Home robbery

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shiftyer1

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Ok heres the deal......my mom travels alot and lives in the country, well for the most part....6-10 acre tracts and heavily wooded, 4 miles out of town. A couple years ago her house was robbed, someone also stole her kittens and cats. This would have been chalked up to coyotes but i've never seen an animal run off with feeders and waterers. And about 2 weeks ago she returned from a 2 week trip and tonite noticed a chainsaw, leafblower, and pressure washer have disappeared. When she reported the robbery the sheriff was SHOCKED, this never happens out here was his response.

None of her neighbors are having any problems. So my question is how do you make this place less of a target? It's very well lit she has timers on the lights so they always are on randomly. I'd say a dog but it's not possible with extended absences. They pryed open a patio door the first time, everythings been replaced but they've never come in the house since the first time. The first time was the big one, from what they took I think it was kids because they took the junk and left the valuable things.

The rest of the time it's been random things outside or in the shed. I think it has to be a neighbor or friend of one. This doesn't seem plausible by first appearences of the neighbors or the neighborhhod. But I can't believe random people scoping for a score just happened to be there when shes gone.

Moms scared and admits to closing certain doors or shades due to paranoia. This is alarming from a country girl who will face anything head on. It has me worried to because it's possible they get more daring and hit when shes home.

She is armed and very accuate with a longgun. Sundays as a child were spent shooting so my grandparents could rest in the house. I'm trying to convince her to get a handgun, a medium frame .357 is what i'm recommending. She has fired my blackhawk with .38's and liked it. So I figue a med. frame .357 with .38's is perfect for her. She is NOT gunshy.

What other steps should be taken to help make this place unattractive. I've also started target practice out there thinking if it is a neighbor mabye they'll think twice. I'm thinkin next time she leaves for a week or so i'll stash the truck out back and camp out, this is probably extreme and the wife probably won't be happy.

I apologize for the the post and I guess this turned into more of a venting post kinda then a question but I think I covered most questions that could be asked, or at least the first ones.
 
This may seem nitpicky, but it's a fairly important distinction.

If they were taken from inside the home with no one at home at the time (or no one was aware of the crime when it was happening) then the proper term for the crime is "burglary".

If they were taken from outside the home without confronting the homeowner then the proper term is "theft".

A robbery always involves a confrontation between the criminal and the person being robbed.

My guess is that one of the neighbors has a teenager who's using your mom's stuff as a source of income. If it were me, I'd probably start with some video surveillance equipment, a monitored security system or both.
 
Grab some game capture cameras and plant em. I bet you will catch someone in the right spot day or night one day when looking through the computer pictures on the chip.
 
Ok how about I change the title to preventing a possible future home robbery? I don't see the possible important distiction. Cameras were what we were talking about this evening. Even dummy cameras may do some good?
 
As far as dogs, thats always my first. BUT shes gone alot and dogs tend to like to eat. Theres really none to stop by to feed them. I'm 60 miles round trip. Thats alot of time to take care of dogs.
 
I'd drive a thousand miles for momma and her dogs.

But dont tell her that. She have me there 24/7 doing dishes and everything else while my spouse stews at home.
 
I don't see the possible important distiction.
Click to expand...

Well, your mom was burgled, not robbed. The important distinction there is that your mom's life was not threatened with bodily harm nor did she suffer bodily harm.

From the sounds of it, but burglar(s) is trying to avoid confrontation by waiting until your mom goes out of town.

So are these things being stolen actually locked away? You haven't given any indication that they were secured at all.

Tell mom to go around the house and make a list of all electronics, photo gear, equipment, etc., complete with model numbers, serial numbers, and identifying marks. It would be best if she could photo and/or video said items as well. Have her make a copy of the list, DVD, photos, etc. for you to store at your place. That way when she is burgled again, she will have all the information on what has been taken such that if it should be recovered, it will specifically be identified as hers.
 
The other problem is that theives know that people tend to replace stuff stolen and they mark it down in their little heads for future night time raids. It's to bad she can't get a neighbour to stop by and feed the dog or just keep a eye on things.
 
I would say forget about dummy cameras and go ahead and get real cameras. Even one pointing down the drive and one with a good view of the garage/barn door should do the trick. There are some very affordable systems out there--definitely worth the amount of equipment that is being stolen from your mother.

