Gun safes stolen via funeral schedules in paper.

Ignition Override · May 5, 2014

A buddy attended his father's funeral several months ago. Apparently this is a very common method of staking out a house, although it is news to me. Lots of people reportedly are asked to 'house sit' during a funeral.

The burglars must have read the funeral's timing in the newspaper.
Five minutes after the homeowner (surviving son) drove away, his home security camera showed them stopping in his driveway. Nothing was insured, nor very expensive, and all were stored in a lightweight, inexpensive safe.

No license plates were visible on the camera's tape, but neighbors (day time)-If they Notice- must assume that burglars loading a safe in a truck are acquaintances, or picking up an appliance for a repair?

GBExpat · May 5, 2014

It is something that my family has always thought a bit odd about me (probably one of a few

).

If we have a family wedding or funeral, someone must stay back as "Security", driving house to house until people return to their homes.

Deltaboy1984 · May 5, 2014

It pops up every year or so across the county that some criminals use the obits to plan their crimes.

Al Thompson · May 5, 2014

Common tactic - when my Dad passed, we had someone in the house during the funeral. This was 20 years ago.

cfullgraf · May 5, 2014

And not just funerals. My folks and the fiancee's folks hired rent-a-cops to watch the houses during our wedding.

And this was before the time of Facebook style social media plastered all over the internet world.

Double Naught Spy · May 5, 2014

Yeah, I don't like funerals, but will house sit for people instead, especially if I knew the family, but not necessarily the deceased, or not well.

sauer1911 · May 5, 2014

We just had a guy try to break in to my Father in laws home while the Fumigation tent was UP!!!!

THE BURGLAR DIED.

The house was tented including the patio overhang, that is where the fumigator guy found the body. After 24 hrs they go in with oxygen to take a quick look around. He saw the body just inside the tent, on the patio.

It is called POISON for a reason.

One more for the Darwin Awards.

be safe.

Pyzon · May 5, 2014

Awhile back the clerk taking the vacation stop orders for the newspaper was selling the list to the dirtballs.

I guess a question that I would have is why would you have security cameras installed without putting guns in a real safe ?

oneounceload · May 5, 2014

Awhile back the clerk taking the vacation stop orders for the newspaper was selling the list to the dirtballs

Been known to happen with USPS people as well.........

3D's · May 5, 2014

My in laws home along with his brothers home was broken into the day of my wedding. One cousin who didn't show for either the wedding or the reception has always thought to have been the one who broke into the homes.
Reason being that he was very familiar with the dog of my in laws which would have chewed anyone not known to him too pieces. That dog, a Giant Schnauzer (and I do mean GIANT

) was the meanest SOB when it came to someone new in the house I ever saw.

armoredman · May 5, 2014

Almost everyone I am related to has already expired, and the others aren't in the same state, so no problem with funerals. Weddings, well, I've survived this one for 14+ years so far, so shouldn't be an issue there, either.
I agree - NEVER publicize a major event taking place away from your home, it's nothing but an open invitation to burglary. I didn't tell anyone about my wife's surgery or hospitalization until AFTER she was already home.

Nanook · May 5, 2014

Al Thompson said:
Common tactic - when my Dad passed, we had someone in the house during the funeral. This was 20 years ago.

Stories like this one, and there are too many of them, make me laugh whenever I hear the song "People who need people..".

You have to be lower than whale poop to break into somebody's home while they're at a funeral. And yet it happens much too often. People can be real scum when they have a mind to be.

medalguy · May 5, 2014

That happened to an aunt of mine way back about 1960 when her husband died. Not much new under the sun unfortunately.

PapaG · May 5, 2014

For forty years or more I h avee voluntarily house sat for families attending funerals, for friends or acquaintances who were known SHOOTERS/gun owners. In probably 90% of the times, I got at least one "hang up" call. The A@$;:?+=#!les are out there lurking.

Ignition Override · May 5, 2014

Pyzon: He could have insured them with USAA (former "Warthog" pilot) for a low cost.

Those security cameras might not do any good unless license plates somehow (truck backs up to the house) are visible, or they are arrested elsewhere, possibly recording clear personal features or other details from the vehicle.

MacTech · May 5, 2014

When Dad passed last year, we had the service at home, any would-be burglar would have to have been suicidal to attempt to try to rob us....

climbnjump · May 5, 2014

That happened to an aunt of mine way back about 1960 when her husband died. Not much new under the sun unfortunately.

Yep, happened to my aunt in 1984. I'll be house sitting next week for a neighbor who will be at her mother's funeral.

Tirod · May 6, 2014

I think we are missing the point - it wasn't the house of the guy who passed away, it was his son. Either that, or the OP needs to be more clear.

Second, how did the perps even know there were guns, but missed the security cams?

I'm not disputing that thieves use funerals as a guideline for some B&E, it's been going on for 50 years or more. I just see some logical disconnects in the post and it seems to raise questions more than inform.

Trunk Monkey · May 6, 2014

sauer1911 said:
We just had a guy try to break in to my Father in laws home while the Fumigation tent was UP!!!!

THE BURGLAR DIED.

The house was tented including the patio overhang, that is where the fumigator guy found the body. After 24 hrs they go in with oxygen to take a quick look around. He saw the body just inside the tent, on the patio.

It is called POISON for a reason.

One more for the Darwin Awardsbe safe.
.

When I lived in FLA there was a rash of burglaries that were occurring while homes were being fumigated for bugs (Common practice in that part of the country) the police concluded that the burglar was wearing SCUBA gear to do the robberies.

Apparently there was a malfunction with his equipment at one point because, like your guy, they found him dead from the poison in a home one morning

jim in Anchorage · May 6, 2014

We just had a guy try to break in to my Father in laws home while the Fumigation tent was UP!!!!

THE BURGLAR DIED.

The house was tented including the patio overhang, that is where the fumigator guy found the body. After 24 hrs they go in with oxygen to take a quick look around. He saw the body just inside the tent, on the patio.

It is called POISON for a reason.

One more for the Darwin Awards.

Maybe he thought Walter White was in there?

AirForceShooter · May 7, 2014

Never ever publicize an event that says you're out of your house.
Funerals, weddings, confirmations, family trips.

That includes social media.

AFS

Ignition Override · May 8, 2014

The home which was broken into belongs to the son of the deceased.

1911 guy · May 8, 2014

We, as a family, have always arranged to have someone, usually a friend who feels no obligation to attend the function, stay home. For example, when my grandfather passed, I asked a friend who had never met my grand dad to watch their house while Grandma was at the funeral.

Ignition Override · May 8, 2014

Do the criminals select a home, among several names of published survivors (if in the same area), which offers the better chance of nice loot?

BigBoyToyz · May 9, 2014

NavyVet1959 said:
... no one (other than the NSA) knows who I am

Regarding the op, just invest in an alarm system. The monthly fees may be annoying, but its a small price to pay for minimum security.

Gun safes stolen via funeral schedules in paper.

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