I keep a little box on my desk that I throw quarters and small amounts of cash. This morning I went in to get a few quarters for the soda machine at work and the box was empty, yesterday morning there was $55.00 in bills and about two rolls of quarters. I ask my wife if she took anything from the box and she did not. Walking around we do not notice anything missing but, she notices that one of the windows of the dinning room bay window is missing it's screen. The window is open a small amount which is how my wife left it the day before except for the missing screen. At this point we decided to call the police who come out look around and fill out a report. This evening my wife is checking out her jewelry box and discovers that
all of her gold chains, a locket, a gold charm and a bracelet are missing. 28 years in the same place without anything other than very minor stuff and now this. So tomorrow I get to call the insurance and the police again.

 

That really sucks but be thankful that your wife did not surprise the intruder while she was home alone. Time for a security system.

 

We are very very thankful, We have a small dog and 4 cats and none of them were harmed, the person even closed the window when they left so none of them got out either. The thing that bothers my wife the most was the fact they took a silver dollar she had in her jewelry box. Her mother gave it to her when she was a child and it was dated the year of her mothers birth. Both of our laptops were on the dining room table, checkbooks were in the house, camera gear was right next to the box they got the money from. We have never seen the need for a security system but that all changed yesterday.

 

We have a wonderful, loyal and friendly Rottweiler.

And may I suggest you find a good (recommended) LOCAL alarm company. They are usually less expensive and more responsive to their customers that ADC, which is, as of last year, a monopoly for nationwide security companies. I will no longer do business with them after 2 (one at my lab and one at home) inflated repair bills. >$325 each.

 

Knew a guy with a real friendle rot, let you come in, sit, do anything. Told the guy the dog didn't look too aggressive, he said 'try to leave without me there'. Nuff said!

 

Sorry for your loss, i know the feeling.

We have a alarm with cameras 3 guys pryed the door open, removed the safe buy sliding it on carpet and putting it in back seat of a 2 door car. Found safe 1 block away had been pried open 2500$. gone, several hand guns and a rifle. They were in store less then 4 minutes and gone.

Seems a if they know you have a system, they know to get in and out very quick, system should minimize lost


http://www.homesecuritysystems.net/?...FWZk7AodAhgAlA

 

I'm sorry to say that even with an alarm it wouldn't have gone off if you had the window open.

 

Sure would with Passive Infrared motion detector.

 

Doesn't that go off if curtains are blowing or cat/dog are in the house?

 

Exactly, but maybe not time for a security system, time for a gun and some education. You have to be in an area where they are legal and you can conceal carry, but if so, it would be a great idea.

My fiancé and I both have weapons so if either comes home and the door is open, you are not terrified to go in your own house and check it out. She has to be comfortable with it and be ready to learn and practice...

We were broken into a few years ago and with the security upgrades I made I don't think it will ever happen again, but I was not going to pay someone $50 a month to 'monitor' the house. As the old saying goes, if someone wants something bad enough, they are going to get it. As bad as it sounds, I made my home a lot harder to rob than any of my neighbors, hoping the thief will go for the low hanging fruit...

 

You're making me nervous. How heavy was this safe? Mine, fully loaded is over 1000 pounds.

 

LOL John a new twist on the I don't have to out run the bear I just have to out run you concept. Very clever.

 

Ask around the neighbor hood. I'm willing to bet it happened to others too.

 

Thanks everyone for the concern and the excellent suggestions. At this point we are looking into a security system but, in the mean time we are being vigilant about making sure the windows are closed and locked when ever we leave the house. Stopped by the local police community resource center the other day and talked to an officer. According to their records there have been 3 break ins within a mile radius of our house in the last 60 days which according to him is a very low rate. There have been 5 car thefts in the same area and time period. The day of the break in the Crossfire was in the driveway and the keys were on the dinning room table four feet from the window they came in. Now it's in the garage all the time and the keys are hidden.

Talked to all the neighbors to basically let them know what happened so they can take precautions and I printed a flyer and placed it in all the houses mail boxes on the street to get the word out.

While I certainly believe in the right to bear arms I have never been a gun owner. My brother recently purchased his first gun and has been trying to convince me to get one even before the break in. The idea certainly has merit and has been talked about since Tuesday but, I am just not sure I want to go there. My wife's dad was a police officer so she grew up with guns in the house but, she never saw the need for one until this week so it's still an option.

 

I am as pro gun as you can get.
If you decide to get a firearm for home defense don't get caught up in what is best.
Get a tool that runs and is easy to use. An good example is a 12ga pump shotgun.
Your money is best spent on ammo, range time and a safety course.
Good luck and feel free to pm me with any firearm questions. I can point you in the right direction.
This is a car forum and don't want to post a lot about guns here. There are great forums for that too.