~Norinco
 
Reading the room...

Someone that knows your mom is doing all this.

Sheriff just needs to do a looksee with neighbors.
-Tough times.
-Teenage kids and friends , especially those in a bigger city.
-Relatives that have had to move in with them.
-etc.

Add, some bigger city folks come down to rural areas, as small town, semi-rural, country folks are more lax.
Heck, most crimes could be prevented by shutting the garage door in small towns.

Also check with persons mom associates with, as someone knows her schedules.
Hence the reason many folks suggest "not advertising".

i.e "Well Tuesday I have to run to town ....".
Then while mom is gone on Tuesday, she gets hit again.

Ask the Sheriff for a special marker, that shows under blacklight.
Have mom mark items, and Sheriff most likely has a preference on how to mark these.

Now mom needs to not advertise her business.
I suggest she change up her schedule perhaps as being punctual, and predictable gets folks in trouble.
i.e. Change the day she gets her hair fixed or whatever.

Now a number of ways this can be played. So communication with Sheriff and other Law Enforcement agencies needs to be done.

Law Enforcement might want to check into Pawn Shops, Re-Sale Shops, Used Stuff Shops, Yard Sale, Estate Sale, and "other outlets" , where one can sell stolen items for money.
Or trade for dope...

So whatever the Law suggests, one has to keep their big fat mouths shut.

It might not be a neighbor's kid running with the wrong crowd.
It might not be a relative staying with neighbors due to hard times, and a history of drinking and drug problems, and folks doubting they are sober and straight -and getting their act together.
It might not be youths coming down from a bigger city.
It might not be that Pawn Shop, in bigger town that folks gossip about questionable mdse.

Instead that nice furniture store, paying kids to come on down and snag items.
Furniture store makes deliveries all over, and lawn mowers, riding mowers, chain saws, and other items are "sold before stole".

Nice furniture store owner, the one folks think is a respectable business, and he did donate money to help fix up the Little League ball field...

Is instead a dope dealer, big time.
Mdse is moved while making deliveries of furniture.

He has connections with folks that do Pawn Business, or Estate Sales, or Yard Sales or put ads in the paper for "Divorce - Parting Out" in the free want ads.

So you do not have cash for a buy, mdse is used instead.

So a riding mower retails for what? $2500.
Getting one for $1200, as a couple is "parting out due to divorce" is a "steal".

Follow the money, and you might find some Dope Folks, and who knows at what level.

I am not making this up, this is based on some real life going ons...in a small, town where I once lived.

It might not be dope at all.

Times are tough -again.
We went through this in the 80's and some other eras...

Times are going to get tougher, with uncertain times, high unemployement, more lay offs expected, politics, and you name it.
And we are not into summer yet, with the grumblings of high gas prices yet.

Insurance fraud is up, and will continue to rise.

Bigger cities have more folks at home, and some similar ploys are used in bigger towns and cities...
Add, more folks out of work, are at home and desperation leads some folks to do things they thought they never would.

Like letting some drifty folks know the neighbors schedule to get that riding mower in the garage they saw with the door up.
$200 may not sound like much for "information", then again Food Stamps will not buy laundry detergent,a bar of soap, shampoo, deodorant, getting a hair cut and other essentials while out looking for a job.

$2500 retail mower, less $200 for information, and they can get at least $1000 for it, on the "market" somewhere.

Rural areas...
Folks might just be out on the back forty tending to garden, or mowing, or whatever...

Prevention is the key, so while one might have left the house, barns, sheds unlocked or flat wide open...and keys in ignitions, in the past, as they went down to mow around the pond, one would be wise to change habits, as times have changed.


If...If the Sheriff or some other LE agency brings mom a chain saw to "use" with instructions.
Have her keep her mouth shut.
She stays with the story she found one at a yard sale, or Craiglist, or whatever the Cops tell her to say.
They might just have have it marked, and have some investigations going on.

Follow the mdse, follow the money , find the crooks, and the bigger crooks.

Some stuff don't change...

Expect to see more folks driving around looking to do yard mowing this year.
Mowers on trailers, being towed with string trimmers and chain saws, and whatever else one needs to do a yard.

