurance will also cover you vehical as I am assuming it was in the driveway and the drivway is considered part of you house.