Some folks are out of work, and will be legit, using their own yard tools, to make some money.
Some will not be legit.
The trailer, mowers, and yard tools are stolen...
And they will be casing neighborhoods, customers, all the while and ...you get the idea.


Prevention and Communication.

Two really big keys in all this staying safe and secure.
 
Stealing cats is just weird. Unless your mother was a breeder of valuable animals something very strange is going on here. If the cats were valuable then you need to start looking around at who is selling them. The market can not be that big.
 
Cameras are good. Why not a burglar alarm connected to a monitoring service for the house? Alarm goes off, the service calls the police who go out. I think a lot of them have specials where you can get set up at a reasonable cost or free and the monthly fee isn't that bad.
 
Someone know when she is gone, it's that simple. Does she take the standard steps like stopping mail and newspaper deliveries?

Now this isn't going to be the most pleasant thing to say, but is there anyone in the family that doesn't live the most legal lifestyle? Involved with drugs maybe? Believe it or not, many people victimize someone in the family and their friends before they graduate to stealing from strangers.
 
unfortunatly jeff is right. if they always know when she is gone it may very well be a freind, family member, neighbor or an aquantance there-of. going for target practice outside is a good idea and may make someone think twice. of course, theft is no reason to use or threaten deadly force agianst someone, no matter what state you live in. and i mean that legaly but especialy moraly. that being said, using a survalence camera will not only stop this from happening but bring the suspect to justice.
 
I wish we could suspect a family member but i'm the only one in the state. The same goes for friends.

As far as the cats yes thats very wierd but it was around xmas time so I guess maybe they become gifts?
the only value they had was as mousers.

I'll be honest, I do have a shady past and to tell the truth I just can't figure this one out because they only take the stuff that really won't bring much. I do think it's probably a pair of kids.
 
Did they enter the home? I ask because we have a case locally where a teen broke into a single lady's home a few times stealing items, food, wrecking a few things while she was not there.

She found out who it was, spoke with and agreed with his parents who were neighbors to let him work the damage off by doing some chores, etc.

He got angry, didn't want to follow through, did unspeakable things to her and killed her.

Get a house sitter when she's out of town, perhaps a trusted male friend/family member. A fence and a big dog, cameras and an alarm system are not bad ideas either.

Keep them out of her yard and house whether she's there or not.

If none of these things are possible maybe suggesting Mom move closer to family could help.

I know I'd worry about my Mom too if she were living alone.
 
Burglar Bomb. Or..."The Repulsor IV!" *Shudders*

http://www.securitysolutionsworld.com/store.php?crn=230

While actually putting up a system that would dispense lethal gases is clearly illegal....I've often wondered if putting up a SIGN that CLAIMED lethal agents were being used, when they were not, is illegal. Like a sign saying, "This house protected by a series of lethal booby traps including aerosolized nerve agents". Putting lethal agent in the home...Clearly Illegal! Putting up a sign CLAIMING they exist when they don't....I'm not sure if that is illegal or not. Maybe a local attorney could advise you on your state's laws regarding this.

If legal though, it might be just the thing to put the fear of God into someone if they read that sign, opened the door and got a face full of OC spray.
 
Booby Traps are illegal in the area we we live. But some very expensive houses have special capture zones where the intruder will find him self trapped and communicating with owner via cell. If intruder fails to comply with commands and quietly sit and wait for LEO's to arrive, they can be provided gas agents to knock em out or.... be killed. Owner's choice.

You would never suspect you are in one of these homes until it is set up to catch you like amouse trap does.

Dont worry, Lead is poision enough along with a few other.... goodies... to complicate the person's recovery if any is possible.
 
HOW TO INSTALL A HOME SECURITY SYSTEM

1. Go to a second-hand store and buy a pair of men’s used size 14-16 work boots.

2. Place them on your front porch, along with several empty beer cans, a copy of Guns &Ammo magazine and several NRA magazines.

3. Put a few giant dog dishes next to the boots and magazine.

4. Leave a note on your door that reads:

“Hey Bubba, Big Jim, Duke and Slim, I went to the gun shop for more ammo. Back in an hour with beer. Don’t mess with the pit bulls — they attacked the mailman this morning and messed him up real bad. I don’t think Killer took part in it but it was hard to tell from all the blood.”

PS - I locked all four of ‘em in the house. Better wait outside.:D
 
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